An infinity edge pool is a type of swimming pool where one or more of its edges appears to merge with the surrounding landscape, giving the illusion that the pool is merging into the horizon or the surrounding scenery. This is achieved by designing the pool with a vanishing edge, where water flows over one or more edges of the pool, creating a visual effect of a never-ending body of water.
Infinity edge pools are also commonly referred to as “vanishing edge,” “disappearing edge,” or “negative edge” pools, and are often found in luxury resorts, high-end homes, and other upscale settings. They are typically designed to take advantage of a stunning view, whether it’s of the ocean, a city skyline, or a mountain range.
In addition to their aesthetic appeal, infinity edge pools also provide practical benefits such as improved water circulation and reduced maintenance requirements, as well as the sense of having a private oasis that seamlessly blends into the surrounding environment.
Table of Contents
- How do Infinity Edge Pool Illusions work?
- Versions of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
- Illusions like Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
- Discovery of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
- References and Resources
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How do Infinity Edge Pool Illusions work?
The illusion of an infinity edge pool is created by the careful design of the pool and its surroundings. The key feature of an infinity edge pool is the “vanishing edge” which is an edge of the pool that is lower than the water level. This allows water to flow over the edge and into a catch basin or reservoir.
The catch basin then pumps the water back into the pool, creating a continuous flow of water over the vanishing edge. From a distance, this creates the illusion that the water is flowing seamlessly over the edge of the pool and into the surrounding landscape.
To enhance the illusion, infinity edge pools are often designed with the surrounding landscape in mind. For example, the pool may be located on a hillside, so that the water appears to flow directly into the valley below. Alternatively, the pool may be located near the ocean or a lake, so that the water appears to merge with the larger body of water.
The illusion is further enhanced by the use of materials such as dark tiles or black granite, which create a mirror-like surface that reflects the surrounding environment, making it appear as if the pool has no boundaries. The overall effect is a stunning visual display that creates a sense of serenity and calm, and is a popular feature of many high-end luxury homes and resorts.
Versions of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
The following are some examples of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions:
Illusions like Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
There are several other optical illusions that are similar to the infinity edge effect created by infinity edge pools. These techniques create optical illusions that deceive the eye and create the perception of something that is not actually there, or make objects appear different from their actual size, shape or location.
Some similar illusions are as follows:
Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”
It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.
Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.
Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.
It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.
Anamorphic street art is a form of street art that uses optical illusion to create a three-dimensional image when viewed from a specific angle.
Anamorphic street art is often created by distorting the image, so that when it is viewed from a specific viewpoint, the image appears to be three-dimensional and in full perspective.
It is often seen as a way of transforming urban spaces into playful, interactive environments.
The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.
The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.
The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.
The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.
The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.
The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.
The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.
All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.
Discovery of Infinity Edge Pool Illusions
The concept of an infinity edge pool has been around for centuries, but it is difficult to trace the exact origin of the design. Some sources credit French architect Bernard Lassus with developing the concept of a vanishing edge pool in the 1970s, while others attribute the design to an architect in Bali who created a similar effect using traditional water features.
However, it is clear that the modern version of the infinity edge pool, as we know it today, has its roots in high-end resort design and the luxury home market. The design became popular in the 1990s and has since become a common feature in high-end homes and resorts around the world.
While it is difficult to attribute the invention of the infinity edge pool to a single individual or company, it is clear that the design has evolved over time and has become an important feature in modern architecture and landscape design
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.