# Hillside vanishing edge pool in the Oakland Hills A long rectangle at the edge of the slope, with the Bay and the Golden Gate in the distance and a redwood deck. Drawn for a low mid-century modern house of redwood, glass and white stucco cantilevered over a steep wooded slope, with a terraced hillside with Monterey pines, Japanese maples, ferns, a stone retaining wall and a view of San Francisco Bay. A design idea for Oakland, CA. Northern California, hillside or slope, Mid-century modern. Updated 2026-10-04. ## The numbers - Size: 36 × 18 ft (3.5 to 6 ft deep) - Water surface: 650 sq ft - Water: about 22,900 gal - Coping: 72 linear ft - Deck: 1,800 sq ft - Hot tub: 7 ft square (about 1,100 gal) ## The design, spelled out The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 10 ft, slopes over about 12 ft, then runs level at 6 ft for the last 14 ft. ### Shape: Rectangle A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house. ### Size: 36 × 18 ft A pool about 18 ft wide and 36 ft long. Room for lengths and a group, and a yard that can hold the larger deck it needs. That is about 650 sq ft of water and about 22,900 gallons. ### Steps: Wide steps Wide steps across one end. Easy for kids and older swimmers, and a place to sit in the shallow water. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep. ### Pool edge: Vanishing edge One edge where the water spills over a wall into a hidden catch basin. It makes the water look like it runs into the view, and it needs a slope or a retaining wall, a catch basin and more engineering. ### Hot tub: Raised, spills over, 7 ft square A hot tub raised on a wall and spilling over into the pool. The raised wall gives a seat-height edge and a small waterfall, at the price of extra masonry. The tub holds about 1,100 gallons. ### Pool finish: Quartz Plaster with quartz aggregate, smooth with a bit of sparkle. Usually holds color and resists staining better than plain plaster, and stays gentle on feet. ### Finish color: Blue finish, classic deep blue water A blue interior. Gives a classic, deeper blue water. ### Waterline tile: Grey stone Grey stone-look porcelain at the waterline. A quiet, natural band that goes with concrete and wood. It runs about 72 linear ft around this pool. ### Coping: Concrete Smooth, cantilevered poured concrete. A clean, modern edge that sits flush with a concrete or paver deck. It runs about 72 linear ft around this pool. ### Deck: Wood-look deck Warm brown composite wood-look boards. Soft on bare feet and warm to look at. Darker boards can run hot in full sun, so check the color. The deck is about 1,800 sq ft here. ### Planting: Modern Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture. ### Pool fence: Glass A frameless glass pool fence. It keeps the view open. Your town's barrier code sets the height, the gate and the latch, so ask before you design around it. ### Furniture: Loungers, Outdoor sofa Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck. Outdoor sofa: An outdoor sofa and lounge chairs. Makes the deck feel like a living room outside. ### Light: Golden hour Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best. ## Why it suits this house The yard: a terraced hillside with Monterey pines, Japanese maples, ferns, a stone retaining wall and a view of San Francisco Bay. A hillside pool is built into the slope, so retaining walls and drainage are part of the design. A slope can give a dramatic view and a vanishing edge, and it brings walls, drainage, soil reports and extra engineering. Plan on a longer approval and a more detailed build. The house is a low mid-century modern house of redwood, glass and white stucco cantilevered over a steep wooded slope. A mid-century modern house pairs a low, horizontal pool with natural materials. A long rectangle, a wood-look deck and a glass fence keep sight lines open and honor the house's flat roof and big windows. ## Will it fit your yard? Plan on a clear area of about 54 by 45 ft for the pool, the tub, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 56 by 47 ft. ## Northern California: what the climate asks of this pool Northern California pools are built around hills, views and a dry summer, so the site decides the design. - Hillside lots set the whole layout. A pool on a slope needs retaining walls, drainage and a geotechnical report before the shape is final. - Summers are dry and warm and winters are mild but wet, so a cover and good drainage both earn their place. - Wildfire areas can limit fire features, planting near the house and structures. Ask the fire authority before you plan a fire bowl or a pergola. - Earthquake country: the shell, the steel and the plumbing connections are built to flex, and your builder should say how. ## What this will cost No price is printed for this design. Ask a local builder for a quote. What moves the price: - Size. This pool has about 650 sq ft of water surface and about 22,900 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment. - Deck. About 1,800 sq ft of paving is a large line item on its own. Ask for the deck priced separately so you can compare materials. - The built-in hot tub, its heater, plumbing and raised wall. - The vanishing edge: the wall, the catch basin, a bigger pump and the retaining and drainage work around them. - About 206 linear ft of glass fence around the deck as drawn, set by what your town's barrier code requires. - Slope work: retaining walls, drainage and a geotechnical report. ## Questions to ask a builder - Does this lot need a geotechnical report, and what do the hillside and fire rules allow here? - How is the catch basin sized and hidden, and what happens to the water on a windy day? - Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather? - What does the town's barrier code require for the glass height and the gate, and how do you clean it? - How hot does this composite get in the sun, and what is the warranty on the color? - What is in the quote and what is left out, such as the deck, fence, electrical, permits and landscaping? Start with this design in the free visualizer: https://rendersplash.com/pool-visualizer?idea=hillside-vanishing-edge-pool-oakland-hills