6 Gunite Pool Designs You Didn’t Know Were Possible

Most people picture the same thing when they hear “gunite pool” — a kidney-shaped hole in the ground with blue plaster and a diving board. And honestly, that image is about 20 years out of date.

Gunite (also called shotcrete) is a method of applying a concrete mixture through a high-pressure hose, building the pool shell one layer at a time over a rebar framework. Because the shape is formed freehand rather than dropped into a pre-made mold, the design possibilities are essentially unlimited. There’s no factory template dictating what your pool can look like.

That’s what makes gunite the material of choice for high-end residential builds — and it’s why the designs coming out of custom builders today look nothing like the backyard pools of the early 2000s.

At Dodson Designs, we’ve built gunite pools across Knoxville and East Tennessee that challenge what homeowners thought was even on the table. Here are six designs that tend to surprise people.

1. Infinity Edge (Vanishing Edge) Pools

An infinity edge pool is designed so that one or more walls sit slightly lower than the water line, allowing water to flow over the edge and into a hidden catch basin below. The visual effect is dramatic — the pool surface appears to merge seamlessly with the horizon, whether that’s a tree line, a lake, or a mountain ridge.

This design is particularly effective on sloped properties, which East Tennessee has no shortage of. Instead of fighting the grade with heavy retaining walls and fill dirt, a vanishing edge pool works with the natural terrain and turns it into the main attraction.

From a construction standpoint, the catch basin (sometimes called a surge tank) adds complexity. Water has to be continuously pumped back into the main pool, so the plumbing and pump system need to be engineered precisely. But that’s what separates a well-built infinity pool from one that constantly runs dry on one side.

Best for: Hillside lots, properties with a view, homeowners who want a resort-level focal point.

2. Beach Entry (Zero Entry) Pools

A beach entry — also called a zero entry or walk-in entry — replaces the traditional pool step or ladder with a gradual slope that starts at ground level and eases into deeper water, mimicking the way you’d walk into the ocean.

This isn’t just an aesthetic choice. A zero-entry design makes the pool more accessible for young children, elderly family members, and anyone with mobility challenges. It also creates a natural shallow lounge area where you can set up chairs partially in the water, which has become one of the most requested features in luxury residential pool design.

With gunite, the slope angle, texture, and finish can all be customized. Some homeowners opt for a natural stone or pebble finish on the beach entry to enhance the organic feel, while others go with a smooth plaster to keep it sleek and modern.

Best for: Families with kids, accessibility-conscious designs, homeowners who want that “resort lagoon” feel.

3. Integrated Pool and Spa Combos

A lot of homeowners assume a pool and a hot tub are two separate purchases. With gunite, they don’t have to be. An integrated pool-spa combo builds the spa directly into the pool structure — usually elevated slightly above the main pool level so that warm water can spill over a ledge into the cooler pool below.

This spillover effect isn’t just visually striking. It also serves a practical purpose: the cascading water creates natural circulation and a soothing sound element that turns the entire backyard into an experience.

Because both the pool and the spa are built from the same gunite shell, the tile work, coping, and finish can all be unified. The result is a cohesive design that looks intentional rather than pieced together. Separate plumbing and heating systems keep the spa at hot-tub temperatures while the main pool stays comfortable for swimming.

Best for: Homeowners who want year-round use, entertaining-focused backyards, properties where space is at a premium.

4. Perimeter Overflow (Slot Overflow) Pools

If you’ve ever seen a pool where the water sits perfectly flush with the surrounding deck — no coping lip, no visible edge — that’s a perimeter overflow design. Water flows over all four edges simultaneously into a hidden channel that runs around the entire perimeter, then gets recirculated back into the pool.

The effect is almost mirror-like. The water surface becomes a flat, uninterrupted plane that reflects the sky, surrounding architecture, and landscape. It’s the design you see in high-end resorts, luxury hotels, and architectural magazine spreads.

This is one of the most engineering-intensive pool designs. The pool deck, the overflow channel, and the pool shell itself all need to be level to a very tight tolerance — even a fraction of an inch off will create uneven water flow that breaks the illusion. The hidden gutter system also requires careful waterproofing and drainage planning.

Best for: Modern and contemporary homes, minimalist landscape designs, homeowners who want a true architectural statement.

5. Natural “Lagoon” Pools with Rock Features

On the opposite end of the design spectrum from the perimeter overflow is the natural lagoon pool — a freeform design built to look like it belongs in the landscape rather than sitting on top of it.

These pools incorporate natural stone boulders, rock grottos, waterfalls, and irregular shorelines to create the feeling of a private swimming hole. Gunite is the only pool construction method that can achieve this because the shell needs to follow organic, non-geometric curves and transition seamlessly into real stone elements.

Some lagoon designs go even further with features like cave-style swim-throughs, hidden grottos behind waterfalls, and submerged stone seating. The plaster finish is typically a darker tone — deep blue, charcoal, or a pebble aggregate — to enhance the natural water color and hide the man-made structure beneath.

In East Tennessee, where the natural landscape already includes creek beds, exposed rock, and mature hardwoods, a lagoon pool can tie into the property’s existing environment in a way that a geometric pool simply can’t.

Best for: Wooded or natural lots, homeowners who want an organic aesthetic, properties in the Smoky Mountain foothills.

6. Multi-Level and Tiered Pool Designs

For properties with significant elevation change — or homeowners who simply want to maximize their outdoor living space — a multi-level pool design stacks different water features and pool zones at different heights, connected by spillways, waterfalls, or swim-up channels.

A typical configuration might include a raised spa on the upper tier that overflows into a main swimming pool on the middle tier, with a shallow wading pool or tanning ledge on the lowest level. Each tier can have its own finish, its own lighting scheme, and its own function.

This design turns the pool area into a full outdoor environment rather than a single feature. It’s particularly effective when paired with hardscaping elements like retaining walls, stone steps, and outdoor kitchen areas — which is where having a builder like Dodson Designs that handles both the pool construction and the surrounding hardscape becomes a real advantage.

Best for: Sloped lots, large backyards, homeowners planning a complete outdoor living overhaul.

Why Gunite Makes All of This Possible

The common thread across every design on this list is that none of them can be achieved with a fiberglass or vinyl liner pool. Fiberglass shells are manufactured in a factory and shipped to your property in a fixed shape and size. Vinyl liners stretch over a frame, limiting curves and depth transitions. Gunite is built on-site, by hand, to whatever specifications the design calls for.

That means no restrictions on shape, depth, features, or finish. If you can draw it, a skilled gunite crew can build it. And because the structure is solid reinforced concrete, it’s built to last decades — not just survive a few Tennessee freeze-thaw cycles.

Ready to Build Something That Doesn’t Exist Yet?

If you’re in Knoxville or anywhere in East Tennessee and you’re thinking about a pool that goes beyond the standard template, Dodson Designs is the team to talk to. We specialize in custom gunite pool construction alongside hardscaping, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, landscape lighting, and everything else it takes to build a backyard that actually gets used.

Request a free estimate at dodsondesignstn.com or give us a call to walk through what’s possible on your property.