Glass Bottoms for Swimming Pools

Those pictures on Instagram or Pinterest seem surreal! Pools up in the sky like being weightless. Large glass bottoms open the view into the water from underneath. Swimmers being observed like moving through the air - hence the term Sky Pool.

Glass bottom pools are real, actually. And there is a company that makes them: Hydrosight is the market and technology leader when it comes to installing transparent bottoms for basins. It is essential to be able to build on a partner like Hydrosight for such an operation. Still, it remains teamwork between architect, general contractor and pool builder. Together with Hydrosight this unique attraction will become a success.

Glass bottoms for pools are actually just a variety of Hydrosight's underwater window product range. Internally Hydrosight refers to them as horizontal windows, in opposition to vertical windows, that go into the pool wall. Horizontal windows can be installed in any kind of pool, no matter if tiled, liner or other. Single glasses are common, but also arrays of openings to form even larger windows.

Reflecting Pool Glass Bottom

Many skylights are installed in rooftop pools. Natural light is directed into the rooms below. Some pools are for swimming - others are shallow reflecting pools.

Skylights, in general, must be designed to prevent leaks, and this is even more crucial when adding a pool of water on top. With Hydrosight, the system is seamlessly integrated into the roof and is equipped with flashing to keep water out. It features a fully encapsulated box of acrylic, making it virtually impossible for the pool itself to leak—similar to how the roof is protected from rain. The material is so durable that it would require a crane with a wrecking ball to crack it. That makes these windows even suitable for earthquake zones.

Maintaining such a feature should be hassle-free. Unlike aquarium acrylic at zoos or exotic stores, which require constant scrubbing, you won't need to clean this pool frequently. Chlorine helps prevent sliming, but particles may still settle over time. That's why most users employ a cleaning robot—it keeps the surface spotless without scratching the material.

Orientation of the Window

Vertical Alignment

Is the window situated in, or functioning as one of the pool walls?

Horizontal Alignment

Is the window situated in the bottom of the pool?