Exploring Inground Gunite Swimming Pool Shapes

By Joe Murphy | 05/09/25

A swimming pool isn’t just for cooling off—it’s a statement. It’s where style meets fun and relaxation. Choosing an inground gunite pool means investing in durability, design flexibility, and timeless beauty. Made from a tough concrete mix sprayed over a steel frame, gunite pools are perfect for custom designs.

One of the most exciting parts? Choosing the shape. The shape affects everything—from style and function to yard fit and cost. The right shape reflects your style, creating a backyard oasis or sophisticated getaway.

A Quick Dive into History: How Pool Shapes Evolved

Pools have been around for thousands of years, starting in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Back then, they served practical, ritual, and recreational purposes. Wealthy Egyptians decorated private pools, while Romans built massive public baths. Early pools were simple and shaped by available building methods.

During the Renaissance, pools became symbols of status, especially in Italian gardens. By the mid-20th century, pools became more accessible. After World War II, the U.S. economic boom and reinforced concrete brought backyard pools to the middle class. The classic rectangular pool with a diving board became a suburban icon.

As technology advanced, so did pool shapes. Gunite made it possible to move beyond basic rectangles to embrace curves and unique forms. Today, pools are not just functional—they’re creative, personalized spaces.

Why Gunite? The Gold Standard for Inground Pools

If you’re planning a pool, you’ve likely heard of gunite. It’s the top choice for custom inground pools due to its strength, versatility, and durability.

What Makes Gunite Great?

Gunite is a mix of cement and sand sprayed at high speed onto a steel frame, creating a dense, durable shell. Here’s why it’s a favorite:

Endless Design Options: Shape it into nearly any design—perfect for curves, angles, and custom features.
Built to Last: A gunite pool can last over 50 years with proper care and withstands varying climates and soil conditions.
Stylish Finishes: Choose from plaster, tile, pebble, or stone for a luxurious look.
Custom Features: Add spas, waterfalls, tanning ledges, or swim-up bars seamlessly.
Boosts Property Value: A custom gunite pool increases home value.

What’s the Catch?

No material is perfect. Here are a few downsides to gunite:

Higher Cost: Gunite pools typically cost $50,000 to $120,000 or more, depending on design.
Time-Intensive: Building a gunite pool takes 6-12 weeks, including a 28-day curing period.
Regular Maintenance: Gunite pools require chemical balancing, brushing, and occasional acid washing. Resurfacing is needed every 7-15 years.
Rough Surface: Standard plaster finishes can feel gritty, though smoother or tiled finishes are available.

Is Gunite Worth It?

For a personalized, high-quality pool, gunite is hard to beat. While it’s more expensive and requires maintenance, its flexibility and beauty make it a top choice for creating a custom backyard retreat. Whether sleek and modern or lush and tropical, gunite brings your vision to life.

Exploring Gunite Pool Shapes

When it comes to inground gunite pools, the options for size and shape are endless. Thanks to gunite’s flexibility, you can design a pool that suits your style and transforms your backyard into a personal retreat.

The Classic Choice: Rectangular Gunite Pools

Rectangular pools are a classic design, dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. By the 1950s, they became an American staple, often paired with diving boards and poolside BBQs. Today, gunite enhances this timeless shape with durability and customization, making it both functional and elegant.

Why Rectangular Pools Are Great

Versatile: Ideal for laps, water sports, or lounging. Whether it’s a lap pool, infinity edge, or spa-pool hybrid (“spool”), this shape works.
Space-Saving: Clean lines maximize swim space, even in smaller yards.
Budget-Friendly: Simple shapes mean simpler construction, saving costs.
Easy to Clean: Straight sides make maintenance easier with manual or automatic cleaners.
Feature-Ready: Perfect for add-ons like tanning ledges, waterfalls, spas, or sports nets. They’re also ideal for automatic pool covers, minimizing hassle and cost.
Timeless Style: Classic lines complement any home style, from modern to traditional.

A Few Downsides

Simplicity Can Feel Basic: Without unique finishes, it may lack flair.
Corners Collect Dirt: 90-degree corners can trap debris, needing extra cleaning.

Perfect Fit for Your Home

Rectangular pools pair beautifully with modern and minimalist homes, while also adding sophistication to traditional or colonial-style homes.

Cool Features to Add

Spas: Usually placed at one end or off to the side.
Tanning Ledges: Shallow lounging areas that blend seamlessly.
Waterfalls: Often installed along a longer side for a relaxing vibe.
Automatic Covers: Easy and cost-effective for safety and efficiency.

If you want a pool that’s stylish, practical, and endlessly customizable, a rectangular gunite pool is hard to beat. With its timeless appeal and easy upgrades, it’s the ultimate backyard centerpiece. Plus, adding a pool cover for safety and energy efficiency is the perfect finishing touch!

The Gentle Curves: Oval and Round Gunite Pools

A Bit of History: Curved pools have been popular since the 1930s, thanks to designer Philip Ilsley, who introduced softer designs to his celebrity clients, moving away from boxy shapes. This sparked a trend for organic backyard aesthetics. Oval and round inground pools became early favorites, while oval above-ground pools gained traction in the late 1960s when new support systems handled water pressure on curved walls.

Why People Love Them:

Space Savers: Oval and round pools maximize backyard space, making them perfect for smaller yards.
Soothing Style: Their gentle curves give a natural, soft look.
Better Water Flow (Round Pools): Even water circulation reduces stagnant areas, keeping the water fresher.
Kid-Friendly: No sharp corners make these pools safer for families with kids.

The Downsides:

Not for Laps: Serious swimmers may find the curved shape less ideal for laps.
Tricky Covers: Non-standard shapes might require pricier custom pool covers.
Higher Costs: Smooth, durable curves with gunite require skilled work, making oval pools more expensive than simple rectangular or round ones. Complex designs can increase costs too.
Extra Maintenance: Gunite’s porous surface needs regular chemical balancing and brushing to prevent algae.
Blends Right In: These pools complement natural landscapes beautifully. A round pool can be a calming garden centerpiece, blending effortlessly into its surroundings.

Added Features:

Built-In Style: Curved steps and seating add both function and style.
Soothing Jets: Jets placed along the curves add luxury and elegance.
Matching Spas: Circular spas complete the look, creating a cohesive, relaxing setup.

Oval and round pools are a graceful, space-saving choice. Their soft, organic design works beautifully in smaller yards or natural landscapes. With durable gunite, you get strong, smooth curves built to last—a stylish, lasting alternative to angular pools.

The Mid-Century Favorite: Kidney-Shaped Gunite Pools

A Bit of History: The kidney-shaped pool is a true icon of mid-century modern design. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto designed an organically shaped pool for Villa Mairea in 1939, inspired by natural ponds. In 1948, landscape architect Thomas Church (with Lawrence Halprin) brought the kidney-shaped pool to California at the Donnell Garden in Sonoma. It became a symbol of 1950s and 60s leisure culture, especially in sunny California. By the 1970s drought, empty kidney pools became skateboarding hotspots, helping shape skate culture. Clearly, this pool design has a rich and cool history.

Why People Love It:

Timeless Design: The kidney shape has a soft, retro vibe that’s both natural and timeless, perfect for mid-century modern aesthetics.
Versatile Fit: Its asymmetrical curves are great for irregular backyards of all shapes and sizes.
Natural Zones: The shape naturally creates different areas—like shallow and deep ends, or a nook for a spa or waterfall.
Customizable: The curves work well with added features like landscaping, patios, or a spa tucked into the indentation.

Things to Consider:

Not Great for Laps: The curves aren’t ideal for lap swimming.
Tricky Covers: Automatic covers for kidney shapes can be pricier and more complex. Manual ones might need custom fitting.
Cleaning Challenges: Some pool cleaners might struggle with the curves, and debris may collect in indented areas.
Higher Costs: Custom curves can increase labor and material costs, especially for larger pools.

Style That Fits Anywhere:

Mid-Century Charm: Kidney pools are perfect for mid-century modern homes, embracing organic shapes and indoor-outdoor living.
Versatile Look: Beyond mid-century, this design works with contemporary, rustic, tropical, or naturalistic landscapes, depending on your choice of landscaping and materials.

Add Cool Features:

Spas: The indentation is ideal for a round or custom spa, seamlessly integrated with gunite.
Tanning Ledges: These blend into the curves, giving a lagoon-like feel.
Waterfalls & Rocks: The shape pairs beautifully with waterfalls or rock accents, often in the indentation.
Lighting: LED lights enhance the curves, while deck jets or laminars can add drama.
Infinity Edge: Stunning along the longer side, especially with a scenic view. A “reverse infinity” edge facing your home is another option.

Kidney-shaped pools blend retro charm with practical design. They fit various landscapes and naturally create zones for different uses. Built with gunite, this classic shape becomes even more versatile, ready for all the features you want. Whether you love mid-century modern or just want something softer than a rectangle, the kidney shape offers timeless style and function.

L-Shaped Gunite Pools: A Versatile Choice

What’s the story?

L-shaped pools take the classic rectangle and add a twist. First introduced at Putney Leisure Centre in 1968, they were designed to include a diving area without needing a separate structure. Since then, they’ve become a favorite for combining style and functionality. Grecian L-shaped pools even add elegance by mixing classical design with practicality.

Why choose an L-shaped pool?

Here’s what makes them stand out:

Two zones, one pool: Naturally divides into a lap area and a shallow section for kids, lounging, or even a spa.
Space-smart design: Fits well in odd-shaped yards or corners around homes and decks.
Room for extras: Features like Baja shelves or shallow lounging areas fit seamlessly without sacrificing swim space.
Modern look: A fresh twist on the traditional rectangle for a unique backyard design.
Functional depth: Separates shallow and deep ends for safety and usability.

The drawbacks to consider

No pool is perfect. L-shaped pools have a few challenges:

Higher costs: More corners and complexity mean higher construction costs.
Tricky covers: Automatic covers can be harder to install and more expensive.
Space needs: Require more yard room than rectangular or oval pools.
Debris traps: The inside corner can collect debris, needing extra cleaning or stronger pumps.
Limited laps: One leg may work for laps, but space can be tight, especially with fiberglass pools. Gunite offers more flexibility.

Where do they look best?

Modern homes: Clean lines match contemporary styles.
Courtyards and patios: Wraps neatly around outdoor spaces, creating defined zones.

Feature-friendly design

L-shaped pools are perfect for adding features like:

Spas: Tucked into corners or ends.
Tanning ledges: A natural fit for the shorter leg.
Steps: Wide steps fit well in the shorter leg or the meeting point.
Waterfalls: Add along the edge for a stunning visual and soothing sound.
Pool covers: Though trickier, dual mechanisms or manual options work well.

L-shaped pools offer more than just a cool design—they’re versatile, stylish, and functional. They create distinct zones, fit snugly into tight spaces, and allow room for custom features. While they may cost more and require some extra cleaning, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks. With gunite construction, you can customize every detail, making it a worthwhile investment for homeowners who want a unique, multi-functional pool.

The Unbridled Imagination: Freeform Gunite Pools

A Little Design History:

Freeform pools feature smooth, organic shapes inspired by nature. Unlike traditional geometric designs, they stand out with their unique curves. These pools gained popularity thanks to gunite technology, pioneered by Philip Ilsley and Pascal Paddock in early 20th-century California. Early designs were irregular but quickly evolved to mimic natural features like lagoons and ponds.

One iconic example? Ilsley’s hepatica leaf-shaped pool in the Hollywood Hills. By the 1950s, freeform pools were everywhere, reflecting a shift toward a relaxed, natural aesthetic.

Why People Love Freeform Pools:

Design Flexibility: They adapt to almost any space, whether it’s a quirky-shaped yard or a tree you want to keep.
Natural Look: Perfect for creating lagoon vibes, especially with lush landscaping.
Great for Awkward Spaces: Ideal for sloped yards or spots with obstacles.
Custom Features: Add rock waterfalls, grottos, beach entries, or built-in spas for a backyard paradise.

The Trade-Offs:

Higher Cost: Custom designs typically cost 5-10% more than traditional pools.
Cover Challenges: Automatic covers don’t fit well, and custom covers can get pricey.
Maintenance: Curves can trap debris, and circulation may require extra cleaning effort.
Not Lap-Friendly: Their shape isn’t ideal for swimming laps.
Longer Build Time: Custom designs take extra time to construct.

Finding the Right Style:

Natural or Tropical Vibes: Freeform pools shine with greenery or a resort-like feel.
Mediterranean and Ranch Homes: These designs pair beautifully with freeform pools.
Custom Features: Rock waterfalls, grottos, lighting, spas, and tanning ledges blend seamlessly into freeform shapes.

Freeform pools create unique backyard retreats. They’re perfect for homeowners who want a pool that feels natural and customized. While they may cost more and need a bit more upkeep, their beauty and flexibility make them a top choice.

So, Which Pool Shape is Right for You?

Choosing the right pool shape comes down to your space, budget, and vision. Rectangular pools are timeless and sleek, while freeform pools bring a relaxed, natural vibe.

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly space, a lap pool, or a private escape, weighing the pros and cons will help you design your dream backyard. It’s your pool—make it your own!