At first glance, it's easy to be swept up by the beauty of an exceptional pool or spa. The water, the setting, the materials and the architecture come together to create something that feels effortless.
Look a little closer, though, and another story begins to emerge.
Behind every striking finished project are countless decisions — how a pool responds to the land around it, how materials come together, how water moves through a space and how engineering challenges are solved without distracting from the design. It's where creativity and technical skill work in tandem, and where the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
Each year, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Awards of Excellence recognizes projects that demonstrate that level of thoughtful design and execution. This year's honorees span a remarkable range of styles, settings and challenges, offering a glimpse at what pool and spa professionals around the world are creating today.
Split into two parts, this collection highlights just some of the pools and spas that impressed the judges — stay tuned as we unveil the second half of the Merit winners soon.
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Supreme Pools and Spas, Spring, TexasPhoto courtesy Nick Fandino / Open House Photography
Supreme Pools and Spas
Spring, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Jandy
Sanitizer: Jandy
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Pool Environments, Plano, TexasPhoto courtesy Jason Moore / Jimi Smith Photography
Pool Environments
Plano, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Paramount
Start-up Chemicals: Startup-Tec
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company, Houston, TexasPhoto courtesy Ambrose Shokunbi / Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Houston, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Jandy
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Texas Outdoor Oasis, Wylie, TexasPhoto courtesy Moses Lee Campos / Texas Outdoor Oasis
Texas Outdoor Oasis
Wylie, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: Orenda
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Cody Pools, Round Rock, TexasPhoto courtesy Jason Roberts Creative
Cody Pools
Round Rock, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair, Paramount
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By East Coast Pools & Spas, Ormond Beach, Fla.Photo courtesy Lisa Licolli / East Coast Pools & Spas
East Coast Pools & Spas
Ormond Beach, Fla.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: Hayward
Category: VANISHING EDGE | By Diffazur Piscines, Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-MaritimesPhoto courtesy Jean-Claude Fayet / Vision Plus Production
Diffazur Piscines
Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-Maritimes
Automation: Diffazur by Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: Ocedis
Category: Geometric | By Venture Custom Pools, Plano, TexasPhoto courtesy Premier Property Media
Venture Custom Pools
Plano, Texas
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Waterway
Sanitizer: Jandy
Start-up Chemicals: Hayward
Category: Geometric | By Riverbend Sandler Pools, Plano, TexasPhoto courtesy Jose Serrato Photography
Riverbend Sandler Pools
Plano, Texas
Automation: Fluidra
Circulation Equipment: Fluidra
Sanitizer: Regal
Start-up Chemicals: Jack's Magic
Category: Geometric | By Hauk Custom Pools, Celina, TexasPhoto courtesy Jose Serrato Photography
Hauk Custom Pools
Celina, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Jandy, Fluidra
Start-up Chemicals: POOLCORP
Category: Geometric | By Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company, Houston, TexasPhoto courtesy Ambrose Shokunbi / Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Houston, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Jandy
Category: Geometric | By Ashton Pools By Design, Rehoboth Beach, Del.Photo courtesy Meg Shupe Photography
Ashton Pools By Design
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: Regal
Category: Geometric | By Backyard Oasis, Tomball, TexasPhoto courtesy Lauren Lewis / Feather and Arrow
Backyard Oasis
Tomball, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: SCP
Category: Geometric | By Diffazur Piscines, Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-MaritimesPhoto courtesy Jean-Claude Fayet / Vision Plus Production
Diffazur Piscines
Saint-Laurent-Du-Var, Alpes-Maritimes
Automation: Diffazur by Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: Ocedis
Category: Geometric | By Keowee Pools, Six Mile, S.C.Photo courtesy Drew Peden Media
Keowee Pools
Six Mile, S.C.
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Jandy
Category: Geometric | By Hilltop Pools and Spas, Jonesboro, Ga.Photo courtesy Brad Zimmerman Photography
Hilltop Pools and Spas
Jonesboro, Ga.
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Category: Geometric | By California Pools & Landscape, Chandler, Ariz.Photo courtesy Ethan Cooper Photography
California Pools & Landscape
Chandler, Ariz.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Category: Geometric | By Backyard Oasis, Tomball, TexasPhoto courtesy Lauren Lewis / Feather and Arrow
Backyard Oasis
Tomball, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: SCP
Category: Geometric | By Third Coast Pools, Friendswood, TexasPhoto courtesy Alex Land and Camdon Dean
Third Coast Pools
Friendswood, Texas
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: AquaSalt
Pool Environments
Plano, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Paramount
Start-up Chemicals: Startup-Tec
Category: Geometric | By Texas Outdoor Oasis, Wylie, TexasPhoto courtesy Moses Lee Campos / Texas Outdoor Oasis
Texas Outdoor Oasis
Wylie, Texas
Automation: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: Orenda
Category: Geometric | By Larsen's Pool & Spa, Tampa, Fla.Photo courtesy Horne Architectural Photography
Larsen's Pool & Spa
Tampa, Fla.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: Hayward
Category: Geometric | By Richard's Total Backyard Solutions, Houston, TexasPhoto courtesy Jon Aguirre / Earth Scout
Richard's Total Backyard Solutions
Houston, Texas
Automation: A&A
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: Poolife
Category: Geometric | By Connected Pools, Deerfield Beach, Fla.Photo courtesy Natel & Rocha Photos
Connected Pools
Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: Pentair
Category: Geometric | By AquaTerra Outdoors, Carrollton, TexasPhoto courtesy Jason Moore / Jimi Smith Photography
AquaTerra Outdoors
Carrollton, Texas
Automation: Paramount
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Category: Geometric | By High-Tech Pools, North Olmsted, OhioPhoto courtesy Hanson Photographic
High-Tech Pools
North Olmsted, Ohio
Automation: Poolside Tech
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: Startup-Tec
Category: Geometric | By California Pools & Landscape, Chandler, Ariz.Photo courtesy Ethan Cooper Photography
California Pools & Landscape
Chandler, Ariz.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Category: Geometric | By Infinity Pools of Texas, Bulverde, TexasPhoto courtesy Jason Roberts Creative
Infinity Pools of Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Automation: Poolside Tech
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: A&A
Category: Geometric | By Heritage Pools, North Charleston, S.C.Photo courtesy Jack Robbins / Keen Eye Photography
Heritage Pools
North Charleston, S.C.
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Start-up Chemicals: SCP
Category: Geometric | By Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company, Houston, TexasPhoto courtesy Ambrose Shokunbi / Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Platinum Pools - A Cody Pools Company
Houston, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Jandy
Category: Geometric | By BMR Pool & Patio, Lewisville, TexasPhoto courtesy Landon Register / Lumex Productions
BMR Pool & Patio
Lewisville, Texas
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Jandy
Category: Geometric | By J3 Pools, Pearland, TexasPhoto courtesy Wanda James / J3 Pools, Jason Moore / Jimi Smith Photography
J3 Pools
Pearland, Texas
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: SCP
Category: Freeform | By Fiesta Pools and Spas, Tulsa, Okla.Photo courtesy Jason Ulmer, Ron Lyon, Madison McKinney / Fiesta Pools and Spas
Fiesta Pools and Spas
Tulsa, Okla.
Automation: Fluidra
Circulation Equipment: Riverflow, Fluidra
Sanitizer: Paramount
Start-up Chemicals: BioGuard
Category: Freeform | By Lake Norman Signature Pools & Patios, Mooresville, N.C.Photo courtesy Chad Goodin
Lake Norman Signature Pools & Patios
Mooresville, N.C.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: Hayward
Start-up Chemicals: Orenda
Category: Freeform | By Icon Custom Pools, Manassas Park, Va.Photo courtesy Legare Hay / In The Black Marketing & Consulting
Icon Custom Pools
Manassas Park, Va.
Automation: Hayward
Circulation Equipment: Hayward
Sanitizer: Hayward
Category: Freeform | By Hilltop Pools and Spas, Jonesboro, Ga.Photo courtesy Hilltop Pools and Spas
Hilltop Pools and Spas
Jonesboro, Ga.
Automation: Pentair
Circulation Equipment: Pentair
Sanitizer: Pentair
Category: Freeform | By A-1 Pool Service, Hilton Head Island, S.C.Photo courtesy Corey Gibson Photography
A-1 Pool Service
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Automation: Jandy
Circulation Equipment: Jandy
Sanitizer: Jandy
Start-up Chemicals: Solenis
Category: Freeform | By Coral Sea Pools, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.Photo courtesy Frank Bellantoni / Westchester Drone Company
Coral Sea Pools
Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
Circulation Equipment: Jandy
