A vacuum insulating glazing unit comprising: a first lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge; a second lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge, the second lite being spaced-apart from the first lite to define an insulating cavity therebetween bounded by the respective inner surfaces; an edge seal extending between the first lite and the second lite, the edge seal being formed from a hermetic material, characterized in that, the edge seal further includes a central compliant region having a surface formed in a three-dimensional pattern; a first proximal section (1424, upper) connected to the central compliant region; a second proximal section (1424, lower) connected to the central compliant region; a first lite bonding region (1426, upper) connected to the opposite side of the first proximal section (1424, upper) from the compliant region; a second lite bonding region (1426, lower) connected to the opposite side of the second proximal section (1424, lower) from the compliant region; wherein the edge seal further includes a first fold on each side of the central complaint region disposed between the respective proximal section and the respective lite bonding region and a second fold on each respective lite bonding region defining a first part and a remaining part; a first hermetic bond formed between the first portion of the first lite bonding region (1426, upper) of the edge seal and the first lite; a first structural bond formed between the remaining portion of the first lite bonding region (1426, upper) of the edge seal and the outer surface of the first lite; a second-hermetic bond formed between the first portion of the second lite bonding region (1426, lower) of the edge seal and the second lite; and a second structural bond formed between the remaining portion of the second lite bonding region (1426, lower) of the edge seal and the outer surface of the second lite; wherein each of the first and second structural bonds is disposed along the edge seal in an interposed configuration between the respective first and second hermetic bond and the compliant region of the edge seal; and wherein each of the first and second hermetic bonds is bonded to the surface of the respective lite (1401, 1402) in an interposed configuration between the respective first and second structural bonds and the insulating cavity. a first lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge; a second lite formed from a hermetic transparent material and having an outer surface, an inner surface and a peripheral edge, the second lite being spaced-apart from the first lite to define an insulating cavity therebetween bounded by the respective inner surfaces; an edge seal extending between the first lite and the second lite, the edge seal being formed from a hermetic material, characterized in that, the edge seal further includes a central compliant region having a surface formed in a three-dimensional pattern; a first proximal section (1424, upper) connected to the central compliant region; a second proximal section (1424, lower) connected to the central compliant region; a first lite bonding region (1426, upper) connected to the opposite side of the first proximal section (1424, upper) from the compliant region; a second lite bonding region (1426, lower) connected to the opposite side of the second proximal section (1424, lower) from the compliant region; wherein the edge seal further includes a first fold on each side of the central complaint region disposed between the respective proximal section and the respective lite bonding region and a second fold on each respective lite bonding region defining a first part and a remaining part; a first hermetic bond formed between the first portion of the first lite bonding region (1426, upper) of the edge seal and the first lite; a first structural bond formed between the remaining portion of the first lite bonding region (1426, upper) of the edge seal and the outer surface of the first lite; a second-hermetic bond formed between the first portion of the second lite bonding region (1426, lower) of the edge seal and the second lite; and a second structural bond formed between the remaining portion of the second lite bonding region (1426, lower) of the edge seal and the outer surface of the second lite; wherein each of the first and second structural bonds is disposed along the edge seal in an interposed configuration between the respective first and second hermetic bond and the compliant region of the edge seal; and wherein each of the first and second hermetic bonds is bonded to the surface of the respective lite (1401, 1402) in an interposed configuration between the respective first and second structural bonds and the insulating cavity.