Swimming has never been seen as much of an extreme sport, though you’d have to arguably be more than a little daring to take a dip in this glass “Sky Pool,” which will be suspended 10 stories above the ground between two apartment blocks in London's new Nine Elms quarter, near Battersea Power Station in the centre of London.
The pool planned to link two blocks of apartments that form part of the 2,000-home Embassy Gardens development by London architectural firm HAL, which is now in its second stage. The pool itself is a rather standard 25 metres long, five metres wide and three metres deep (though significantly more than that if you count the 10 story drop below the glass floor), but it’s not the size of the pool that’s its selling point.
The glass sky pool will be suspended 10 stories above the ground between two apartment blocks in London's new Nine Elms quarter
Embassy Gardens residents (at least those not suffering from vertigo) will be able to swim between the two buildings (called the “Legacy Buildings”), whilst admiring some truly stunning views of London through the pool’s completely transparent glass casing. As is to be expected, this isn’t just any glass casing, as it measures around 20 centimetres in thickness. It’s more the feelings of nausea than the safety issues that will probably put people off though (I know I’d certainly have a few reservations).
Intended to resemble an aquarium, the pool was designed by Arup Associates, with specialist advice from structural design engineers Eckersley O' Callaghan and aquarium designers Reynolds. The fact that the firm actually went to an aquarium designer to consult with the build speaks volumes of the structural integrity of it. Construction on the Embassy Gardens Legacy Buildings apartment blocks, and subsequently the sky pool, is planned for completion in 2017.
The residential blocks, developed by the Ballymore Group, will also feature a rooftop bar, spa and even an orangery
The residential blocks, developed by the Ballymore Group, will also feature a rooftop bar, spa and even an orangery (where they grow oranges, naturally), which overlooks the House of Parliament. An additional bridge will also form a second link, allowing residents and visitors to walk between the buildings whilst remaining relatively dry (weather pertaining). Ballymore Group chairman and CEO Sean Mulryan said of the pool: “My vision stemmed from a desire to push the boundaries in the capability of construction and engineering. I wanted to do something that had never been done before. The Sky Pool's transparent structure is the result of significant advancements in technologies over the last decade. The experience of the pool will be truly unique, it will feel like floating through the air in central London.”
Of course, flats in the estate won’t be coming cheap, with units starting at around £602,000. The price comes with some security though, as the Embassy Gardens scheme will easily be London’s most secure residential zone, with the flats huddled around the brand new US Embassy, which contains a 30-metre-deep bomb-blast zone. The riverside Nine Elms area (situated adjacent to Battersea Power Station on the South Bank) is currently undergoing extensive redevelopment as part of a £15 billion plan by Frank Gehry and Foster and Partners. Two additional tube stations will also link central London to a new area featuring a new public square. It’s all very exciting if you have a spare few million floating about, but the rest of us can at least enjoy the view. From the pavement below.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK who (oddly) still owns the pair of trunks emblazoned with his 25 metre swimming badge, but seriously doubts they’d fit anymore.