The Sky Pool is a 82-foot (25-meter) transparent swimming pool stretched between the 10th stories of two residential skyscrapers in southwest London’s Nine Elms neighborhood and it’s only open to the apartment complex’s lucky residents.
It’s the largest freestanding acrylic pool structure in the world and the showpiece of EcoWorld Ballymore’s new Embassy Gardens development, which will also include bars, restaurants and shops.
The Sky Pool at London
1 of 7
The pool is 10 feet deep and the water alone reportedly weighs around 375 tons.
Swimmers will be able to take in views of the London skyline, including the London Eye and Westminster
The pool's official opening is May 19, but this model took to the waters for some promo shots.
"Once you swim off, you can look right down. It will be like flying," says Brian Eckersley, director of Eckersley O'Callaghan, the pool's engineers.
The pool was manufactured in Colorado and traveled 5,000 miles by land and sea to its new home.
Arup Associates is behind the project -- its past successes include the Sydney Opera House.
Sadly, it's only open to residents of the swish new residential complex, where two-bed apartments start at $1.4 million.
Located next to the US Embassy and close to the south bank of the Thames, bathers will be able to take in views of the London skyline, including the London Eye and Westminster.
The pool, which was built in Colorado (US) and traveled 5,000 miles to its new home, is 10 feet deep and the water alone reportedly weighs around 375 tons. The pool was put through extensive strength testing before making its journey to the UK by road and sea. It was then lifted into place by a 750-tonne mobile crane, supported by a 50-tonne crane.
“The lifting was a precision process, as there was a tolerance of just 30 centimeters in installing the pool into its steel frame. After a series of technical drawings and behavioral analyses, the dimensions of the pool were decided,” says the Embassy Gardens website.
With sides 200 millimeters thick and 3.2 meters deep, and with a bottom 300 millimeters thick, the 50-tonne acrylic pool will span the 14 meters between the buildings, with steps and filtrations systems sitting at either end, and five modes of lighting to add to the feeling of magic. Residents will be able to dive off at one side and get off at the other.
Its official opening is May 19, but models have already taken to the waters for promotional shots. “Once you swim off, you can look right down. It will be like flying,” said one of the pool’s engineers. The opening ceremony will be hosted by radio DJ Roman Kemp and will feature a performance by synchronized swimming team Aquabatix.
There are 2,000 homes in Embassy Gardens, with prices starting at $1.4 million for a two-bed. Nine Elms is a formerly industrial but now ultra-chic neighborhood, with 40 new developments currently in the works, plus two new underground train stations.
