A 25m swimming pool connecting the tops of two 10-storey towers is to be built in London.
Nicknamed the ‘Sky Pool’, it has been described as a world first and will feature a transparent bottom.
It will allow swimmers to look down on passers-by from a height of 35m.
Eckersley O'Callaghan, the firm that has worked with Apple to design its stores around the world, will build the project.
The pool is part of a luxury property development called Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms, near Battersea Power Station.
It is expected to be completed by summer 2019, but the idea does not come without its challenges – especially considering it will be subject to forces exerted on it by the two adjacent buildings, which are built on different foundations.
Using the pool will be like “floating on air in central London,” says Sean Mulryan, chief executive of Ballymore Group, which has commissioned the pool.
“To my knowledge, this will be a world first – I don’t know of any other glass-framed swimming pools at this height,” said Sarah Fray, director of engineering and technical services at Structural Engineers. She noted, however, that there was a long history of buildings that store water, such as aqueducts.
“This project is a very interesting design challenge, it’s great to see the built environment pushing the boundaries and creating exciting and challenging new features in the city,” she told the BBC.
“One challenge will be lifting the materials – that will probably require a very special crane. Also, as a bridge, the swimming pool will need to be able to serve the two buildings moving different amounts.”
