London's Skypool - a world first

London’s new Sky Pool has been causing a splash. The 25 metre pool is a world first - forming a bridge between the two towers which make up the new Embassy Gardens apartment complex.

It’s not for the fainthearted, sitting 35 metres up in the air in the Nine Elms regeneration zone in Wandsworth - not far from the Battersea Power Station.

London’s Sky Pool is a world first. Image credit - Embassy Gardens website.

Hal Architects worked with Eckersley O’Callaghan Engineers for their client Ballymore Group to create what they call the world’s first fully transparent swimming pool which is essentially a swimmable bridge.

Hal Architects say “some significant engineering challenges have been addressed in developing the structural solution for this spectacular new pool.

The pool forms a bridge between two apartment towers. Image credit - Embassy Gardens Website.

“The pool structure has a clear span of 15m between the buildings. The side walls form deep beams capable of spanning this distance whilst carrying the weight of the water, as well as resisting the hydrostatic water pressure on the sides and the wind loads.”

The pool, which contains 400 tonnes of water, is five meters wide and three meters deep, has caused controversy recently though.

The ‘Inside Housing’ publication reports this week that “affordable housing residents at the development, many of whom live in flats overlooked by the pool, are not allowed to use it.”

Some report swimming in the pool can feel a little like flying. Image credit - Embassy Gardens website.