Sky Pool proposed in London - a design and engineering marvel from Arup Associates!

Slated to be designed and engineered by Arup Associates, in collaboration with HAL Architects, in Embassy Gardens, a residential development in Battersea, the wild idea apparently came from the developers Ballymore Group’s CEO Sean Mulryan. To execute this path-breaking technological miracle, Arup has roped in specialist aquarium designers Reynolds and structural design engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan for their expertise.

Embassy Gardens development in Nine Elms, by Ballymore Group is an extensive regeneration program for the area around Battersea. The latest phase of Embassy Gardens will deliver more than 850 new homes; and the Sky Pool will become a centerpiece of the development, which already has contributions from stalwarts from the world of architecture and design - with the masterplan developed by Rafael Viñoly, several apartment buildings by Foster+Partners, and Frank Gehry, and an “electric boulevard” conceived for the public square opposite Battersea’s iconic power station by Bjarke Ingels!

The location offers views of other iconic buildings such as the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, and will in itself become one more tourist attraction of the city.

The buildings are connected by a landscaped link at first floor allowing residents access to a range of outdoor spaces and amenities including a ‘working from home’ business area, gym and rooftop bar. The Sky Pool bridges the main entrance of the residential complex.

The first-of-its-kind sky pool is visualized as an aquarium and will be designed using 8-inch thick acryclic panels. Swimming in the pool promises to be a fascinating experience; akin to flying through air! Another feature will be a sky-deck, on top of the apartment blocks, which will incorporate a spa, a summer bar and a conservatory. 

The buildings start on site in the summer of 2015 with the first completions due in 2017. A London-bound holiday in the summer of 2018 surely seems like a great idea...!