Why you won’t be able to swim at this new 10-story-high, see-through pool
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The world’s first elevated, transparent swimming pool opened in London, spanning the gap between two large high-rise buildings that offer luxury apartments to the wealthy — and simultaneously widening the gap between the rich and the rest of us.
Exclusive views from the heated rooftop pool include the River Thames, the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament, but not just anyone can enjoy them. Access is limited to residents of the Embassy Gardens Legacy Buildings that house the apartments, which, according to the property’s website, start at £600,000 (roughly $850,000).
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According to the Daily Mail, the development, which is in London’s Vauxhall neighborhood, near the U.S. embassy, encompasses 2,000 apartments, a bar and restaurant, and retail and office spaces in addition to the pool.
The pool’s location is the building architects’ creative solution to a “but where are we going to put the pool?” problem.
The swimming facility, which is easily one of the most unique and stunning pools we’ve seen, sits 10 stories (115 feet) above the ground and reaches 10 feet of depth in spots. Its walls, which are 12 inches thick, hold nearly 40,000 gallons of water and are supported by an invisible steel frame that allows the structure the flexibility it needs to move slightly in high winds.
The technology was designed and tested in Colorado before the components were shipped to the U.K. over the course of three weeks for assembly.
Despite the pool’s exclusivity, several groups of people were seen using it over the weekend. This has raised concerns about gatherings in the wake of COVID-19, particularly given that England’s lockdown rules are set to be fully relaxed in three weeks, on June 21.
Although a travel corridor between the U.K. and the U.S. still hasn’t been established, officials are pushing for it to happen this month.
Featured photo screenshot courtesy of Embassy Gardens website.
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