Infinity pools are visual and architectural masterpieces. Every traveller worth his salt has been to the reflecting swimming pool which gives the illusion of extending till the horizon at least once. While most of them have one edge made of transparent material (usually glass), a company called Compass Pools is planning to build one that has the said effect on all sides.
Meet Infinity London, an upcoming 360-degree, 600,000-litre infinity pool atop a 55-storey skyscraper.
It will be built with cast acrylic to give it that transparent feel and the pool’s heating system will function on reused energy generated by ACs in the skyscraper. It will have lots of sparkling lights that will give it a glow-up during the night. Pool designer and technical director Alex Kemsley says,
“Pop your goggles on and with a 360-degree view of London from 220m up, it really will be something else – but it’s definitely not one for the acrophobic!”
When images of the upcoming pool went viral online, Twitter was flooded with questions. The most common one asking the mechanics of getting in and out of the pool.
But… how do you get out?! 😱😂 https://t.co/obEt2GB04r
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) June 7, 2019
Do you have to be dropped in by helicopter?
— Agingdiscoqueen (@agingdiscoqueen) June 7, 2019
The designer reveals, “The solution is based on the door of a submarine, coupled with a rotating spiral staircase which rises from the pool floor when someone wants to get in or out – the absolute cutting edge of swimming pool and building design and a little bit James Bond to boot!”
#Travel – World's first 360-degree rooftop infinity pool planned for London skyline – https://t.co/MI8yet18V2 #Travalogy pic.twitter.com/PgFghTLlH8
— TRAVALOGY 🌎 (@travalogyworld) June 4, 2019
And then people pointed out other practical flaws like the city’s unpredictable weather, the problem of pigeons wanting to take a dip and also the acrophobic panic attacks.
https://twitter.com/The_Referee_99/status/1136996624868134912
London, known for its year-round sunshine!! pic.twitter.com/ZJ7cVsTfBh
— Darragh Muldoon (@DarraghMuldoon) June 7, 2019
This seems like a facilities management nightmare…
— M K (@kelleher) June 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/ConcernedSitizn/status/1136948136058990592
While the company has worked on technology that ensures that wind doesn’t carry the water down to the streets, it will be interesting to see how they plan to solve the other issues and pull off this Instagram-worthy concept.