Swimmers enjoying the London Sky Pool which is believed to be the world’s first transparent pool built between two residential buildings at Embassy Gardens suspended 35 meters (115 feet) in the air.
I don't trust any engineering that much and even if I did, I don't trust any manufacturer that much and even if I did, I don't trust any installer that much.
I don't trust tectonic plates that much. Even the ones that never seem to be doing anything much. I know they're just watching and waiting. Sneaky fucks.
For those living and working in city-centers, trusting engineering of elevators with our lives is a daily practice of faith. Just because you don't see the bottom, doesn't mean it's less dangerous... particularly older elevators that have been moving up and down on a few cables and gears for decades.
Bridges are arguably much more common, and absurdly older technology than elevators. Just because the bridge is made out of aluminum doesn't change much, and having it filled with water is actually a much more stable load than normal bridges which are constantly being stressed with massive trucks and cars, then being unstressed when they drive off. Thats significantly harder on the material than this bridge, which is at an almost constant, predictable load.
This bridge was probably significantly simpler to design than something like the Golden Gate Bridge, or really any large bridge that has constant shifting loads in the hundreds of thousands of tons
You know them little glass pop-out things they got at the top of the sears tower, I barely trusted -that- and that wasn't even 1/100th as frighting as this, and I could barely stand on it for 10 seconds before I had to get out. Groups of people stand out there to get pictures and have for years, so why does my brain tell me its instantly gonna fail when I step out there? Illogical I know, but too scary for me. This thing? I don't think you could pay me to swim across, my arms just wouldn't let me.
They would probably accounted for the pool filled to the brim and added a factor of safety of 3-5. They really don't want to fuck that up. They probably also made the glass so tough and probably a half dozen or so laminated pieces so if some idiot shot it with a rifle it'll be fine.
Earthquakes are unlikely to be a problem. Foundations shifting due to new construction in the area is much more likely. That thing will be fine for few years. Then the usefulness will depend on inspection and maintanence schedule. Odds are that it will be drained and taken out of use long before it actually fails. Once visual wear starts to show up, fewer people will want to use it and it won't be worth the upkeep.
I wouldnt have been surprised if your company was the only bidder. Not many manufacturers trust their own product and engineering enough to offer it to be used in a place like this.
But I’m guessing the material is not something that shatters like glass, like many people here are imagining.
“Built” is a bit of a generalization. Reynolds was the acrylic manufacturer for both but there’s many more hands in the bucket as far as design and installation.
First you have to trust the engineers and architects who designed it, then you need to trust the materials were correctly sourced and no one skimped out on quality, then you need to trust the installation was done correctly and qualified personnel were employed. The fact that it’s in London gives me a small bit of comfort that it’s likely well built. That being said, I’ve seen pools+height go wrong before and it’s terrifying.
Buildings move a ton so the pool probably has springs or some crazy technology to allow it to flex. the glass construction makes it a no from me, if it cracks all those people are instantly dead. I'm not afraid of heights at all and I would decline.
I don’t think it’s glass. Probably layered polycarbonate. Notice the title didn’t say “first glass pool between two buildings” it said “first transparent.” Polycarbonate is much stronger than any glass and more shock resistant, it’s what bullet proof “glass” is made of.
I'm a completely different kind of scientist - biochemical - but polycarbonate tubes are very commonly used in ultracentrifuges, where they're spun at 20,000g (20k × 9.8m/s², which is 20k × the acceleration due to gravity, if anyone was wondering). I've had to do it so many times it's boring.
Jason Stadam is the result of a great love story between a young British soldier who fought in Iraq and the beautiful daughter of one of Saddam Hussein's most ruthless bodyguards.
I heard that he is quite successful as a background dancer in music videos and also likes to do some swimming and diving.
So you're telling' me this is the world's first transparent pool between two residential buildings at Embassy Gardens suspended 35 meters (115 feet) in the air?
Yes, luckily! I heard that the list that World Guinness records kept of transparent pools built between two residential buildings at Embassy Gardens suspended 35 meters (115 feet) in the air was truly embarrasingly low. Glad they've finally started it!
I mean they put like 10 of these things between two residential buildings at Embassy Gardens suspended 34 meters (111.5 feet) in the air. This was the next logical step to up their game.
It also appears to be that this is the world's first transparent pool between two residential buildings at Embassy Gardens suspended 35 meters (115 feet) in the air.
There is a building in New York with an observation deck that has a section of glass floor. I was so excited to see it and take pictures and all that but I initially could not force myself to walk over it. I tried. I could barely stand near it.
Then I watched a toddler run across it. I was eventually able to do it but it took so much longer than it should have.
Kind of, if I’m reading that article correctly it looks like normal building occupants have access to all building amenities but there are some lower income apartments within the building that have prices reduced and some high cost amenities excluded without an additional fee.
Theres a good show on HBO called High Maintenance. There's an episode that jokes about this at a luxury apt in Brooklyn. Here in NYC you can sign up for the lower income housing lottery to live in a decent building but not allowed to use all amenities.
They only displace the water up less than an inch and it doesn’t leave the pool. It holds 39,000 gallons and you’re only increasing the weight by 1000 pounds/(8 pounds/gallon) =125 gallons…
Or perhaps the entire swimming pool is separate from the two buildings?
Edit: something like this
The final design comprises a 15 metre long acrylic section sitting in steel ‘tubs’ at either end, the tubs providing a base for the pool and also housing the pool steps and essentials such as cleaning equipment and lighting. Bridge bearings under the tubs allow the pool to move as the two buildings on which it sits move.
https://www.ballymoregroup.com/news/world-first-sky-pool-at-embassy-gardens
I wonder if it'd be more likely to break from twisting and warping during an earthquake, because it spans two buildings that might sway slightly differently...
The most destructive earthquake ever recorded in modern Britain was 142 years ago. It caused some chimneys to wobble and one guy bruised his elbow as he fell from his penny farthing.
I see you chose to leave out the devastating loss of tea that occurred on that tragic day, and all the lightly scalded hands that went with it. #neverforget
“Holy shit what kind of colossal idiot would build a pool like that?”
“I just want to go on record saying that a glass swimming pool on the penthouse balcony is without a doubt the absolute worst idea I’ve ever heard in my entire goddamn life. But you’re the men, so….”
There was a movie with Rami Malek recently that featured this pool. It’s called The Amateur, he plays an assassin. Spoilers Some dude that killed his wife is swimming in this and he breaks it so the guy falls to his death
In the past you could have made a joke about this being a real extravagance for something that would only be used for one week of the year. Not so much now.
The pool is made of 50 metric tons of acrylic and it's the largest load-bearing acrylic structure in the world. The thickness varies between 20-30cm. It was made in Colorado and shipped whole to London.
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u/Bright-Strength4182 7h ago
I don't trust any engineering that much and even if I did, I don't trust any manufacturer that much and even if I did, I don't trust any installer that much.