CLAD People It will feel like floating through the air while you’re swimming Sean Mulryan Chair and CEO, Ballymore Group PROJECT: Sky pool, Nine Elms, London, UK
D
eveloper Ballymore
only 20cm of transparent acrylic
advancements in technologies
announced plans at
between them and a 10 storey drop.
over the last decade. My
the end of the summer
The pool is the brainchild of
vision stemmed from a desire
the Ballymore Group chair and
to push the boundaries of
ning two apartment blocks in its
CEO, Sean Mulryan, who said:
construction and engineering.”
Nine Elms development next to
“The experience will be unique;
for a ‘sky pool’ span-
The apartment building will
Battersea Power Station, London.
it will feel like floating through
also feature a rooftop bar, a
The 25m pool will be 5m wide
the air while you’re swimming.
spa and an orangery. A bridge
and will enable residents to swim between the buildings with
“The Sky Pool’s transparent structure is the result of significant
running parallel with the pool will enable residents and visitors to walk between the buildings. The pool was designed by Arup Associates, marine design engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan and aquarium designer Reynolds. Ballymore MD John Mulryan explained how the acrylic structure
The project is the brainchild of Ballymore CEO Sean Mulryan
will be supported. “The pool spans about 40m between the two buildings but a lot of the structure is in the side of the
12 CLADGLOBAL.COM
it’s the first time it’s been done.” The apartments are part of the
pool,” he said. “Even though
2,000-home Embassy Gardens
you’ve only got 20cm [of thickness
development which is entering
of acrylic] at the bottom of the
its second stage and is part of
pool, you’ve got 3m [of acrylic]
a wider regeneration scheme
on each side and that essentially
masterplanned by Foster +
carries a lot of the structure.
Partners and Frank Gehry.
“Acrylic is really strong and it can The acrylic pool will link the two 10-storey buildings
“[This is] brand new technology and
The scheme has attracted
do much more than it used to be
controversy for its high-end
able to do five or 10 years ago.
pricing and designer styling.
CLAD mag 2015 ISSUE 3