Swim the Skies of London in “World’s First” 360-Degree Infinity Pool

infinity-pool-london-1
Photo Courtesy: Compass Pools, https://www.compass-pools.co.uk

By Madilyn Sindelar, Swimming World College Intern.

Imagine this: you’re going for a dip in the familiar chlorinated waters of the pool, yet instead of the black line, you see faces smiling up at you and waving from the room below. You try to anticipate the flip-turn as you approach the wall, yet you face-plant into the clear glass boundary. At this point, you’re stunned by the view and take it all in. The city of London sparkles and bustles all around you – the full 360 degrees.

Around the world, there are only a handful of architecturally beautiful pools that swimmers dream of splashing around in. However, could you imagine taking a dip in a pool at the top of a skyscraper, with a 55-story drop below?

Watch the YouTube video above for an in-depth explanation of the design by head designer and director, Alex Kemsley.

The “world’s first” infinity pool, named Infinity London, boasts an endless view. To be filled with 600,000 liters of water, the pool would sit on top of a five-star hotel. Infinity London – designed by Compass Pools – will be created out of cast acrylic with completely transparent sides. This allows hotel visitors to view people swimming above. In addition, designers envision that the pool will sparkle due to a creative arrangement of lights. However, the idea of swimming on top of a 55-story building is heart-stopping for most.

infinity-pool-london-3

Photo Courtesy: Compass Pools, https://www.compass-pools.co.uk

The upcoming project faces many challenges.

The biggest challenge to this design is ensuring the full 360-degree view without obstruction, specifically from stairs at the entry and exit point. This is where creativity from Compass Pool’s designer and technical director, Alex Kemsley, comes into play.

In order to ensure the view, designers have created a stairless entrance to the pool inspired by the structure of a submarine door. Swimmers will enter from below on a spiral staircase that will rotate and rise to the entrance.

An additional challenge lies in regulating the temperature and depth of the water in such an exposed location. For an energy-efficient solution, the water will be heated by waste energy from the building’s air conditioning system. The water temperature will be monitored as well as wind speed by a built-in anemometer. As explained in an online interview with Compass Pools, this is a device connected to “[A] computer-controlled building management system to ensure the pool stays at the right temperature and water doesn’t get blown down to the streets below.”

infinity-pool-london-2

Photo Courtesy: Compass Pools, https://www.compass-pools.co.uk

Construction is slated to begin in 2020 pending confirmation of partners and contractors.

The depth and breadth of detailed planning for this project reflect awe and respect for the water that all swimmers can relate to. Would you go for a swim in the “world’s first” infinity pool atop London?

Tell us your answer in a comment below!

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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78 Comments
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Rikke Nielsen
4 years ago

Katrine Nielsen det vil jeg prøve ??

Rosemary Chupik
4 years ago

No thanks.

Traci Lyn Schachle
4 years ago

Victoria Schachle

Billy McCloud
4 years ago

Ethan McCloud Lori McCloud

Ethan McCloud
4 years ago
Reply to  Billy McCloud

Billy McCloud hahaha

Heather Raley
4 years ago

Melanie Rebechi graduation trip

Neil Morgan
4 years ago

I guess the fun bit is trying to get in/out.

Dave Hoover
4 years ago
Reply to  Neil Morgan

Perhaps by airdrop?

Neil Morgan
4 years ago
Reply to  Neil Morgan

Dave Hoover I read the article afterwards, and it’s not as much fun as that.

Jim Grisham
4 years ago

No

Katrina Anne Tedstone
4 years ago

Jillian Folger John Feher Danielle Drapeau Jim Drapeau Can we do this in London?????

Danielle Drapeau
4 years ago

No way out

Dylan Cross
4 years ago

Haiyen Nguyen

Haiyen Nguyen
4 years ago
Reply to  Dylan Cross

Dylan Cross wow

Zuza Matras
4 years ago

Sara Loureiro

Lisa Leone Clark
4 years ago

Marilyn Peck Hall. Russell Kozlosky

Cathrine Toftedal Dall

Jenna Fabricius Pearson og Helena Ragborg ??‍♀️

Helena Ragborg
4 years ago

Cathrine Toftedal Dall DET SKAL VI !

Cathrine Toftedal Dall

Helena Ragborg ja det ville være fedt ????

Helena Ragborg
4 years ago

Cathrine Toftedal Dall men det kræver godt vejr ?

Cathrine Toftedal Dall

Helena Ragborg ja det gør det jo nok ?

Jenna Fabricius Pearson

Cathrine Toftedal Dall fedt ♥️ glæder mig allerede ??

Deandi Van de Vyver
4 years ago

Matthew De Sousa yes yes yes!!

Lauren Grippo
4 years ago

How do we get in and out? Lauren Logan

Lauren Logan
4 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Grippo

I was thinking you must swim up through the middle… ?

Lauren Grippo
4 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Grippo

Lauren Logan ?? through a tunnel…that would be cool….

Lauren Logan
4 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Grippo

that would be the best!

Mary-Helen Hopkins
4 years ago
Reply to  Lauren Grippo

Lauren Grippo, it’s a sort of moving underwater stairway.

Angela Chooyin
4 years ago

Julia Mary this is what I was telling you about xx

Mike Caldwell
4 years ago

How do you enter the pool? There isn’t any access.

Jim Drapeau
4 years ago

I’m sorry to be the bummer, but it doesn’t exist.

Kate Lea Zender
4 years ago

Natascha Zender?

Jorge Rodriguez
4 years ago

Maria yes?

Maria Espinal
4 years ago

Jorge sure lol

Jorge Rodriguez
4 years ago

Maria no way!! You saying yes to that lol

Maria Espinal
4 years ago

Jorge!!! Of course not. Sarcasm baby boy

Maria Espinal
4 years ago

U kinda sorta know me lolol

Jorge Rodriguez
4 years ago

MariaI bought that one

Jorge Rodriguez
4 years ago

Maria lol

Maria Espinal
4 years ago

Jorge Rodriguez te la comistes huh ajaj ?

Kata Dávid
4 years ago

Niki Görög

Niki Görög
4 years ago
Reply to  Kata Dávid
Kata Dávid
4 years ago
Reply to  Kata Dávid

Niki Görög ezt már előttük a beachen ?

Sith Mall
4 years ago

That is the kind of pool for Instagram addicts, not swimmers.

Rachael Lee
4 years ago

Alice Flood

Alice Flood
4 years ago
Reply to  Rachael Lee

Rachael Lee ?

Tom Healy
4 years ago
Reply to  Rachael Lee

Rachael Lee Don’t screw up on the tumble turn…..or wear a parachute. ??

Thomas Richner
4 years ago

Not safe… and no way to get into it(?). Gonna say probably not real.

Sue Schillinger Logan
4 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Richner

Thomas Richner it is not real yet. They say something about 2020.

Cindy Taylor
4 years ago
Reply to  Thomas Richner

Thomas Richner looks like the largest bird bath in Europe

Nicola Healy McNally
4 years ago

Evonne wuld ya fancy a dip??

Dana Barbin Hamm
4 years ago

Sydney Fisher Dan McGuire you missed this on your trip to London! Next time!

Sydney Fisher
4 years ago

Dana Barbin Hamm nope

Dan McGuire
4 years ago

how do you get up there?

Vy R. Waller
4 years ago

I totally want to do that

Patt Chase
Patt Chase
4 years ago

Sign me up. Want to be the first swimmer! Thank you.

JS
JS
4 years ago

I don’t think it is safe to have a waist-high infinity edge that drops 55 stories. They have to figure out how to solve that problem. If the molded plexiglass is ten feet high it will obstruct the view all around from water droplets on it and dust from the air coating the outside. One story below also there should be a wrap around solarium where people can lounge and eat etc. Since there is no deck around the pool proper. I think this design is amazing but needs a lot more work.

Patricia Langworthy
4 years ago

The entrance comes up from the middle. Saw it on tv

Dexter Wong
4 years ago

Nice pool for viewing
& selfies
& media posts

Not really for Swimming

Esmeralda Vasconcellos

Lauren

Reece Kennedy
4 years ago

Jill Seymour

Ruth Flight Oly
4 years ago

Looks awesome but how the heck do you get in and out????

Ian Craig
4 years ago

Ruth Flight Oly a visit comes with two parachutes ??

Ruth Flight Oly
4 years ago

Ian Craig mmmmm I might rain check ???

Victoria Marchesi
4 years ago

Good point

Marian Lee
4 years ago

Rachael Lee Tom Healy

Rachael Lee
4 years ago
Reply to  Marian Lee

Marian Lee family holiday mam??

Harrison Evans
4 years ago

Kristen Wright Hannah Perry Gonna visit this place??

Morag Scott
4 years ago

Alice Flood how on earth do you get in and out?!

Alice Flood
4 years ago
Reply to  Morag Scott

Morag Scott hidden stairs apparently ?‍♀️

Asuka Forest
4 years ago

Scary af

Imogen Stubbs
4 years ago

Carly Odell, Jessica Cook can we go to this please? ?

Carly Odell
4 years ago
Reply to  Imogen Stubbs

Imogen Stubbs omg yes??

Jessica Cook
4 years ago
Reply to  Imogen Stubbs

Hell yes!!! I’m so up for this ??

Amy
Amy
4 years ago

Absolutely! Looks like so much fun I would like to take a special trip just for this pool!

Jonas Reinhold
4 years ago

Emily Bell, Lena Soulas we gotta go there when it’s finished !

Elizabeth Andrea
4 years ago

Rebecca Brown

Barbara
Barbara
4 years ago

Figata!

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