Would you swim in a transparent swimming pool set 115 feet above the cars and concrete of London?
That's the question people on the internet have been asking themselves ever since BBC News broadcasted a helicopter video showing the new Sky Pool at London's Embassy Gardens in all its glory.
At 82 feet long—46 of which hang midair—the narrow pool connects the Embassy Gardens' two apartment towers, allowing courageous swimmers to dunk, dive and float back and forth between the pair of 10-story buildings.
But before you feel too confident about whether or not you'd swim, seeing the pool is a lot different than talking about it.
Swimmers enjoy warm weather in London at the Sky Pool which is believed to be the world\u2019s first transparent pool built between two skyscrapers\n \nhttps://bbc.in/3fUKLp4\u00a0pic.twitter.com/2skTGK9Jp7— BBC News (UK) (@BBC News (UK)) 1622544306
Not surprisingly, the pool had a polarizing effect on Twitter.
Some were absolutely horrified and wouldn't go near the thing if someone paid them.
Not. Enough. Money. IN. THE. WORLD.https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1399678383727034369\u00a0\u2026— Adam B. Vary VACCINATED (@Adam B. Vary VACCINATED) 1622563484
"Alexa, please show me where the gods would consign me for eternity if I angered them."https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1399678383727034369\u00a0\u2026— Daniel Summers, MD \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Daniel Summers, MD \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1622556731
Just going to be honest. I'd poop in this pool if you made me swim across it. I'd be so frightened that is what I'd do. It would be like the scene in Caddyshack, but it wouldn't be a Baby Ruth. It would be human poop.https://twitter.com/BBCNews/status/1399678383727034369\u00a0\u2026— Jason Diamond (@Jason Diamond) 1622560997
Pools are supposed to be relaxing, not a test .— Jimmy " Paperfilms" Palmiotti (@Jimmy " Paperfilms" Palmiotti) 1622546186
After seeing recent cases of glass shattering in various attractions around the world, From a vertigo and safety paranoia angle, thats a hard NO from me.https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-10/tourist-in-china-left-trapped-after-glass-bridge-shatters/100128310\u00a0\u2026— Anth W. (@Anth W.) 1622550732
I was going to post about the failed/broken ones but you did it. Those stories were the 1st thing I remembered. Thanks!— Kevin (@Kevin) 1622739226
The writers of the next Final Destination film looking at that sky pool in Londonpic.twitter.com/5UCnTcJds7— Ross Sayers (@Ross Sayers) 1622622463
Although some questioned the term skyscraper for 10 story buildings.
Actually I think you'll find that the sky is lower in the UK than other places so the buildings don't need to be as high to scrape it.— David R (@David R) 1622561093
Those fearful folks might be at least a little encouraged by the fact the pool has been tested "many, many times for safety" and has a 12-inch thick bottom, according to the Robb Report.
But for others, the pool was more concerning for what it symbolized.
They couldn't believe a sky pool was being built at a time of widening income inequality throughout the city of London.
It may look like an achievement in engineering, however, it is actually about inequality, greed and waste.\n\nPools in the sky are gross.— Progressive Conservative (@Progressive Conservative) 1622550822
Dazzle Dazzle, but this is the developer @ballymore which pockets obscene profits whilst endangering the lives of leaseholders and residents through unsafe and unfit buildings with flammable cladding, faulty wiring, flammable wooden decking, endless leaks\u2026— Ade1701 (@Ade1701) 1622554512
Haha don't be silly. This was built for rich people.\n\n(It'll still collapse due to being build by 3 layers of lowest-bid subcontractors, but the enquiry will be over quickly and there'll be a nice payout for your mum)— Kieran Glasssmith (@Kieran Glasssmith) 1622547156
So no matter how you cut it, it's clearly a pool meant for some people and not others. Regardless, we hope that 12-inch bottom holds up for as long as people are willing to swim.
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