As the U.K. continues to basque in summer sun, many Londoners have taken to the sky to cool off in a floating swimming pool that sits 115 feet up.
Thought to be the world’s first ‘sky pool’, plans for the transparent pool were first drafted back in 2013, before the materials were developed and shipped from Colorado.
Located in the Nine Elms area of London, the completed structure now sits suspended between the 10th floors of two luxury tower blocks that neighbor the U.S. embassy. Currently open to those living in these blocks, the 25 meter-long pool holds 400 tonnes of water, yet is a mere 5 meters wide and 3 meters deep.
Flat prices in the exclusive buildings have since rocketed too, with two bedroom apartments starting from £600,000 (approximately $850,000 USD), and many more exceeding the £1 million barrier (approximately $1.4m USD).
In other news, this home in Thailand features a rock climbing wall and light-filled brick facade.
LEGO Art has just released a massive new kit that sees the most pieces ever included in a set in LEGO Group’s history.
The World Map allowed for builders to create a map of Earth using 2D Lego tiles. Made for adults, this LEGO Art build features 11,695 pieces and comes with an accompanying soundtrack featuring stories from travel experts including the likes of Torbjørn C. Pedersen, the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying. Listen to these stories while you build for a new immersive LEGO experience.
Fiorella Groves, Creative Lead for LEGO Art, comments, “We know that our adult fans love to travel, but many haven’t been able to do so for over a year now. We thought that there was no better way of helping explore the world while relaxing in the comfort of their home than by allowing them to build, rebuild, plan and reminisce through building. We hope the LEGO Art World Map will inspire new adventures in some, and help others relive and celebrate wonderful travel memories from the past.”
The set features 40 interconnecting base plates that can be arranged in three different ways, colored LEGO brick “Pins” for marking destinations, a coffee-table style instruction booklet, and a white brick-built frame and two hanging elements.
Priced at $249.99 USD, the LEGO Art World Map goes on sale on June 1 over at LEGO’s online store.
Anonym Studio has designed a stunning 1,080 sq. meter home in Bangkok, Thailand, that comes with a full rock climbing wall and a gradient brick facade that allows dazzling patterns of light to shine in.Dubbed Sailom House, the project is a four-story home that accommodates three families. The complex, designed in 2020, is meant to replicate a serviced apartment with functional spaces on each floor that all members can use.
On the first floor, common areas like the kitchen and living room have been laid out for communal use. Above that, each upper floor houses the residents’ bedrooms, along with additional living areas and pantries. Each story is linked together via two internal courtyards that open up into a space between the ground and fourth floor.
Notably, the house features an intricate climbing wall, an add-on requested by the owner who is an avid climber. The court hosts a walkway on each floor meant to overlap and combine spaces. The roof is elevated at the upper part of the court, creating a void that best facilitates airflow and natural lighting. The outdoor and indoor spaces meld together intentionally, allowing wind and light to obscure elements that exist inside and outside of the home.
The highlight of the home is the slotted brick facade that offers natural ventilation and a variety of dynamic patterns. The designers say that the brick materials were affordable, accommodate airflow and allow for heightened safety. The facade provides refuge to areas of the home that are exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight and has varying patterns that allow for more or less privacy, depending on where they’re placed. For the top parts of the house, the bricks become more perforated and airier, whereas the lower areas have tighter brick clusters.
The space between the home and the facade has been fashioned into a veranda dotted with potted plants, creating a greener living space. The building’s architects say the bricks used in the facade were styled without making any cuts, so calculating the ranges between each block, beam and lintel was done with intention.
“There is this element of craft to it as well,” said Phongphat Ueasangkhomse, one of the home’s architects.
The beams above the brick facade were left deliberately exposed, as were the air conditioning pipes in the living room, leading to a rustic and industrial feel. “I like this house because it isn’t about the crisp and polished details. We did everything the way it could and should be done. I wasn’t too serious or trying too hard about making everything flawless, and that’s what I love most about it,” added Phongphat.
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