An Outdoor Swimming Pool Humanises King’s Cross
The new outdoor swimming pond at Kings Cross, conceived by artist Marjetica Portc and designed in conjunction with Ooze architects, embodies so much about what makes London one of the most desirable cities in the world. The installation aims to encourage us to think about the relationship between nature and urban environments and currently rests in the middle of Kings Cross’s regeneration landscape.
Public spaces have recently adopted new forms in London. The imagination has shifted from parks or museums as a place of public gathering as gardens now occupy the top floors of skyscrapers such as at The Walkie Talkie. London’s public landscapes now incorporate activities, context of place as well as thoroughly articulated design narratives.
The swimming pond is not only fun and quite literally fresh, as the water is purified through submerged water plants and therefore not chemically treated, but marks a key moment in King’s Cross’s maturity as a London destination. Cultural attractions are what bring so many visitors to London and encourage many of London’s residents to stay over time. Yes, the presence of big employers such as Google may attract world leading talent, but it is these cultural attractions and the constant flux in the urban landscape and amenities that keeps waves of the best and brightest talent, whether experienced or fresh from education, flowing into the city.
The thinkers behind the swimming pond should be commended. The swimming pond successfully interweaves the urban grain of a regeneration area, seamlessly shifting the discourse to one about arts, community and fun. It celebrates regeneration whilst highlighting the sustainable needs of our city highlighting the conscious need for our natural environment to form part of London’s urban transformation.
The Off Market approves the Kings Cross swimming pond. For more information and to visit click here.