Launching in April, an online crowdfunding campaign is looking for £250,000 (US$383,425, €336,544) to make outdoor swimming in London’s Thames a reality.
Plans for an outdoor swimming pool, known as the Thames Baths, have been in the works for a
while. Originally designed for a competition “London As It Could Be Now” in early 2014, architecture practice Studio Octopi came up with the initial outline for the project.
The practice, headed up by directors Chris Romer-Lee, an outdoor swimmer himself and James Lowe, is looking for sponsorship to get the project off the ground, and into deep water.
Launching on Kickstarter in April, the online campaign for the Thames Baths already has some high profile backers, including British artist Tracey Emin, who will appear in the projects promotional video. Other celebrities who are keen on the project include comedian David Walliams, who famously swam the English Channel for charity back in 2006.
If planning permission is granted, the Thames Baths would consist of a 25m (82ft) by 10m (32ft) pool with a filtration system, poolside decking and 1.2m (4ft) high surrounding glass walls to avoid contamination. The proposed location for the pool is between Temple and Blackfriars underground stations at Temple Stairs.
