Earlier last week, images and videos appeared on our screens of the ‘sky pool’ at Embassy Gardens, Wandsworth. The tenth story floating pool hangs precariously between two apartment buildings and is already extremely divisive amongst neighbouring residents.
The development’s website boasts of exclusivity and luxury. Truly reminiscent of J. G Ballard’s High-Rise (1975), shared-ownership residents are not allowed to use the private pool, have a separate and smaller entrance to the building and take separate lifts. However, residents from both the privately-owned block and the shared-ownership block reported issues when they initially moved in. Not quite power cuts as Dr Robert Laing experienced, but just as problematic: internal leaks due to pipes and sinks not properly being fitted.
High-Rise, Ballard’s eighth novel, depicts a dystopian world where the disintegration of the apartment complex causes a ‘floor war’ amongst the residents. Those living on the lower floors stage a rebellion against those living above. Mass chaos, food shortages and violence ensue in 248 pages of disturbing allegory.
In Laing’s block, there is a supermarket, liquor store, sports facilities and children’s school. In theory, the complex gives you everything you could ever need, without having to go outside – perhaps a useful idea during Covid times?
But it is this very disconnect from the outside world that fuels the residents’ manic behaviour. It is noticeable that the authorities are absent throughout the text. The inhabitants create their own laws and the novel serves as a caution against social segregation.
There has not been an uprising at Embassy Gardens, yet. The 24hr security probably prevents this but tensions are still running high. We’ll just have to wait and see if an Afghan hound is found deceased in the pool.
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