Wimbledon ... Underwater
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Polish practice 8 + 8 Concept Studio has released images of a proposed underwater tennis court planned to be built off the coast of Dubai. Staged beneath an expansive glass roof that would put marine life on display, the radical proposal is being called into question as engineers’ debate its feasibility. The scheme seems unlikely due to the challenges of manufacturing glass sheets large enough to span a tennis court and ensure that the structure is impact resistant. Refracting light is also a valid concern.
Sarah Fray, director of engineering and technical services at the Institution of Structural Engineers in London, told that one of the biggest challenges would be to create the large span of glass to cover the court. She said this would have to be at least 108 ft (33 metres) wide to accommodate the court and spectators. Currently, flat panels of glass can be manufactured in single pieces around 32 ft (10 metres) long.The design would also need to be thought out in terms of how it would react to an impact.
However, she conceded that the arched shape of the underwater court is a good idea because it’s the best way of resisting pressure, the likes of which would be vast, particularly if the court was submerged at a decent depth beneath the waves. But there have been plans for a number of underwater projects to be built in Dubai in recent years, including plans for a submerged villa complex - and work could begin soon - so anything is possible.
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