One of the most impressive adventures in wellness architecture can be found at a marina in Sausalito in the San Francisco Bay, where two Finnish-style saunas float on a 675-square-foot barge, built using unconventional means — recycled shipping containers.
Fjord was imagined by the founders of the project, Alex Yenni and Gabe Turner, and was executed by California architect Nick Polansky.
While the industrial aesthetics from the recycled shipping containers make up three of each sauna’s four sides — the fourth is completed by a glass panel looking out over the water — everywhere else on the floating vessel is covered in redwood decking, beams and slats to cover the barge and create a semi-covered outdoor area. The use of a warm-toned wood doesn’t just complement the dark steel of the saunas; it fosters a connection between the visitors and the surrounding environment, which the founders note as a major goal for the project.
“Fjord is a love letter to the Bay and its possibilities,” says Polansky. “We wanted every detail to honor the environment and inspire new ways of connecting with the water.”
This mission is heavily emphasized in the founders’ recollection of the entitlement process, which was intense for multiple reasons. The project needed to have a minimal environmental impact and have a clear benefit to the public, the founders share. After consultations with more than seven local and federal agencies, the development was finally decided on by the Bay Conservation Development Commission (BCDC).
Photo courtesy Jessy Johnson
“Our position was that for people to want to protect the Bay, they first need to connect with it on a physical and emotional level. They need it to play an active role in their lives. They need to value it,” says Yenni.
“While I’m sure we weren’t the first ones to think of doing something like this on the water, I think we were the most committed to the entitlement process, to the environmental health of the bay, and to delivering measurable social good to the public.”
The emphasis on connecting patrons to nature goes beyond the aesthetic appeal of the floating saunas; each side of the barge has a ladder leading down to a cordoned-off area, allowing visitors to enjoy the contrast of the saunas and the cooler water below.
Much like the sauna/cold plunge cycle used by wellness advocates everywhere, Fjord offers a similar experience, rooted in nature. Not only can visitors look out over the beautiful scenery, they can engage in it, soaking up the essence of the Bay.
“Sausalito has a spirit unlike anywhere else — creative, independent, deeply tied to the water,” says Yenni. “We want Fjord to feel like it belongs here, to become a place locals are proud of and one that visitors seek out.”
This article first appeared in the November 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
