Dezeen · Architectuur

Badweather converts derelict canal boat into London's first off-grid bathhouse

Architecture collective Badweather has transformed a derelict 17-metre canal boat into Soak, London's first off-grid bathhouse. This unique establishment moves to a new location along the city's waterways every two weeks, offering a communal bathing experience.

Soak accommodates up to 12 people and features a wood-fired sauna, two cold plunge pools, showers, changing facilities, and a small bar. It operates entirely off-grid, drawing water directly from the canal and purifying it through a six-stage filtration and UV treatment system. Electricity is generated by solar panels and stored in an onboard battery, while a wood-fired stove heats the sauna.

The project, conceived by Badweather co-founder Leo Sixsmith and Riccardo Codacci-Pisanelli, aimed to create a mobile communal bathing space. The conversion involved extensive restoration of the 20-year-old boat, which had rotten floors and water damage. The interior layout was largely dictated by the boat's existing hull, with circular portholes and enlarged openings to bring in natural light and canal views.

The interior design emphasizes sensory contrast, with a dark, stained marine plywood changing area leading to a brighter wet room with pale green tiles and stainless-steel pools. The sauna, lined with thermally treated Aspen and Alder wood, is centered around a wood-burning stove. The boat's narrow dimensions presented a significant constraint, requiring efficient use of every space.

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