Kitsilano’s shoreline is getting a new floating attraction. HAVN Saunas, the Scandinavian-style floating spa that launched in Victoria two years ago, is expanding to Vancouver with a new location planned for the Vancouver Maritime Museum’s Heritage Harbour.
The sauna will be built on a converted 1943 naval barge — a sister vessel to HAVN’s Victoria installation — and is targeting a mid-2027 opening. The barge will be moored in the northernmost berth of the harbour, where it will also help shelter several of the museum’s heritage boats and docks.
For the Vancouver Maritime Museum, the partnership represents a crucial new source of stable revenue. Executive director David Jordan says government operating grants for arts and culture have not kept pace with costs, leaving institutions like the museum searching for creative ways to sustain programming, exhibits, and conservation work.
“This project will provide much-needed revenue, shelter for existing docks and heritage boats, and invite people to the museum site in a whole new way,” Jordan told CHEK News.
For HAVN, the project marks its long-anticipated move to the mainland after earlier plans for a False Creek expansion fell through. The company’s floating saunas combine hot-cold therapy, ocean views, and a low-impact marine footprint designed to activate the waterfront without restricting public access.
“HAVN has been searching for the right Vancouver location for nearly two years, and we could not be more thrilled,” said Nicholas Van Buren, CEO and founder of HAVN Saunas. “Vancouver Maritime Museum’s harbour offers an iconic, meaningful setting and allows us to bring a uniquely captivating marine experience to the city.”
With design work and preparations now underway, the floating sauna is expected to become a new focal point along Kitsilano’s waterfront when it opens in 2027.
Last modified: November 20, 2025
