A Kickstarter project has been launched to raise funds for the creation of an ecological urban bathhouse made from shipping containers in San Francisco, US.

Wellness entrepreneur Nell Waters is trying to raise £146,000 (US$240,000, €173,862) to make the project happen, with the SOAK facility being designed by Frisco-based studio Rebar.

The bathhouse has been designed with ecological principles in mind that would allow the facility to operate separately from municipal power and water supplies, while also being capable of moving to a host of different cities.

The plans have been put together around a courtyard idea, where stacked containers will house a lounge, sauna, hot tubs and a roof deck, along with changing rooms and toilets.

The site’s developers believe that SOAK will look to create an anti-spa ethos, with the centre’s focus on making the use of its facilities more of a social practice.

It is thought that rainwater will be used to provide around 50 per cent of the spa’s required water, while recycled greywater would be used to irrigate a garden on the rear patio of the site.

To heat the water used by SOAK, solar-powered water heaters will be used in combination with photovoltaic panels installed on the roof.

If the funds are found for the project by January 2014, designers will set about working on refining the bathhouse’s designs, with the hope of putting together a two-container prototype for observation sometime next year.

Pop-up spa facilities are gaining prominence in the industry as businesses look to make use of an expanding marketplace, while interest in hosting temporary facilities is also furthered by a lesser focus required towards build and infrastructure costs.

A feature exploring the rise of pop-up facilities is included in the latest edition of Spa Business magazine and can be found here, while a link to the SOAK’s Kickstarter project is available here.