Our Story
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Unearthing a new beginning.
The story begins with Charles Longbottom digging a 10-meter natural swimming pond behind his house by hand. The swimming was pure and wonderful.
Inspired by his time spent in the Alps and Italian lakes, Charles quickly understood the pond needed a companion to complete the experience: an off-grid sauna to sit alongside it.
What followed was a deep dive into the ritual of the original savasauna — the Swedish smoke sauna. It's the kind of Alpine barn that looks like it's always been part of the landscape.
Turning planning into reality we headed to the Swedish highlands and Johannes. His workshop sits quietly in the forest by the family lake. The team craft like they always have and always will. Milling their own timber and axing every joint.
To meet demand and expand our range we now also partner with Sandro who builds and restores luxury chalets in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Our UK team now craft the Westwood sauna in our Hertfordshire barn.
Happily, that's the story of Shokk&Awe. So far!
Doing the opposite.
Charles says: “Until I picked up that spade and started digging the pool, I had a design business. Once in the water there was no way back.”
In fact, after a lifetime in design, Charles then turned his focus to outdoor living. Encouraging people to reconnect with nature through heat, cold water, and fresh air.
“Shokk&Awe is a family business: I design it, and my son Tom builds it”.
Their philosophy is simple – observe the expected, then create something entirely different. While others pursue sleek, contemporary architectural statements, we return to raw agricultural forms. Traditional craftsmanship that weathers and softens over time, blending seamlessly into the landscape. A pat on the back from nature.
Tucked in a barn in the heart of Swaledale, Charles’ concept workshop is where every Shokk&Awe sauna lodge begins – and every new idea. And, of course, a few strides away from his own sauna and beck. Down in his traditional Hertfordshire barn, Tom builds and manages the projects.
Inspired by his time spent in the Alps and Italian lakes, Charles quickly understood the pond needed a companion to complete the experience: an off-grid sauna to sit alongside it.
What followed was a deep dive into the ritual of the original savasauna — the Swedish smoke sauna. It's the kind of Alpine barn that looks like it's always been part of the landscape.
Turning planning into reality we headed to the Swedish highlands and Johannes. His workshop sits quietly in the forest by the family lake. The team craft like they always have and always will. Milling their own timber and axing every joint.
To meet demand and expand our range we now also partner with Sandro who builds and restores luxury chalets in Gstaad, Switzerland.
Our UK team now craft the Westwood sauna in our Hertfordshire barn.
Happily, that's the story of Shokk&Awe. So far!
Doing the opposite.
Charles says: “Until I picked up that spade and started digging the pool, I had a design business. Once in the water there was no way back.”
In fact, after a lifetime in design, Charles then turned his focus to outdoor living. Encouraging people to reconnect with nature through heat, cold water, and fresh air.
“Shokk&Awe is a family business: I design it, and my son Tom builds it”.
Their philosophy is simple – observe the expected, then create something entirely different. While others pursue sleek, contemporary architectural statements, we return to raw agricultural forms. Traditional craftsmanship that weathers and softens over time, blending seamlessly into the landscape. A pat on the back from nature.
Tucked in a barn in the heart of Swaledale, Charles’ concept workshop is where every Shokk&Awe sauna lodge begins – and every new idea. And, of course, a few strides away from his own sauna and beck. Down in his traditional Hertfordshire barn, Tom builds and manages the projects.
Honest Materials
Made by Hand
Built to Last
Always creating.
From floating saunas to sauna hats, we’re always creating. If you have something bold in mind that you’d like to share, please get in touch.
