From a wood-fired hot tub in a Swedish forest to an Austrian workshop, the story of Martin and Sophie, and a business shaped by craftsmanship, invention and time spent outdoors.
There is something elemental about sitting in warm water outdoors, surrounded by trees, with a wood fire burning nearby.
For Martin Auer, founder of Austrian outdoor bathing company FEUERWASSER, that experience began in Sweden, where a desire to spend more time in nature met the curiosity of a skilled craftsman.
Today, his inventions range from beautifully considered wood-fired bathtubs to an outdoor shower that heats flowing water using fire rather than electricity.
Behind them is a small Austrian business built around technical discovery, craftsmanship and an enduring connection to the outdoors.
An idea born in the forest
Martin trained as a Spengler, the Austrian term for a sheet-metal craftsman. His background gave him a practical understanding of metalworking, materials and construction.
But the inspiration behind FEUERWASSER was as much personal as technical.
“I was drawn to Sweden by the dream of absolute freedom in nature. At the time, there was a deep longing to step out of a complex life. Looking back, that was an illusion—because the solution isn't escape, but facing life’s challenges and growing through them.”
It's a thoughtful reflection on a journey that ultimately led Martin back to making things with his hands.
During his time in Sweden, he began imagining how he could create the experience of bathing in warm water outdoors, even in the depths of winter.
“A spirit of technical discovery and the vision of sitting in hot water in the middle of the forest at minus 15 degrees led me to build my very first wood-fired hot tub in Sweden.”
That first experiment brought together two interests: the practical challenge of heating water with fire, and the pleasure of being outside.
It became the starting point for FEUERWASSER.
From Sweden to Austria
Martin founded FEUERWASSER in 2019, bringing together his metalworking experience and the ideas developed during his time in Sweden.
The first product was a six-person wood-fired hot tub. From there, the collection evolved to include a more intimate outdoor bathtub, a stainless steel hot tub and, eventually, the wood-fired outdoor shower.
Each new design built upon the same founding idea: bringing fire and water together in a way that is both practical and rewarding to use.
As FEUERWASSER grew, the business established its manufacturing base in Bad Schwanberg, Austria, with production supported by regional suppliers.
The outdoor shower: a patented innovation
The FEUERWASSER outdoor shower represents a significant development in Martin's work as both craftsman and inventor.
Unlike a traditional wood-fired bathtub, where water is heated and held in a vessel, the shower presented a different challenge: how to produce warm, flowing water using fire, without electricity for heating.
Martin's solution was an innovative wood-fired continuous-flow heating system, developed by FEUERWASSER and protected by patent.
The result is an outdoor shower capable of producing warm water after approximately five minutes of heating, bringing together the familiar ritual of lighting a fire with the convenience of a shower.
This is more than a beautifully designed outdoor product. At its heart is an original piece of engineering, developed from Martin's practical understanding of metalworking, heat and water.
The system requires a suitable pressurised water supply. It must be filled and vented before lighting, and water pressure must be maintained while flames or glowing embers remain in the combustion chamber.
For gardens, cabins, outdoor saunas and nature retreats, the technology makes it possible to enjoy warm water outdoors without an electrical heating connection.
The shower is a particularly compelling expression of what defines FEUERWASSER: technical invention, craftsmanship and a belief that time spent outdoors should be part of everyday life.
Martin and Sophie: building FEUERWASSER together
Although Martin founded FEUERWASSER independently, Sophie has been alongside him from the beginning.
As the business developed, she took on an active role in its management, helping build the organisation around Martin's inventions and craftsmanship.
Their contributions are different but complementary.
Martin's work centres on invention, product development and the practical knowledge of making things. Sophie brings the management and organisational perspective needed to support a growing manufacturing business.
Together, they represent two essential sides of FEUERWASSER: the curiosity and technical skill behind the products, and the work of developing those ideas into a lasting business.
It is a partnership that has grown alongside the company itself.
The hands behind the making
Today, FEUERWASSER remains a small Austrian manufacturing business, with a core team of six people working alongside a close network of regional suppliers and specialist production partners. Together, they bring the skills and expertise needed to develop and produce the FEUERWASSER collection, while keeping craftsmanship and attention to detail at the heart of the process.
Martin continues to lead production, personally overseeing the construction and finishing of the bathtubs and showers. His involvement remains hands-on, informed by years of practical experience developing and making the products.
He even helps load the finished pieces onto the delivery truck.
It's a small detail, but a revealing one.
Despite the growth of the business, the finished products remain closely connected to the person who developed them.
That continuity is visible in the design and detailing of the FEUERWASSER Natural bathtub.
Its rounded V4A stainless steel body, integrated wood-fired stove and solid pine exterior bring together precise metalworking and natural materials.
The curved bathing area, adjustable backrests and carefully considered finishing details feel like parts of a complete design, rather than separate components assembled around a heating system.
These products are made on a relatively small scale, with craftsmanship remaining central to how they are developed and produced.
Designed for time outdoors
There is a common thread running through the FEUERWASSER collection.
The bathtubs, hot tubs and outdoor shower all begin with a practical idea, but their purpose extends beyond simply heating water.
They invite people to participate in the process.
Preparing the wood. Lighting the fire. Watching the water warm. Stepping outside into the open air.
The experience of making the water warm becomes part of the pleasure of using it.
This is particularly relevant to the places FEUERWASSER products are designed for: private gardens, outdoor saunas, cabins, cottages and nature retreats.
Settings where natural materials, the surrounding landscape and time spent outdoors are as important as the objects themselves.
A story still being made
FEUERWASSER has evolved considerably since Martin built his first wood-fired hot tub in Sweden.
The workshop has grown, the collection has expanded, and Sophie has helped develop the business around Martin's ideas.
Yet the original spirit of technical discovery remains recognisable.
From his early experiments in the Swedish forest to the development of FEUERWASSER's patented wood-fired shower technology, Martin continues to explore what can be achieved through metalworking, engineering and a willingness to try something new.
For AEMYR, it is this relationship between invention, craftsmanship and the people behind the products that makes FEUERWASSER such an interesting maker to introduce to our customers.
A story that began with a wood fire in a Swedish forest, and continues in a small workshop in Austria.
Discover FEUERWASSER
Explore the wood-fired outdoor showers, bathtubs and hot tubs in the FEUERWASSER collection at AEMYR.
Discover more about Martin, Sophie and their Austrian workshop at FEUERWASSER.