Visitors to Die Klubhuis always comment on the beautiful design that is evident all through the building, and it is a pleasure and a privilege for the Atterbury team to work in an environment where so much attention to detail prevailed. The exceptionally beautiful wooden furniture was created by the innovative artist and wood whisperer David Krynauw, and beautifully reflects Atterbury’s values and aesthetics and we asked him to share his inspiration.

Atterbury is very proud to have such beautiful furniture in our workspace. Wooden office furniture is such an unexpected twist – how did it happen that you started making items for this usually boring category of furniture?
My work is a direct reflection of the journey that I have been on for the past 11 years. What originated in my fathers milkshed on our farm in rural Mpumalanga has been a very gradual process. What started as experiments ended up as my first commercially selling item. This allowed me to employ and train my first worker. I landed a project a year later that enabled me to expand my workshop and capabilities. More products followed based on my learnings which resulted in more experience and capital growth. The continuous repeat of this process has put me at the point where I have a fully equipped technology-focused factory with 65 employees; everyone playing a part in the production process of realising the work that my company produces. The work that has been produced by my business is a result of creative and client interaction and the pursuit of mastering my medium.

Your carpentry and woodwork are iconic, and would fit right into a Gaudi building with their organic shapes and soft angles that invite touch. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I believe God is the creator and the inspiration of everything. When I look at the complexity and the beauty of nature around us I can’t help but feel humbled by the realisation of God’s creation. To create is a gift from God and to be in the position to do this is a blessing. To God be all the glory and honour.

How did your path first cross with Atterbury’s?
My first interaction with Atterbury was when Reddeco approached me to make the furniture for the Attacq offices in Waterfall 2015. I believe my work there instilled faith in my ability to deliver a quality product.

What was the brief for Die Klubhuis’s furniture? Was it quite loose for you to interpret as you saw fit, or were there very specific requirements?
Reddeco has always been a wonderful partner to work with. They had a clear vision which included my work within this space. I created with their vision in mind and strove to do justice to the space.

How many items did you manufacture in the end, and how would you describe the set that ended up in Die Klubhuis?
The furniture items ranged from my standard items tweaked to the project requirements to a bespoke custom pod. It was the ideal project as it allowed for some creative thinking to display my capability.

Was there any particular challenge to this commission?
Every project has its unforeseen challenges, but we always learn from it and ensure to work at it until we have a very satisfied client.

What is your design philosophy? We believe you even grow the trees for the wood that you use?
Growing up, I always felt very connected to this medium. My father always had a passion for timber which is why he decided to purchase Madola Farm and start a sawmill where we grow and cut our own timber. This, at first, allowed me to be very experimental in my work as the material was abundant.

I think good design is simple in its essence. It has to come from honest reasoning and not from the point of being bombastic or trying to make a statement. If the design is honest and a direct reflection of your journey it should be the statement and one should allow it to say what it has to.

What was the turning point for you, when you moved from carpentry as a hobby to an artform that was now a serious career?
I studied BSc Agriculture at Stellenbosch university with Oenology (wine-making) as my major. I always knew that I wanted to start my own business and having made furniture during my holidays for pocket money I believed in the business opportunity. My initial idea was to use my winemaking career as a way to earn enough capital to pursue this option, but I soon realised that it was a naive idea and I had to make a call. It was while I was making wine in California that I decided that winemaking wasn’t for me; so, I moved back to the farm in 2008 and from that point on I was fully focussed on building my business.

What has been your most ambitious project to date, and what were the particular challenges?
I recently completed Kleine Rijke, a very unique venue, with my girlfriend and her family as my first large-scale building project. Given the timeline and the scale of the project it seemed impossible. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision and we had three months to complete an 880 square meter building in time for a family wedding. It was a lot of fun, blood, sweat and tears and the learnings were immense.

What is the most popular item in your catalogue, and how many of these have you created?
The first product I ever created has been my top seller – my dome pendant chandelier that won the Eskom energy-efficient lighting design competition in 2008. The product is hand-turned from discarded Jacaranda wood. This really enabled me to build my business over the years and while I sadly did not keep track of exact numbers created, I estimate it to be in the thousands. It still sells well to date. I am currently negotiating bulk export deals on some of my other works that should surpass the sale of the pendants, but it will remain a product I feel very sentimental about.

Your work now lives in homes all over the world. Where is the most exotic place that we could find a David Krynauw piece?
The most expensive piece that I have ever produced was for a wine estate in California, but I am often surprised by the odd photo received from a friend in an unexpected part of the world. From the middle of Africa, to Miami, Paris or Switzerland. I have been blessed with the opportunity to export to all continents.

And what is your ultimate dream for your brand – what commission would be a dream come true for David Krynauw?
I don’t have any set dreams; the Lord creates the opportunities. If it was up to my own imagination my picture would be a lot less colourful and to some extent I am already living my dream. I live my life one day at a time and I look forward to seeing what the future might hold.

See more details of David Krynauw’s Kleine Rijke project here: https://www.kleinerijke.com/