SELF-TAUGHT INDUSTRIAL-STYLE DESIGNER
SELF-TAUGHT INDUSTRIAL-STYLE DESIGNER
Simply known as Peng, the 42-year-old admits he doesn’t know what to call himself. With no background in design or engineering, he doesn’t consider himself a craftsman, furniture designer or contractor, and actually runs a retail business. Nevertheless, he has been creating distinctive, customised handcrafted industrial-style features for homes, offices, cafes and more.
From built-in shelving and dividers to loose furniture and lighting, what started as a hobby has seen him completing over 400 projects since 2015!
What got you started?
It started as a hobby. I built furniture for my office lounge, and friends, followed by friends of friends, liked it. So I started a Facebook page to reach out to more people, even though I had no intention of turning it into a business.
What materials do you use?
Galvanised steel sprinkler pipes and two types of timber – American white oak and reclaimed wood from old lorries. My family runs a business in sprinkler pipe installation. Sometimes, the pipes are spray-painted and finished to look distressed. The wood is treated, but not stained so it looks natural.
Tell us about your designs.
They have an industrial-style look, but I much prefer the oriental style! For shelving designs, other than attachments to walls, there are no screws or nails used – just joinery techniques are used. Also, no welding is done for the pipes. I call it a marriage of hardware, as everything has to fit perfectly.
What makes your work different?
As the industrial look is very popular, I want to do it better, so I integrate other elements, such as lighting with a dimming function. As everything is customised, there are no repeats, and I can add workstations or extendible tables. I’ve even made a gate out of sprinkler pipes.
How long does it take to make one?
For a table, up to seven days, and for a complete shelving system with accessories, up to two weeks. I have to set up the system – hiding wires inside the pipes or through the timber – in the workshop, before dismantling it and assembling it in on-site.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PENG HANDCRAFTED AT HTTP://WWW.PENG.COM.SG
