Local craftsmen are reviving the lost trade of carpentry in Singapore, and drawing eyeballs with their creations.
Local craftsmen are reviving the lost trade of carpentry in Singapore, and drawing eyeballs with their creations.
01 SOLID EFFORT
Carpentry runs in Rafie Chua’s family: His grandfather and father made boats and he would play with their tools. Chua left his bank job to set up his studio, Plane and Bevel. The team of four work primarily with solid timber to create tables that have intricate wood inlays. The studio has made customised pieces for establishments such as The Warehouse Hotel and restaurants Burnt Ends and Odette.
02 AU NATURALE
Realising that there was a demand for live-edge wood tables, Brandon Heng started Herman Furniture in 2013 to provide a sustainable option. The team's speciality is Indonesian suar, which they personally source. Other woods such as teak, tamarind and rosewood are also used. The furniture items, including consoles and benches, are made in Singapore, while finishing is outsourced to a carpenter in Myanmar.
03 IN GOOD USE
While he was an interior designer, Jackie Tan wanted to find a way to reduce the amount of material wastage during renovation works, or reuse it. Triple Eyelid was started, using reclaimed pallet wood from a local packaging company as the main medium. Furniture pieces such as side tables and stools sport copper pipe legs for a chic, industrial look.
04 ALL IN THE FAMILY
When Roger Yeo died in 2014, his three sons took over the carpentry business and continued his legacy as Roger & Sons. Director Morgan Yeo has kept his late father’s team of experienced carpenters, along with younger woodworkers and designers. The company focuses on bespoke furniture, using a range of wood from oak to nyatoh. The company’s works can be found at cocktail bar Employees Only and coworking space The Working Capitol.
