Lauritz, a Schreinermeister from Germany // Meet the Maker
May 2023
Every now and then we like to peer into the mind of someone from the Thor's Hammer team. We're a multicultural crew and are delighted to welcome talented craftspeople who have relocated from overseas. We love learning about how they are enjoying life at Thor’s, and Down Under.
In this edition of ‘Meet the Maker’, we caught up with Lauritz in our Joinery team, who relocated from his home country of Germany earlier this year.
How did you end up in Canberra?
Well, I was born in Germany, in a place called Essen. I was working there as a ‘Schreinermeister’, or Master Joiner. My partner Valentina and I were looking to have an adventure overseas and I found Thor was advertising. So I got in touch with him and here I am! I’m now living in Canberra’s inner North, after arriving in January this year.
We had no party plans for New Year’s Eve so Valentina and I literally left very early in the morning on the 1st of January to fly to Australia. It was really a fresh start for 2023. It’s still very new to me to be working in Australia and adjusting to life here. But everyone at Thor’s has been so welcoming and Thor has taken me on bush walks and shown me some great running trails, so I feel very happy.
Working in the joinery is quite physically demanding. Is there anything you do to rest your body and recover after a week in the workshop?
It’s an ongoing process during the week. I try to cycle to work as often as possible so I can get my body into functional movement early in the day. It’s a good way to wind down after the day ends as well; I find riding definitely helps me arrive home in a relaxed state. I’d say bike riding is the most effective tool I have for ‘active rest’ and it helps me to avoid injuries. Except I find there are a lot of red lights in Canberra and it’s exhausting to always have to stop and start. In Germany there are more “green waves” and you can just fly places on your bike!
Given your experience working with wood, do you have a favourite timber species?
Not really, no. I couldn’t yet choose an Australian timber species as a favourite because it is still so new to me and Australian hardwoods are so unique and different to what we had available to work with in Germany. In Germany, I liked pine but it also depends on the application. What I really love is the scent of the sawdust from pine. There are oils in it that get released when you cut it - and then it smells as if one was walking through a pine forest. The fragrance of pine resin and oil in the air is really something else; it’s very special.
If you had the chance commission your dream piece from Thor’s Hammer, what would it be?
A wooden bath tub! I can imagine it looking really nice in a bathroom. Normally bathrooms don’t have a soul because people opt for lots of tiles, and this then has a tendency to look and feel quite cold. I really miss timber in a bathroom, it adds so much warmth and atmosphere.
Is there any place in particular you’d like to see people using more timber in their homes, even if that’s perhaps an uncommon choice?
In Germany there was not very much timber in kitchens, actually – because people have a tendency to think timber needs a lot of care. That’s not necessarily true and anyway, it doesn’t always have to be about ultra-convenience, in my opinion. Because something like Laminate might be more convenient, but that’s not the only important factor when designing a kitchen. I personally care more about the look, the feeling it gives me, and the environmental aspects. So I’d really like to see more timber in kitchens!
In your view, what’s one of the most creative or interesting projects you’ve contributed to?
In Germany I visited a Master’s school and at the end of the course we had to build a piece of furniture. If we passed, we could call ourselves a ‘Master Craftsman’. I made an intricate standing jewellery cabinet with drawers and pull-out shelves. The frames were of Sipo Mahogany and the bottom panels veneered with Japanese Ash (Tamo), with brass fittings.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in joinery?
To just do it! It is important not to be shy about wanting that, even though you may not have any experience with timber. Often you meet people who come from professional families with parents who may not have worked with their hands, and they might express some trepidation or uncertainty about how to go into craftsmanship when this is a new journey within their family. You should realise you do not have to “be ready” to be a craftsman because anyone can learn, you just have to start!
If you’re ever in the workshop, say hello to Lauritz! You can also follow some of Lauritz’s personal joinery projects and see examples of his previous work on Instagram at: @zirbenlaulo.
Words by Ebony Levy. Thor’s Hammer workshop photos by Rohan Thomson.
WE DESIGN & MAKE CUSTOM FURNITURE
Lauritz is now a part of our talented joinery team here at Thor’s Hammer. They make a range of custom furniture pieces, many of which have been completely custom designed for our customers by our team of skilled designers. Feel free to browse our website to learn more about the furniture we’ve made in the past, and follow us on Instagram to hear about recently completed pieces. You can also sign up for our Monthly Design Newsletter where we share designs, interviews and any interesting happening here at Thor’s Hammer.