For California-based furniture maker Hanneke Lourens, the gentle undulations of corrugated metal are far more than just a utilitarian building material — they are a symbol of home. Born and raised in the Western Cape, Hanneke has spent more than a decade abroad, yet her homeland remains an ever-present current running through her work — axiomatic in her latest collection, ‘Corrugated’.
‘Being South African is such an integral part of who I am that it always seems to find its way into my work,’ says Hanneke. ‘I love taking something that’s seen as not particularly special and turning it into cherishable objects. This collection is not only an ode to South Africa but also to finding beauty in unexpected places.’ As a former fashion designer, Hanneke took up woodwork as a return to making things with her hands. Her knowledge and skills, developed over years of study at a traditional woodworking school, have evolved into a contemporary practice where she creates sculptural objects intended for daily use. ‘Furniture is very different from clothing for obvious reasons, but there are quite a lot of similarities too,’ she adds. ‘For both, you’re designing items that will be used by the human body.
There’s a lot of overlap, especially when it comes to something like a chair: it has to have all the right angles and correct seat height to be comfortable for someone to sit in for an extended time.’ Composed of five playful, sculptural pieces, the collection is intentionally crafted with influences in the South African landscape: When Hanneke began researching for her collection, she sifted through photographs and other images of home. In her pile of visual memories, the wavy shape of corrugated metal leapt off the page — captured in scenes of big cities, townships or small Karoo towns.
Drawing from her own nostalgia — and guided by her deep reverence for the permanence of wood, the precision it demands and the creativity it can deliver — Hanneke intuitively elevated the intention of corrugated iron, mimicking its flowing curves in white oak and juxtaposing those same smooth shapes with hard geometric lines.
Working from a renovated cow barn in the Northern California redwoods, Hanneke crafts every piece by hand, reflecting her care and thought in each design. This connection to the process naturally informs her choice of wood, where materiality is just as important as form. ‘I love the simple beauty and neutrality of white oak. There’s a reason it’s been a popular timber for a long time,’ she says.
‘Although the “Corrugated” collection is available in a variety of different wood species, I opted to make the first version in white oak so the form of the pieces could shine. White oak has a rich medium brown tone, neither too light nor too dark, which fits in with a lot of different interior settings.’
Working with wood is undoubtedly a time-consuming process, but Hanneke has developed a method whereby she can consistently recreate the distinctive corrugations throughout the collection. ‘The repetitive nature of the work becomes meditative — a space where I can lose myself in the process and begin dreaming up future furniture pieces,’ she says. ‘On that note, I will be releasing another collection later this year — again centering around a South African theme. Keep an eye out!’
Credits
Text by Shai Rama
Images: Hubbard M. Jones & Hanneke Lourens
