David Krynauw: South African Designer Creating Solid Wood Furniture

For David Krynauw, working with wood has never simply been a profession; it has been a lifelong calling. Today, the award-winning South African designer is recognised for creating sculptural solid wood furniture, innovative lighting, and modular architectural solutions. David Krynauw solid wood furniture reflects a lifelong dedication to craftsmanship and innovation. His journey began in the small forestry town of Piet Retief, where he first learned the craft alongside his father.

A shared family appreciation

Growing up, David watched his father, Dawie, build the furniture for the family’s hotel rather than purchase it. That shared appreciation for timber and craftsmanship laid the foundation for a career defined by curiosity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to making.

Although David initially pursued a degree in Agriculture and Winemaking at Stellenbosch University, furniture making remained a constant. During university holidays, he crafted bespoke pieces to fund his studies before briefly working as a winemaker in South Africa and the United States. In 2007, however, he returned to the family farm with a single ambition: to build a design business of his own.

Recognition came quickly. His Dome Pendant Cluster won the prestigious Eskom Lighting Design Competition before being shortlisted as one of the Most Beautiful Objects at Design Indaba. This was followed by Haywire, a sculptural lighting design created for Southern Guild, which went on to receive international acclaim and entered the collectable design market after being sold through Christie’s in London.

Innovation has remained central to David’s practice.

Following a visit to Germany’s renowned Ligna timber exhibition, he developed what has become known as the Joburg Method. This distinctive construction system allows complex furniture and architectural forms to be produced using CNC technology in remarkably efficient ways. The breakthrough earned him the 100% Design South Africa Designer of the Year award and laid the foundation for an expanding body of work that now extends far beyond furniture.

Today, from his workshop at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg, David Krynauw and his multidisciplinary team continue to produce beautifully crafted solid wood furniture, lighting, office pods, and modular building solutions. The studio’s David Krynauw solid wood furniture collection sits alongside an ongoing commitment to training young artisans and designers, while continuing to explore new possibilities for timber and demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship and contemporary technology can come together to shape the future of South African design.

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