The Wild One

Schoolboy geography tells us that the archipelago that forms Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, some of them volcanic, and is populated by hundreds of different ethnic groups. Multiplicity and diversity run through this developing nation state, which, with its emerging market, already enjoys the largest economy in Southeast Asia.

Plurality is also a chief characteristic of Karpenter, a unique and eclectic Indonesian-based design brand, which draws on a wealth of different cultures for its ideas and inspiration, and whose products (as its name would suggest) evince an absolute passion for craftsmanship.

Founded in 2009 by husband-and-wife team Hugues and Sita Revuelta, Karpenter has successfully established itself as a premium producer of high-quality furniture that marries meticulous design consideration with a real understanding of, and a respect for, materials. “I’m French, was born with mixed Latin cultures, and have been living in Indonesia for over 15 years now,” explains Hugues. “My personal journey inspires me a lot when it comes to design and the exploration of making using solid wood.”

Doing things their way is very much the motto of the timber-loving duo. Establishing their own company was one thing, but making sure their vision was translated into exactly the modus operandi they wanted was another. The solution? To ensure complete security of production by building their own factory in Yogyakarta, where everything from design and development, through manufacturing, to finishing happens under one roof, allowing exacting standards to be maintained.

Here, Hugues and Sita have put together their dream team of passionate young designers, highly skilled craftspeople and seasoned managers, who at once embody a diversity of talent and share the singular vision of the owners. “We work as a team with me as the principal and design director,” says Hugues, “with our craftsmen and craftswomen transforming our ideas into products. A lot of people know just how skillful Indonesian craftspeople can be. But we actually source our talent from all over the world. Not just Indonesia.” It’s precisely this dialogue between local and global, between singularity and plurality, that lends the Karpenter its brand distinction.

Dovetailing with its widely drawn family of experts is Karpenter’s magpie-like, international sourcing of design influences. Hugues again: “We’re extremely versatile. While our three main principles are solid – design, craftsmanship and the environment – we’re agile when it comes to the possibility of exploring design and new products. Our inspiration comes from everywhere, be it Asia, Europe or even America. Every culture offers a set of strong design characteristics.”

A browse through Karpenter’s collections testifies to such creative heterogeneity. Japanese-like reduction meets a pared-down but warm midcentury Scandinavian formal expression in immaculately executed products, such as low-slung beds, filigree or robust stand-alone, room-dividing shelving, and, of course, tables and chairs. Perfectly turned spindles evoke classic Windsor furniture from England, while the combination of dark woods and rich leather upholstery makes a nod to Brazilian modernism. And these space-defining pieces don’t stop at the limits of the living room and the bedroom. The bathroom, too, sees Karpenter products help define its interior-architectural space. The warmth that solid wood affords, combined with clean lines, makes for bath tubs, basins and storage elements that are more akin to the environment you’d expect while enjoying a spa experience than any run-of-the mill domestic bathroom.

To say that the good folk at Karpenter appreciate materials would be an understatement. They live them. “Since the beginning, we’ve committed ourselves to working with solid wood as the main material,” states Hugues. “We love it. We don’t ever work with any kind of plywood , MDF, veneer or such like. No modern composites or synthetic materials, for example plastic.” So that’s clear, then. But how does Karpenter decide which woods to work with? And what’s at stake in such decision-making in terms of sustainability? “The three main timbers we use for our Signature Collection are FSC reclaimed teak, American Black Walnut and European White Oak. They each have their own distinctive colours, their own characteristics.”

To put it another way, Karpenter products express forms that are developed, to a large extent, precisely to show these materials off in their finest light. Added material value through considered design. “These choices of wood give us opportunities to expose the character of the collection. And in the course of design explorations, other noble materials, such as specially treated leather, metal and Danish paper cord, have also been incorporated into the fabric of our work.”

If your business is to create products whose primary constituent is one of the most cherished of natural materials, one which is critical to the planet’s ecosystem – i.e. wood – then engaging with the issue of sustainability isn’t something you can opt out out of. “We take our impact on the environment seriously, especially in relation to forestry and illegal logging. We were one of the first companies in Indonesia to work with FSC materials and to be certified FSC 100% recycled. Not easy when there’s competition in the industry.”

The company is almost at the point of producing zero waste, too, in addition to its conscious decision to use environmentally lower-impact finishes, such as non-toxic, water-based premium Italian coating and organic wax for polishing. There’s little doubt that Karpenter has the credentials to back up its ‘Designed by us, defined by nature’ slogan.

It’s also a safe bet, given Karpenter’s blue-sky approach to design, underpinned by a clear set of values, that the brand aims in business terms to match the longevity of its products. “We’re aiming for Karpenter to have a worldwide presence,” says Hugues, “a brand that’s well recognised for its concept, philosophy and quality. We’re looking to secure new projects that use our furniture and to collaborate with like-minded designers. In short, we’re really open when it comes to any kind of cooperation.”

You heard him, people.