Dunedin-based furniture designer and maker Leo Wolff is committed to crafting long-lasting, one-of-a-kind pieces from recycled or sustainable timber.
Tell us a little about your background and how you got into designing and making timber furniture.
I’ve been obsessed with designing and building things for as long as I can remember. I used to tinker in the garage after school and on weekends and, to my parents dismay, I’d dismantle and reconstruct better versions (destroy) anything I could get my hands on. This passion led me to study visual design, working at different studios before branching out into product design and timber furniture. In a way I’ve come full circle, landing back in the workshop with renewed inspiration, appreciation and perspective on an age-old obsession.
Kotai bench in macrocarpa.
Sustainability is key to what you do – “a rebellion against the throwaway culture” as you say. Are you seeing a return to the buy-once-buy-well philosophy?
There has always been demand for quality but, as we’ve seen with the rise in appetite for mass-produced replicas, aesthetics are often conflated with quality. A temporary illusion that generally ends in yet another broken chipboard shelf or plastic chair heading off to landfill. We’re definitely seeing a renewed desire for well-designed and produced goods. People are realising that quality is cheaper and better for society in the long run. Product designer Dieter Rams summarised it best whe nhe said, “Good design is long-lasting.”
Where do you source the timber you work with?
In an effort to reduce environmental impact, I source as much reclaimed (from building demolition) and locally grown timber as possible. Occasionally, I order sustainably milled alternatives when I can’t find local options. It’s not massively scalable, but it ensures I can keep my footprint to a minimum while delivering bespoke one-of-a-kind pieces.
Svava hallway table in macrocarpa.
Tell us about your workshop on Vogel Street.
It’s nestled on the edge of the Dunedin CBD at the industrial end of Vogel Street, a hybrid space with a studio-showroom attached to a workshop – the perfect space to design and craft new pieces in. It was previously home to a paint supplier and, at some point, an auto repair shop.
What’s the most prized piece of machinery or tool in the workshop and why?
It would have to be the Gyokucho Ryoba Seiun Saku Komame – a simple but incredibly sharp, versatile Japanese pull saw. The cuts are so straight and effortless it almost feels like you’re slicing butter with a hot knife.
What new designs or projects are you working on?
Two standouts at the moment are a collaboration with Wellington-based Utilize Studios, involving 3D-printed parts made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, and a minimalist Japanese-inspired dining table crafted from reclaimed rimu. The timber was salvaged from the old Dunedin police station then stored in a garage for several decades before landing on my lucky workbench.
A Scandinavian-style table in recycled rimu.
What do you enjoy about living and working in your region?
The lifestyle, proximity to the ocean, outdoor recreation and a thriving arts scene – and some of the best coffee if you know where to go. Having moved here from the capital several years ago, the slower pace and permanence of life in Dunedin has been a welcome shift from the fleeting, always-on hustle culture of Wellington. Slowing down has been good for the soul.
leowolff.com
