Born and raised in South Africa, Hanneke Lourens is a California-based furniture designer, making contemporary pieces using classic woodworking techniques. She draws endless inspiration from her roots–always weaving the spirit and vibrancy of Africa into her work.
A former fashion designer, Lourens took up woodworking as a return to making things with her hands. She finds unending similarities between clothing and furniture design–both disciplines making forms for the human body. Her process is deliberate: a careful balance between thought-provoking flare and undeniable practicality.
Working from a renovated cow barn in the Northern Californian redwoods, Lourens makes each item by hand, constantly keeping quality and longevity front of mind. Hanneke’s knowledge and skills from years of study at a traditional woodworking school have evolved into a contemporary practice, where she creates sculptural objects intended for daily use. She is fascinated by the permanence of wood, the precision it demands, and the creativity it can deliver. In 2024, Lourens was named as one on Wallpaper* Magazine’s rising stars as part of the Wallpaper* USA 400.