From the discovery site to the workshop in Germany
Kauri wood comes from the north of New Zealand’s North Island and is one of the most extraordinary woods in existence. Living kauri trees are among the mightiest trees on Earth: they can grow over 50 meters tall, reach trunk circumferences of up to 16 meters, and live for over 2,000 years. The Swamp Kauri processed today is ancient wood preserved in swamps and oxygen-poor soils, which, depending on the find, can be between 800 and 60,000 years old.
The most significant deposits are located in Northland. This area was once home to vast kauri forests that stretched across large parts of the North Island. Today, only remnants remain, particularly in regions such as Waipoua Forest, where some of the most famous and oldest living kauri trees stand. This origin from a clearly identifiable region gives the material a traceable geographical identity.
Das heute verarbeitete Swamp Kauri ist kein gewöhnliches Massivholz. Es handelt sich um uralte Baumstämme, die über sehr lange Zeit in Moor- und Sumpfgebieten unter Luftabschluss konserviert wurden. Dadurch blieb das Holz über Jahrtausende erhalten und entwickelte eine außergewöhnliche Dichte, Materialtiefe und Stabilität. Diese subfossile Erhaltung macht Kauri-Holz weltweit besonders und hebt es deutlich von klassischen Massivhölzern ab.
The extraction of large kauri logs requires heavy machinery and meticulous planning. Even at this stage, it is clear what extraordinary sizes will later be possible for exclusive solid-slab tabletops. The root and trunk segments have dimensions rarely found in other types of wood.
The logs being transported clearly demonstrate the monumental scale of the material. Due to its size and weight, kauri wood requires specialized transport solutions. These images vividly illustrate that we are not working with standardized lumber here, but with unique natural specimens.
A distinctive feature of kauri wood is its natural resin and inclusion zones. Tree resin oozes from cracks and wounds, drips into the root, and hardens into amber over the course of millennia. Golden, dark, and translucent areas are created by embedded amber and bark, giving the wood an extraordinary depth. These natural inclusions transform the tabletops and root sections into unique visual patterns after processing.
Kauri-Holz besitzt eine außergewöhnliche visuelle Wirkung. Ruhige Flächen, fließende Maserungen, dunkle Zonen und natürliche Harzlinien erzeugen eine Präsenz, die sich deutlich von anderen Hölzern unterscheidet. Bei großformatigen Tischplatten entsteht dadurch eine Verbindung aus Ruhe, Materialtiefe und kunstnaher Wirkung, das für hochwertige Möbel besonders interessant ist. Das Massivholz wirkt wie ein natürlich komponiertes Bild — gewachsen, verdichtet und über sehr lange Zeit geformt.
Kauri wood is also scientifically significant. The New Zealand government describes swamp kauri as a material that is important for research, radiocarbon dating, and understanding past environmental and climatic conditions. This connection fascinates me: The wood is not only ancient and ideal for crafting unique tables, but also tells us something about the conditions that allowed it to be preserved over such a long period of time. This gives kauri a depth that extends far beyond furniture making.
More about the scientific context
To better understand the history of this material and to truly experience its authenticity for myself, I traveled to New Zealand. It was only there that I truly came to appreciate the tranquility, grandeur, and history that this material embodies. My encounter with the ancient kauri trees and the landscapes of Northland has had a lasting impact on my work. What is impressive in photographs takes on a whole new depth in reality.
An important part of this trip was a visit to the Kauri Museum in Matakohe. There, the history of the kauri tree, its uses, and its significance for New Zealand are documented in a compelling way. For me, this visit was particularly meaningful because it brings together heritage, history, and material culture in a very authentic way.
Vor Ort konnte ich einzelne Hölzer direkt sehen, vergleichen und mit meinen Partnern auswählen. Die persönliche ist Auswahl entscheidend, weil jede Tischlatte ihre eigene Struktur, Tiefe und Wirkung besitzt. Im direkten Kontakt wird sichtbar, welche Rohlinge für exklusive Konferenztische, robuste Esstische oder besondere Einzelstücke infrage kommen. Diese Auswahl ist für mich ein sehr wichtiger Teil des gesamten Prozesses. Sie schafft Vertrauen und stellt sicher, dass nicht irgendein Holz nach Deutschland kommt, sondern genau die Stücke, die in Form, Größe und Ausstrahlung meinen Ansprüchen genügen.
Once selected, the wood is prepared for transport to Germany and brought to my workshop. The journey from where it was found to the workshop further highlights the character of the material. What has been preserved in the ground in New Zealand for a very long time only begins its next phase as furniture after a long journey.
Before a piece of raw wood becomes a table, it undergoes initial cutting and technical evaluation. This is where it is determined whether a large slab of root or trunk wood can be transformed into a conference table, a dining table, or another piece of furniture. This step creates a very direct link between the material’s origin and its craftsmanship. The material arrives with its entire history intact, and the actual shaping process begins in the workshop, where a precise and functional piece of furniture takes shape.
From this source, a documented, one-of-a-kind piece with its own serial number is created in my workshop. Each table carries the history of the material within it and is crafted in such a way that its origin, age, and form remain visible. It combines the history of New Zealand with precision craftsmanship and individual design. A piece of furniture with a traceable origin and a distinct identity is born from a historical natural find.
Die aus subfossilem Kauri-Holz gefertigten Tische sind für ein breites Spektrum hochwertiger Raumkonzepte ausgelegt. Sie integrieren sich ebenso in mittelgroße Wohnungen bis zu großzügigen Loftbereiche wie in private Residenzen, exklusive Interior-Projekte oder repräsentative Unternehmensräume.
Vom skulpturalen Couchtisch über großformatige Esstische bis hin zu monumentalen Konferenz- und ausgefallenen Boardroom-Tischen entstehen Arbeiten, die Funktion, Materialtiefe und räumliche Präsenz miteinander verbinden. Gerade in offenen Grundrissen und architektonisch klar gestalteten Interieurs entfalten die großformatigen, aus einem Stück gewachsenen Tischplatten ihre außergewöhnliche Wirkung und geben dem Raum eine nicht wiederholbare Identität.
The excavations, the massive kauri trunks and roots, the jungle-like forests, and the natural surroundings made my trip to New Zealand an unforgettable experience. The experiences I had the privilege of having in New Zealand make kauri wood, with all its facets, a truly special experience, and the crafting of tables from this fascinating wood feels authentic and genuine.
Handmade in Germany – all under one roof
Michael Beaupoil
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