About Michael Hauck

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY; earned a BA from Union College and a Master's Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute's College of Architecture.

I learned my craft at home, at school and on my own. Woodworkers run in my family and I began my learning at an early age, at my father's side in the basement workshop. My great-grandfather was a shipwright and I still have (and use) some of his planes - compass, nosing, & forkstaves. My grandfather was a craftsman at an architectural millwork shop in Buffalo. I've studied the craft at professional craft schools and I've learned by doing and in the company of my fellow craftsmen.

I have always loved working with wood. For me, the wood has such a special quality. Each piece is unique; not just the different species, but even boards cut from the same tree have unique differences and character - in color, texture and grain pattern. Like people, each stick has to be appreciated on its own merits. Individually selected for the component it will become; how it will work with the other pieces to achieve the design and enhance the intrinsic beauty of the wood.

My design philosophy is simple - I emphasize the balance of Form, Function, Fit and Finish. I strive for beauty and simplicity in form, but must always remember that it is an article of furniture to be used often - if not every day - for a perfectly ordinary purpose. It must adhere well to its stated function. The Fit refers not only to the craftsmanship of the joinery, but also the proper engineering to ensure structural integrity while maintaining authenticity to the design concept. The joinery must be clean and elegant in design, strong and durable in engineering, flawless in execution of craft.

My designs are heavily influenced by a number of factors. From the standpoint of other design styles the three most important influences are the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th century; American Shaker and traditional Japanese Tansu. Seemingly very different and from vastly separate ages, there is an important common thread that holds these three together. Each was more than simply a style, but engender a philosophy, an ideal that was the underpinning for the style. The designs were the manifestations of how that ideal was actualized. I believe the strong emphasis on function and the fusion of both eastern and western design motifs yields simple yet beautiful designs.

I believe in a balance of modern machinery and traditional hand tool work. Modern precision power equipment is marvelous and efficient for many of the time consuming tasks like milling and chopping stock. But for many tasks, particularly the fine joinery work, final smoothing and finishing, there is no adequate substitute for the human touch.

Our furniture is important to us. How we choose to adorn our home or office says a great deal about who we are and what we value. And articles carefully handcrafted from natural materials are intrinsically more beautiful than machined items made from processed materials.

Where you can view examples of my work