Scholarship recipient of 2024: Kara Ghasemiani
From engineer to furniture maker. Kara Ghasemiani’s journey into craftsmanship is driven by curiosity, precision, and a love of wood. His award-winning “Infinity Bench” reflects both technical mastery and poetic design.
From Automotive Engineering to Woodcraft
Kara Ghasemiani took the long road into the world of furniture making. Born in Gothenburg and educated as a mechanical engineer with a master’s in automotive engineering, he spent five years in the industry before discovering woodworking by chance. What started with building lamps turned into a deep passion that eventually led him to Capellagården’s three-year furniture-making program on the island of Öland.
“I hadn’t worked with hand tools before Capellagården. Now, using them and sharpening them correctly has become second nature,” says Kara.
The Infinity Bench
Kara’s scholarship-winning piece, Oändlig Sidobänk (The Infinity Bench), is made of elm with walnut detailing and takes its shape from the mathematical infinity symbol. It was built entirely from his own design during his first year at Capellagården.
“It was the first time I created something completely from my own sketch. I had finished my assignments early and used the last few weeks to focus on dovetail joinery.”
The bench took a total of 80 hours to complete – of which 32 hours were dedicated solely to hand-cut dovetails. Kara tracked each stage in a spreadsheet, highlighting his systematic approach rooted in engineering.
Sharpening as a Foundation
Working with hard elm meant that Kara had to resharpen his chisels repeatedly.
“I lost count of how many times I went back to the Tormek. It was a huge time-saver. I could sharpen quickly, polish on a Japanese stone, and get right back to work.”
Now setting up his own workspace in Gothenburg’s Ringön district, Kara brings his Tormek with him. Not only for woodworking but also for his kitchen knives, he adds with a smile.
Organic Edges, Structured Thinking
Kara’s design language often blends contrasts: raw, organic edges with clean, structured lines. He has a particular fondness for working with live-edge wood – boards that still carry the natural contours of the tree they came from.
“It’s a way of bringing a piece of the forest into the home,” he explains.
This love for nature sits side by side with Kara’s engineered mindset. Each project is approached with methodical care, often documented in spreadsheets, and increasingly enhanced by integrated technology – such as wireless phone charging or built-in lighting.
“I enjoy merging traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality,” he says. “It’s where structure meets soul.”
Looking Ahead
Kara currently works part-time at a carpentry business while developing his own portfolio and workshop.
“My dream is to make a living from my own furniture and have a small workshop next to my home. A place where I can create freely and sustainably.”
You can follow Kara’s work at @karacreates on Instagram.
The jury's motivation
Kara Ghasemiani has found a design that sparks desire. A piece of furniture that would fit just as well in a city apartment as in a country home. The piece shows excellent finishing, high precision, and detailing that reveals the use of truly sharp tools during its creation.
Henrik Björkman
Jury member for Tormek Scholarship
