How was your first professional experience?
Even before I started my first apprenticeship, I helped the firm out during summer holidays. We had to install a wooden ceiling in a hotel entrance, it was a nice job but extremely hard with long working days of up to ten hours of physical labour.
In what way is your craft connected to the Engadin?
Engadin’s beauty has always enchanted me. As a joiner, I am particularly connected through the material: wood. Swiss stone pine for example is very specific to this region and has a long tradition as it only grows at altitudes around 1,600m.
©Gian Giovanoli
What is surprising about joinery?
In the past, joinery was carried out during the winter, which lasts six months in Engadin. In the summer those joiners would have had to tend to their fields. It is interesting how our business is still seasonal; but not because of the seasons, but because of tourism.
Could joinery be considered in jeopardy?
For a while I was worried about the advent of new machines with remote controls and digitalisation. But, having worked in education for years, I am amazed how young joiners still have great knowledge of the material, possibly because solid wood remains in frequent use in this region.