If there is one childhood memory many of us share, it is swings. This is the basis for what the three woodworkers Andreas Bunsen, Matthias Bunsen and Andreas Baumann masterfully create at Hutschn in the heart of the Berchtesgaden region in Germany. The term 'hutschn' is used to mean 'swinging' in the regional dialect. Besides board swings, the trio also make single rope swings and hammocks, which are handmade in every step, and are remarkably strong, durable and ecological. The oak wood used for seats dries naturally outside the workshop for at least 10 years, and 15 different work steps are needed along the way.
The ropes are crafted in a fifth-generation Bavarian rope factory and hand-spliced – a technique used to work the rope sheath into the rope core and avoid having to knot the rope. As Andreas, Matthias and Andreas put it: “Master craftsmanship also means making an impact on society through the cultural and creative industries. Therefore, we use our swings in performances, installations and cultural projects." For the trio, besides the physical benefits such as the stimulation of the spine, the balance centre in the ear, and the endorphin rush in the brain, swinging is “slow food for the soul” that seems to have an almost healing effect.
Hutschn
