Indeed, Plaza Kelana Jaya, a complex of offices and eateries, is almost desolate. Only a few souls are in sight.

But if you pay close attention, your ears may just pick up the sounds of sawing, hammering and grinding echoing through the nearly empty plaza. If you try to trace the source, you may find yourself in a rather peculiar place, a set-up resembling the Kemahiran Hidup workshops of your schooling years.

People are busy at their work benches, sawing, planing, sanding and engaging in various other forms of woodworking.

What’s all this about? Well, if you are a white-collar worker who wants to pick up a useful life skill, The Wood Place (TWP) might just be the place for you. Workshops are held here almost every week and participants are taught the basics of woodworking through hands-on experience.

It’s open to people of all ages. Each participant will start with a pile of planks and, by the end of the day, will walk away with a finished product made with his or her own two hands.

TWP is an impressive idea and the minds behind it are impressive too, since they themselves were new to the world of woodworking.

The two founders – Elyse Kymberly Teoh, 32, and Derek Koo, 38 – are both chemical engineers. Neither had any experience in carpentry, but online videos of DIY projects often caught their attention.

Teoh told FMT Lifestyle that the two of them “slid into the YouTube rabbit hole of DIY-project videos” during the pandemic.

“Most of these YouTubers were based overseas and it was so cool to see that they have their own space or garage at home and easy access to good materials and tools.”

With little else to do, Teoh and Koo began playing around with the idea of opening a workshop that would enable them to experiment with woodworking.

Eventually, TWP would come together and they resolved to share whatever skills they would pick up with others having a similar interest.

“Our mission and vision have always been to be a platform for everyone to learn more about woodworking and other crafts,” she said.

“We also work to encourage the development of hard skills and craftsmanship by lowering the entry-barrier to woodworking.”

Teoh said she hoped TWP would one day be able to help local woodworkers sell their products on an online platform.

What can one experience at TWP? Teoh explained: “We design most of the classes and projects, and participants who sign up are able to experience what they need for their builds.”

The experience includes anything and everything, from handling power tools to understanding what materials to use.

At present, TWP offers twelve standard classes, which see participants making anything from small coffee racks to foldable coffee tables.

“However, we introduce new designs and classes throughout the year,” Teoh said.

The wood that participants use – sustainable and solid hardwood – is sourced from local lumber mills.

“Since most of our builds are relatively small in size, we try to fit in offcuts from sawmills whenever possible,” said Teoh, referring to the leftover lumber that mills often discard.

Participants sometimes decide to be involved in the design process and will submit ideas for the projects they wish to work on.

Assuming that there are no major issues, those participants are free to book a private session at TWP. where they will have full access to materials and tools alike.

“We do our best to keep our classes beginner-friendly. Before the start of every class, all participants must attend a safety briefing on handling power tools.”

Age is not an issue for anyone willing to learn, and TWP once welcomed a six-year-old participant.

What’s the best tip for a novice woodworker? “Don’t be afraid to try,” Teoh said. “We find that the most effective way to learn is to build a project.

“You may make mistakes along the way but that’s part of the learning process. Keep working on new ideas and new designs, and you’ll get there.”

Interested in signing up for a woodworking workshop? Check out The Wood Place’s website for information and contact details.

The Wood Place
F-8-1, Jalan SS 7/13A,
Plaza Kelana Jaya,
47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor