Daniel Hespe: Co-Founder of Lux Building
Daniel Hespe is the co-founder of LUX Building, and just like his business partner Caine, Dan’s building career began under the tutelage of an elder, his adopted grandfather, mentor and friend Eric.
Eric piqued Dan’s early interests in building, guiding him through weekend workshops in carpentry and learning about different types of timbers. These early days in Dan’s development not only as a carpenter, but also as a human being, were fundamental to his achievements as a professional builder later on in life.
When he speaks of Eric and his influence on Dan, it is obvious that there is a lot of love and respect for his recently departed mentor and friend:
“He taught me so much, and when he would teach me different aspects of carpentry it was always interesting”
“He was 94 when he passed away, and he never really stopped working or being active right until the end. When he passed away there was a ladder standing near a tree that he had been busy trimming… at the age of 94! He was amazing”
This early taste and appreciation for carpentry didn’t fade in adolescence, with Dan using his skills developed with Eric to build all kinds of things for himself and his friends to use and enjoy: Bike ramps, tree-houses, he was only limited by his imagination.
After he had completed his Higher School Certificate in 2004, he was on the pathway towards a career with QANTAS as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, but this career never materialised due to a fateful discussion with his stepfather:
“I was looking for some work experience in carpentry, and I asked my step father (a water proofer who often sub contracts to Lux Building today) a simple question: Who is the best builder to work with in the Sutherland Shire?”
“He said that Paul Martin was the best, so I arranged to do a week of work experience with him”
“At the end of the week Paul offered me an apprenticeship, and that was the end of my application with QANTAS!”
Dan happened to begin his apprenticeship just as his future business partner Caine was becoming the foreman for Paul Martin Building. The team dynamic and professionalism found in Paul Martin and his team saw Dan commence his Certificate IV in Building studies whilst still completing his 3rd year trade certificate in carpentry; ambition isn’t a quality unknown to Dan.
By the end of 2008 Daniel had completed both his Trade Certificate and Builders License; no small feat.
Dan loves sport. Having played rugby league in his youth, he maintains a healthy lifestyle at work and in his spare time. He is also a keen gardener, home brew enthusiast and collector of Australian Impressionist artworks (introduced to the art world through his fiancé Joey, an Art Historian). Dan’s interests are broad and diverse; he is not one to be pigeonholed.
In his own words on gardening:
“It always had a calming influence on me… You know, when you are working in the building industry, which is such a stressful and intense industry sometimes, it’s really good to be able to detach from it all, get your hands dirty, and help something to grow”
Dan’s broad swathe of interests say a lot about his character; he is inquisitive by nature, the details are important and he pays attention to them.
He brings this inquisitiveness and experience to every project that Lux commits itself to. His career germinated across weekends with a grandfather he chose, it continues in collaboration with a business partner of his choosing too.
