My name is Matthew Rygh, I founded HAVN in the summer of 2025. My grandfather, Alf Rygh (1933-2015), was a woodworker from the small fishing village of Hommelvik, Norway. During the war and ensuing occupation, he would move to the Minnesota via Ellis Island, then to the University of Colorado where he would study architecture, refining his skill for drafting and design.

Alf first learned to work with his hands from his father, and he would pass that knowledge down to my father, who passed it on to me. HAVN was born from that heritage, with love for the people behind it all.

It’s always been my goal to make a space where people can connect, collaborate, and get inspired, and now, as HAVN enters its second year, I'm happy to say it's become just that.