Welcome

My name is Esteban Chavez, and I am the founder of Mars Built.

Mars Built is a fine furniture design and build studio specializing in custom audio-focused pieces crafted to elevate the experience of music creation and enjoyment. Every piece is handmade with meticulous attention to detail, and whenever possible, we work with timber salvaged from Southern California’s urban forests.

My career as a professional synth and keyboard player inspired the development of products designed to enhance the performer’s experience. Mars Built draws heavily from the craftsmanship and engineering excellence of vintage synthesizers, Hammond organs, Leslie speakers, and Mid-Century Modern design.

I am a lifelong student of traditional woodworking and design. I hold a BA in Graphic Design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and bring more than ten years of experience in furniture design and fabrication, complemented by over twenty years as a creative strategist and hands-on art director.

I am inspired by the imperfect perfection of natural systems and the intelligence of nature’s design. I enjoy exploring sonic landscapes in my music studio and am currently collaborating with Earth Moon Earth, a cosmic rock collective from the California high desert.