The letter H in Atelier H stands for Hans — and Hout (Dutch for wood). Because these two are integrally connected. Hans has been in the wood industry for more than 20 years, from the moment he left school and started a carpentry course. He started his own business in 2016: “I wanted to see if it was for me. After being in a manager position for someone else for more than 6 years, I wanted to do my own thing. Determine my own direction. That certainly worked. I am being offered the best projects and great diversity. These are often also the jobs that others cannot or will not do. The special ones. With my own designs, I can really make a difference.” Hans can be found in the yard every day. Here the designs he makes in his home office are transformed into reality.
From the toolbox
“I don’t advertise much. Most assignments come from people who either already know me or have seen my work. The design phase often starts with an open question – without any idea how. This always takes a lot of time for consultation and discussion. Therefore, I do not make all projects from start to finish. I outsource some of it.” Hand tools in particular are of everyday importance to Hans’ work. That’s how he makes his money. Machines from Festool and DeWalt are high on his list. “Machines must be smooth to work with. Trustworthy. Especially from Festool: These are expensive machines, but they are certainly worth the price. One of the unique machines that I use a lot is the Festool DOMINO. The DOMINO system combines the precision of a round plug with the flexibility of a traditional flat plug – the perfect solution for plate connections.” The Festool trimming is also used in nearly all everyday work. The PRECISIO CS 50 EBG from Festool is lightweight, easy to convert from longitudinal to transverse cutting, and splinter-free on both sides thanks to its moving splinter protection.
Challenges and community-spirited
“As a self-employed person, there are always things on your list. The work never stops. Because I do a lot of different things, there is not much routine. This is not a problem on-site in the yard. But it’s a challenge with the preparatory work. If you spend all day at the site between working hours, it is a pity you have to use the computer again outside working hours to complete and design quotations. The kind of jobs and the preparation needed to keep the work coming in.”
Nevertheless, Hans also keeps specific time blocks free in his agenda. These time blocks are reserved for the ‘smaller jobs’ of schools and the community. “Consider, for example, building climbing installations on a schoolyard. These are small jobs for me but with great effect. I set aside quite some time in my agenda for this – a bit of community-mindedness, I think that’s important. As a company, it is important to be part of the society in which you live. I would also recommend others to do this more.”
Notable achievements
A few years ago, Atelier H received a request to design a new type of outdoor accommodation — a wheelchair-friendly one. ‘The Shelter’ was then built at the De Brink youth centre. A new building designed to give people who are less mobile a chance to experience that real outdoor feeling of camping under the stars. Camping in the forest, but slightly different, not in tents. “These are really not everyday assignments,” says Hans. “We have just received another order for four similar buildings. Smaller. Unique things. It is socially relevant and really something to be proud of.”
