Community workshop – The Owl’s Nest

About The Owl’s Nest

The Owl’s Nest is not tied to a single location. Each location is a fully recognised part and local expression of The Owl’s Nest, but no individual location defines or limits the wider concept.

The Owl’s Nest brings making, repair, practical technology, knowledge sharing and learning together with public-benefit work and human-scale support. It provides a framework in which people can work on something tangible, develop skills, share experience, participate in a project or gradually find a workable next step.

The precise form can differ between locations. A location may focus on particular tools, activities, groups or ways of working, and can be operated by ASK-Solutions or another affiliated local operator. What connects the locations is not an identical building or collection of machines, but a shared model, recognisable principles, clear responsibilities and the HPL framework.

A shared model with local forms

Each local implementation of The Owl’s Nest is shaped by the people, knowledge, space and possibilities available locally. One location may offer a broad practical workshop, while another may focus on precision work, digital technology, learning, quiet project work or a particular craft.

This local freedom does not make the shared identity meaningless. The Owl’s Nest name remains connected to principles concerning safety, knowledge, responsibility, accessibility, learning through practice and sharing experience back into the wider model.

Each location therefore has its own facilities, access arrangements, capacity, local character and responsible operator. See the locations overview for the places that are currently available and what each one offers.

Making, repair and practical learning

At one of The Owl’s Nest locations, people can bring a repair, an idea, a partly finished project or a practical question. Depending on the location, they may use tools and facilities, learn a technique, work together with someone more experienced or take part in a workshop.

The aim is not simply to perform a task for someone. Where possible, we investigate and work together so that the person remains involved, understands what is happening and can continue with greater knowledge and independence.

Personal projects remain the projects of the people who bring them. They are not automatically documented or presented as The Owl’s Nest projects. This protects privacy, ownership and the freedom to work on something without turning it into public content.

Read more about using a workshop location or view the currently available workshops.

Human-scale support and participation

Practical work can also provide structure, confidence, contact and a manageable way to begin again. Some people need a quiet place, clear explanations or smaller steps. Others mainly want to work independently while having someone nearby to ask when they get stuck.

The Owl’s Nest is not a medical practice, crisis service or replacement for treatment. It can provide a practical environment alongside education, care, coaching, reintegration or support from an employer. The person or organisation responsible for treatment or formal guidance remains responsible for that part.

The shared model leaves room for different levels of participation: from a short visit or workshop to regular project work, volunteering, practical learning or a carefully coordinated programme.

See Who is The Owl’s Nest for? for the different ways people can take part.

Projects and public-benefit work

Projects within The Owl’s Nest exist at several levels. A location may work on its own development, equipment or renovation. People and organisations may collaborate on a technical, educational or social project. The wider model can also support longer-running public-benefit programmes involving repair, open technology, knowledge sharing, participation or local infrastructure.

These projects are different from the personal work that visitors bring with them. We document projects when they are developed or carried out through The Owl’s Nest, when sharing the process has wider value and when privacy, ownership and copyright allow this.

See Projects for selected technical, social and public-benefit work developed within or through The Owl’s Nest.

Professionals and organisations

Schools, care providers, employers, referrers and other organisations can work with The Owl’s Nest when a practical environment adds something that a classroom, treatment room or ordinary workplace cannot provide.

This may involve practical learning, rebuilding rhythm and capacity, exploring interests and skills, participating in a project or creating a suitable next step alongside existing guidance. The role, responsibilities and intended outcomes are agreed in advance.

Read more at For professionals and organisations.

Bring The Owl’s Nest to another place

The Owl’s Nest is not a Haarlem-only concept and does not need to be copied as a fixed format. A local The Owl’s Nest can develop its own identity, facilities and organisational form while remaining connected to the shared model and responsibilities.

It can be operated by an independent local organisation or, where appropriate, developed under the organisational responsibility of ASK-Solutions. A new location can begin with the people, knowledge and resources already available and develop step by step.

Read more about how to bring The Owl’s Nest to your place. The full model, HPL framework and further documentation are available through the international The Owl’s Nest website.