Creative team building with meaning: the Atelier Experience in Bussum

There is a moment when a team falls quiet. It is the moment when ten pairs of hands are working with wood at the same time: sanding, fitting, shifting, hesitating, choosing. In the Wonder by Wood atelier in Bussum this now happens with whole teams. By the end of the afternoon something hangs on the wall that was not there that morning.

That is the Atelier Experience: team building in the form of a real atelier session, under the artistic direction of artist Nadine Smeding. For teams of up to ten people, in 't Gooi, half an hour from Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Why the best team days leave something behind

Most team outings are forgotten within a week. The dinner was good, the photos are somewhere in a group chat, and that is the whole story. What stays, literally, is something the team made together and that is visible at the office every day.

Research into wellbeing at work has pointed the same way for years: people want to feel connected to their colleagues and seen by their employer. An afternoon working together on something tangible touches both at once. And because the result goes on the wall, it keeps working for years: everyone who walks in asks about it, and everyone who took part tells the story.

An atelier session, held to an artist's standard

What makes the Atelier Experience particular is the division of roles. Nadine Smeding acts as artistic director, exactly as she does for her own collections. She decides the wood, the forms and the frame beforehand, matched to the space where the piece will hang. Within that, the team makes and composes, hands in solid walnut or oak.

An afternoon with your hands in the wood says more than a hundred slides.

That artistic direction is the difference between crafting and creating. The result is a full modular artwork by Wonder by Wood: separate wooden objects on a magnetic system, together one composition. Finished by Nadine in the atelier, delivered ready to hang at the office, with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Art that does something to an office

Solid wood changes the atmosphere of a workspace. It softens sound, catches the light differently every hour, and brings the calm of nature indoors. Where an open-plan office can feel hard and smooth, a wooden wall piece gives back warmth and depth. Visitors notice it immediately; the team feels it every day.

And because the piece is modular, it grows with the organisation. A new colleague, an anniversary, a milestone reached: Nadine makes a new object, the composition shifts, the story continues. Over the years the wall becomes the timeline of the company, and every addition a new moment of appreciation.

Who it is for

The Atelier Experience is there for teams of up to ten people: a board or management team, a department closing an intense year, a project team marking a milestone, or an employer who wants to thank their people in a particular way. As a relationship event for a select group of clients, the experience is a gesture that carries a long way.

Every experience is composed around the team, the occasion and the artwork. After an enquiry, a personal proposal follows within 24 hours, with one clear price for the whole session including the piece.

See the Atelier ExperienceRequest a proposal

Practical

The Atelier Experience takes place in the Wonder by Wood atelier on Meidoornstraat in Bussum, in the heart of 't Gooi. From Amsterdam, Utrecht, Amersfoort and Hilversum you are there within half an hour. One session, everything taken care of, and the artwork delivered ready to hang at the office once finished. For open workshops for individuals there is a separate workshop page.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the Atelier Experience?

A corporate team building day in the form of an atelier session at Wonder by Wood in Bussum. Under the artistic direction of Nadine Smeding, the team makes one modular artwork in solid wood together in a single session, which then hangs at the office.

How many people is it suitable for?

Up to ten people, so there is real attention for everyone. Larger organisations often choose two sessions that together form one piece.

Is experience with wood or art needed?

Anyone can take part. Nadine sets the frame and guides every step; the team brings the hands and the choices. That interplay is exactly what makes the result both personal and of real quality.

What does an Atelier Experience cost?

Every experience is composed to measure. After an enquiry through the website, a personal proposal follows within 24 hours with one clear price for the session including the artwork.

Where and when can it take place?

In the atelier in Bussum, in 't Gooi, half an hour from Amsterdam and Utrecht. Dates are planned in consultation, on weekdays or at the end of the afternoon.