The werkstatt story

A magical place

When I was a kid, my grandfather’s workshop in Salzburg—his werkstatt—was a magical place. It smelled of wood and oil, filled with tools hanging neatly on the wall, and half-finished objects waiting for their final touch.

But the real magic was in what we did there together.

He showed me how to saw a plank straight, tap a nail in just right, or smooth a block of wood until it felt good in the hand. He never wasted a thing—bent nails were hammered straight, old wood found new purpose. Looking back, he worked in a way we’d now call circular.

In that workshop, I learned something that stuck with me: it’s not enough to have a plan. You need the right tools, a clear idea—but also the patience to try, the skill to adapt, and the courage to start over when something doesn’t fit.

A werkstatt isn’t about perfection. It’s where things are repaired, built, tested. It’s where you learn by doing—and where things come to life through hands-on work.

That spirit is what drives werkstatt today. 

We help your organization work through change—by building learning that’s practical, collaborative, and ready for real use. Whether you're building something new or reworking what’s already there, we bring structure, curiosity, and a readiness to try things out together.

Because lasting change isn’t theoretical. It’s hands-on. And it starts by stepping into the werkstatt.

Bernhard Steiner
Founder of werkstatt