What Hermann Kaufmann + Partner does

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH (operating as HK Architekten) is a privately held Austrian architecture firm founded in 1983 and headquartered in Schwarzach, Vorarlberg. The firm is a registered Ziviltechniker (ZT GmbH) providing professional architectural planning services across the DACH region with selected international projects, and is led by founder Univ.-Prof. Hermann Kaufmann alongside CEO Roland Wehinger and partners Christoph Dünser and Stefan Hiebeler.

The firm's core expertise is timber construction (Holzbau), organized around four practice areas: Architecture Planning, Timber Construction, Construction in Existing Buildings (renovation and adaptive reuse), and Innovation & Applied Research. Its technical differentiation centers on the proprietary LCT (LifeCycle Tower) modular timber-hybrid prefabrication system, Passive House design (achieving heat demand as low as 13.8 kWh/m²a), and plus-energy building design exemplified by the Schmuttertal Secondary School (440 kWp PV, completed 2015). Landmark projects include the Illwerke Zentrum Montafon (IZM) — one of the world's largest timber-framed office buildings at over 10,000 m² — the Schmuttertal Secondary School, Community Centre Ludesch, Sutterlüty Hohenems, and international work such as YKK Passive Town in Kurobe, Japan.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional service fees, typically structured as a percentage of construction costs or fixed fees per project phase, acquired via direct client engagement, architectural competitions, and public tenders. The firm serves a hybrid mix of public-sector clients (municipalities, district governments), private enterprises (retail, industrial, energy), real estate developers, and cultural/religious institutions. Beyond fee-for-service work, the firm monetizes intellectual capital through authored publications with DETAIL publishing house, including reference monographs on multi-storey timber construction that reinforce its position as a thought leader in sustainable Alpine architecture.

Name

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner

Legal name

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH

Website

https://hkarchitekten.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH (HK Architekten) is an Austrian architecture firm founded in 1983 in Schwarzach, Vorarlberg, specializing in sustainable timber construction, Passive House design, and renovation, serving public-sector, private enterprise, and cultural clients across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mass Timber & Structural Engineered Wood (CLT, Glulam, NLT/DLT) (IMADADAC), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Timber architecture services
• Sustainable building design
• Prefabricated timber construction
• Passive house design
• Historic building renovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwarzach

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture Planning and Design Services: HK Architekten generates revenue through fees for architectural planning, design, and project management services. As a ZT GmbH (Ziviltechniker GmbH) registered architecture firm, services include architectural planning (Architekturplanung), local construction supervision (Örtliche Bauaufsicht), and construction site coordination (Baustellenkoordination). Revenue is project-based, typically billed as a percentage of construction costs or fixed fees per project phase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH (HK Architekten) provides architectural planning, design, and project management services with a primary specialization in sustainable timber construction. The firm delivers integrated services across four expertise areas: Architecture Planning, Timber Construction (Holzbau) including the LCT modular timber-hybrid system, Construction in Existing Buildings (heritage renovation), and Innovation & Applied Research, serving public-sector, commercial, cultural, and residential clients primarily in the DACH region.

Product overview

Hermann Kaufmann + Partner ZT GmbH (HK Architekten) is an Austrian architecture firm based in Schwarzach, Vorarlberg, founded in 1983 and specializing in timber construction. The firm's core offering is architectural planning and design services organized around four main areas: Architecture Planning, Timber Construction (Holzbau), Construction in Existing Buildings, and Innovation & Applied Research. The firm is particularly known for pioneering sustainable timber construction methodologies including the LCT (LifeCycle Tower) prefabricated timber-hybrid system. Beyond services, the firm has authored several specialized publications through DETAIL publishing house, including 'Holz. Von der Materie zum Gebauten' (March 2025), 'Atlas Mehrgeschossiger Holzbau' (co-edited, March 2024 Edition 5), 'DETAIL Special – Hermann Kaufmann Architekten' monograph (July 2023), and 'DBU Bauband 1 Schmuttertal Gymnasium' (November 2016). The firm's portfolio spans residential, office, retail, cultural, educational, and infrastructure building types, with a focus on sustainable, energy-efficient construction meeting standards such as Passivhaus, DGNB, and ÖGNI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Planning Services Comprehensive architectural design and planning services spanning residential, commercial, cultural, educational, and infrastructure building types across the Alpine region and internationally.
• Timber Construction (Holzbau) Specialized timber construction expertise with a focus on sustainable, prefabricated timber-hybrid building systems including the LCT (LifeCycle Tower) system, element and panel construction, and multi-storey timber buildings.
• Construction in Existing Buildings (Bauen im Bestand) Renovation and adaptive reuse services for historic and existing buildings, balancing heritage preservation with modern functional requirements and contemporary building standards.
• Innovation & Applied Research Research-driven approach to timber construction innovation, developing progressive prefabrication systems and sustainable building methodologies, often in collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners.
• Holz. Von der Materie zum Gebauten (Publication) DETAIL publication exploring the forestry, technological, and architectural developments in wood construction and the qualities of wood as a building material.
• Atlas Mehrgeschossiger Holzbau (Publication) DETAIL publication providing architects, engineers, and wood professionals with essential knowledge on multi-storey timber construction systematics and methodologies from design through prefabrication to assembly; co-edited by Hermann Kaufmann.
• DETAIL Special – Hermann Kaufmann Architekten (Monograph) Monograph documenting ten pioneering timber buildings by HK Architekten, showing how softwood and hardwood are used as construction materials across various building typologies.
• DBU Bauband 1 Schmuttertal Gymnasium (Publication) Publication documenting the planning and construction of the Schmuttertal Secondary School in Diedorf, covering architecture, pedagogy, and resource efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the largest timber-framed office buildings in the world (IZM, 2013) — over 10,000 m² usable space
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cree GmbH (Dornbirn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCree GmbH served as the general contractor for the IZM (Illwerke Zentrum Montafon) project. Cree specializes in sustainable timber construction and also holds DGNB/ÖGNI certification for the project. The firm has a long-standing relationship with HK Architekten on timber construction projects.
• Sohm HolzBautechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationSohm HolzBautechnik GmbH acted as the wood constructor for the IZM project, implementing the timber construction system for one of the world's largest timber-framed office buildings.
• Florian Nagler Architekten GmbH (München)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorian Nagler Architekten GmbH was the co-architect for the Schmuttertal Secondary School project in Diedorf, collaborating with HK Architekten on this landmark plus-energy school building.
• Kaufmann Bausysteme (Reuthe)coreTechnology or IntegrationKaufmann Bausysteme was one of the timber construction companies (Holzbauunternehmen) for the Schmuttertal Secondary School project, providing prefabricated timber elements as part of the digital data chain from planning through production to installation.
• ZÜBLIN Timber GmbH (Aichach)coreTechnology or IntegrationZÜBLIN Timber GmbH was the second timber construction company (Holzbauunternehmen) for the Schmuttertal Secondary School project, contributing to the prefabricated timber construction system.
• merz kley partner ZT GmbH (Dornbirn)coreTechnology or Integrationmerz kley partner ZT GmbH provided structural engineering for the IZM project. The firm appears across multiple HK Architekten projects including IZM, Ölzbündt, and Schmuttertal Secondary School.
• DETAIL Business Information GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDETAIL Business Information GmbH is the publisher of multiple HK Architekten publications including the 'DETAIL Special – Hermann Kaufmann Architekten' monograph (July 2023) and the 'Atlas Mehrgeschossiger Holzbau'.
• IBO – Österreichisches Institut für Bauen und ÖkologieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building (IBO) provided ecological guidelines and building physics expertise for the Community Centre Ludesch project, which was part of the Austrian 'Building for Tomorrow' research program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Norway-based, internationally operating architecture and design firm with a prominent sustainability and timber agenda (e.g., Powerhouse Brattørkaia, Underwater Restaurant). Comparable as a global, sustainability-led incumbent in the same building typologies.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: London-headquartered global architecture firm with a broad portfolio in cultural, commercial, and infrastructure typologies. Comparable as a high-prestige incumbent operating in adjacent competition pools for landmark commissions.
• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture and urban-design practice with a sustainability-forward portfolio including timber-driven projects (e.g., Arcus Center, Writers Theatre). Comparable as a sustainability-led incumbent competing for similar civic commissions.
• David Chipperfield Architects: London-based global architecture practice with strong civic, cultural, and renovation portfolio (e.g., Neues Museum Berlin, James-Simon-Galerie). Comparable as an incumbent with substantial heritage-renovation expertise (Bauen im Bestand).
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture practice with sustainability leadership across commercial, civic, and infrastructure projects (e.g., Bloomberg European HQ). Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for similar premium sustainable commissions.
• Herzog & de Meuron: Basel-headquartered global architecture firm with deep portfolio in timber and sustainable construction (e.g., Timber Tower, Schaulager). Comparable as a DACH-rooted, timber-engaged incumbent operating at higher scale.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): International architecture and design firm with active sustainable-timber and modular-construction work (e.g., Vancouver House, Hilo House). Comparable as an innovative incumbent overlapping with HK Architekten on advanced timber typologies.

Direct peers

• Behnisch Architekten: Munich-headquartered architecture firm with a parallel DACH base and a strong sustainable-design portfolio including educational and civic buildings (e.g., HafenCity University). Directly comparable in scale, regional footprint, and sustainability positioning.
• Werner Sobek: Germany-based engineering, architecture, and sustainability consultancy specializing in lightweight, timber, and high-performance structures. Comparable due to DACH base, timber expertise, and focus on sustainability-certified buildings (DGNB, Passivhaus).
• Shigeru Ban Architects: Japan-based, globally active architecture firm with deep specialization in timber and innovative structural materials. Most directly comparable peer given timber-construction focus, international project footprint, and signature built works (e.g., Pompidou-Metz, Cardboard Cathedral).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInat.linkedin.com/company/hk-architekten-hermann-kaufmann-partner-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/hk.architekten

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hermann Kaufmann + Partner