What Bearth & Deplazes Architects does

Bearth & Deplazes Architekten AG is a privately-held Swiss architecture firm headquartered in Chur, registered as a stock corporation (CHE-109.407.489) and controlled jointly by its three founding partners: Valentin Bearth (b. 1957), Andrea Deplazes (b. 1960), and Daniel Ladner (b. 1959). The firm delivers full-service architectural design from concept through construction supervision, operating across residential, public-sector, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and high-alpine building typologies. Its portfolio of more than 40 completed buildings spans Swiss cantons and cross-border locations in Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Austria, and includes landmark commissions such as the New Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, the New Monte Rosa Hut at 2883m altitude near Zermatt, the Ovaverva Pool, Spa & Sports Centre in St. Moritz, the ÖKK Headquarters in Landquart, and Weingut Gantenbein winery in Fläsch. The practice has earned international recognition through awards including the Mies van der Rohe Award (1999), Holcim Award Bronze Europe (2008), and Norman Foster Solar Award (2018, 2020), alongside extensive publication and exhibition activity.

The firm generates revenue on a project-based professional services model, with fees negotiated per commission either through architectural competitions, public tenders, or direct private client engagements; no public pricing is disclosed. Customers span the Swiss Federal Government (notably the Bundesamt für Bauten und Logistik), cantonal authorities, healthcare operators (Klinik Gut), insurance/finance firms (ÖKK), the nonprofit Swiss Alpen-Club (SAC), and wine and hospitality enterprises. Marketing and business development are channeled through competition success, Swiss and international architectural publications (archithese, werk bauen + wohnen, TEC21, Domus, Casabella, Wallpaper), books and monographs (including the award-winning 'Constructing Architecture'), and exhibition presence at venues such as the Triennale di Milano and ETH Zürich. Strategic partnerships with Marques Architekten (Lucerne) and Durisch + Nolli Architetti support joint-bidding on large public commissions.

Go-to-market is sales-led and project-led: win work through competition entries and direct mandates, deliver deep specialist expertise in Alpine and sustainable construction, and reinforce demand through publication and award credentials rather than traditional marketing. The firm has 51-100 employees, faces no disclosed AI/ML product differentiation, holds no patents, and operates with no external institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries. Competitive advantage rests primarily on partner credentials (ETH Zürich education and academic teaching roles at ETH Zürich and USI Mendrisio), an established content and publication library, and demonstrated capability in technically demanding projects at extreme altitudes and within Swiss building-code contexts.

Name

Bearth & Deplazes Architects

Legal name

Bearth & Deplazes Architekten AG

Website

https://bearth-deplazes.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bearth & Deplazes Architekten AG is a Swiss architecture firm headquartered in Chur that delivers full-service design across residential, public-sector, commercial, and high-alpine building projects in Switzerland and select DACH markets. It serves public authorities, healthcare and financial enterprises, nonprofits, and private clients via competition wins and direct commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Engineering Services (541330), Engineering Services (54133)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Public building design
• Alpine construction
• Urban planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Chur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: The firm generates revenue through architectural design services, from initial concept through construction supervision. Projects include residential buildings, public institutions, commercial developments, and alpine constructions. Revenue is project-based, typically with fixed fees negotiated per commission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bearth & Deplazes Architekten AG is a Swiss architecture firm that provides full-service architectural design from concept through construction supervision for residential, public, commercial, and alpine building projects across Switzerland and internationally. The firm's portfolio includes the New Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, the New Monte Rosa Hut at 2883m altitude, the Ovaverva Pool, Spa & Sports Centre in St. Moritz, and the ÖKK Headquarters in Landquart. The firm also participates in architectural competitions to secure public and private sector commissions.

Product overview

Bearth & Deplazes Architekten AG is an architectural firm offering comprehensive architectural design services. The portfolio includes residential complexes, alpine buildings, public institutions (courts, schools, hospitals), sports facilities, and winery architecture. The firm participates in architectural competitions, organizes exhibitions, and publishes architectural books documenting their work. Notable projects include the New Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, the New Monte Rosa Hut at 2883m altitude, Ovaverva Pool & Spa Centre in St. Moritz, and the ÖKK Headquarters in Landquart. The firm has received numerous awards including the Mies van der Rohe Award, Norman Foster Solar Award, and various Swiss architecture prizes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-lifecycle architectural design for residential, commercial, public, and alpine building projects across Switzerland and internationally, delivered from the firm's Chur office. Notable commissions include the New Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, the New Monte Rosa Hut, the Ovaverva Pool, Spa & Sports Centre, and the ÖKK Headquarters.
• Building Competitions Services Architectural competition design and study contracts for public and private sector projects (courthouses, prisons, schools, hospitals, town centers, rehabilitation centers). Used to secure new project commissions via competitive selection.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Marques Architekten, LuzernminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTogether with Marques Architekten from Lucerne, Bearth & Deplazes won the study contract for the extension of the cantonal prison and cantonal police of the canton Thurgau in Frauenfeld.
• Durisch + Nolli ArchitetticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the New Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, one of the firm's most prestigious public commissions. The project received multiple awards including the SIA-Architekturpreis des Kantons Tessin.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bearth-deplazes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Bearth & Deplazes Architects