Crossboundaries
Crossboundaries is a Beijing- and Frankfurt-based multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2005, delivering architecture, urban planning, interior design, and consulting services to government, educational, and enterprise clients across China and Europe, with a notable portfolio in public space regeneration and educational facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersBeijing, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crossboundaries does
Crossboundaries is a multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2005 in Beijing by Hao Dong and Binke Lenhardt, with a European office established in Frankfurt am Main in 2012 through a partnership with Antje Voigt. The firm operates across four integrated service lines: architecture, interior and environmental design, urban planning and regeneration, and consulting (feasibility studies, master planning, design manuals, and participation/moderation processes). Its project portfolio spans educational facilities, public parks, commercial interiors, and community spaces across China (Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai), Germany (Frankfurt, Vetschau), and Switzerland (Geneva). Notable marquee projects include the 77,000 sqm Shenzhen Skypark (a 1.2km rooftop transformation), Songzhuang Micro Community Park, the PKU Affiliated High School Haikou Campus, and the IOM Geneva Headquarters competition concept.
The firm monetizes through project-based professional services fees derived from direct commissions and architectural competition wins, targeting a horizontal mix of government/municipal clients (Shenzhen Nanshan District, Songzhuang Government, City of Frankfurt), educational institutions (PKU Affiliated High School, Tsinghua University), and enterprise clients across automotive (Audi, BMW), manufacturing (Aimer), healthcare (Sanofi), education services (Qkids), and international organizations (IOM). The firm complements fee-based work with the Boundaries X initiative — a programmatic extension covering education programs, community swap events, urban engagement, and social activities — and operates its Beijing office as a community center. There is no disclosed pricing, no published revenue, no external funding, and the firm remains privately held by its founding partners, with a small team of approximately 15 staff in Beijing and a partnership-structured Frankfurt office.
Crossboundaries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crossboundaries
- Legal name
- Crossboundaries
- Website
- https://crossboundaries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Crossboundaries is a Beijing- and Frankfurt-based multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2005, delivering architecture, urban planning, interior design, and consulting services to government, educational, and enterprise clients across China and Europe, with a notable portfolio in public space regeneration and educational facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Crossboundaries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beijing
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Crossboundaries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Project-based fees for architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape design, and signage design services. Revenue generated through direct client commissions and architectural competitions.
- Consulting Services: Fees for feasibility studies, master planning, programming, participation and moderation processes, and development of planning frameworks for public and private sector clients.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Crossboundaries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crossboundaries is a multidisciplinary design practice delivering architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape design, signage systems, and graphic design services. The firm contributes to a vital built environment through architecture and urban regeneration, interior and environmental design, ranging from signage design to master planning. It also provides consulting services including feasibility studies, programming, participation and moderation processes, and design manuals for government, educational, corporate, and community clients across China and Europe.
Product overview
Crossboundaries is a multidisciplinary design practice offering architecture, interior design, and urban planning services. Founded in 2005 in Beijing by Hao Dong and Binke Lenhardt, with a Frankfurt office established in 2012 by Binke Lenhardt and Antje Voigt, the firm operates across China and Germany. Their portfolio spans educational facilities, public parks, commercial interiors, and community spaces, with notable projects including Shenzhen Skypark (a 1.2km rooftop sports park), Songzhuang Micro Community Park, and the Tiny Home on the Water. The firm also operates Boundaries X, an initiative encompassing educational programs (X EDU), community sharing events (X LIVE WITH LESS), urban engagement (X CITY), and social activities (X SOCIAL). Consulting services include feasibility studies, master planning, design manuals, and participation processes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architecture Services Architecture and urban regeneration services ranging from signage design to master planning, serving educational, residential, commercial, and public sector clients across China and Europe.
- Interior Design Interior and environmental design services for offices, educational facilities, retail spaces, and residential projects.
- Urban Planning Urban planning and regeneration services including feasibility studies, master planning, and participation processes for community development.
- Consulting Services Consulting services including feasibility studies, master planning, manuals, participation and moderation processes, and architectural programming to prepare and guide design processes for public and private sector clients.
- Boundaries X Initiative encompassing X EDUCATION (teenager education programs), X LIVE WITH LESS (community sharing events), X CITY (urban engagement), and X SOCIAL (social activities) that extends the firm's mission beyond traditional architecture practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- Shenzhen Skypark: 1.2km rooftop transformed into 77,000 sqm public park serving general public, 3 educational institutions, and professional sports users
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Crossboundaries
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Crossboundaries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crossboundaries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- CCHE Lausanne SAcoreCooperation partner for IOM Geneva Headquarter Competition (2022). CCHE provided expertise for the conceptual design of the 15,000 m2 headquarters building for the International Organization for Migration in Geneva.
- Brettmen, Berlin (Anselm Breig and Malte Spiess)supportingChief carpenter and construction collaborator for Tiny Home on the Water project - responsible for custom woodworking and boat construction.
- Ludescher von SpreckelsencoreArchitecture partnership for Community Center Spreewald project in Vetschau, Germany. Partners Barbara Ludescher and Oliver von Spreckelsen led their side of the design team alongside Crossboundaries.
- SICHT.weise, Verden an der AllersupportingPedagogy and school building consulting partner for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning framework - contributing educational expertise for school outdoor space design.
- Bierbaum.Aichele.Landschaftsarchitekten Part. G mbBsupportingLandscape architecture partner for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning project - offices in Mainz and Frankfurt, contributing to outdoor space planning framework.
- Institut für Sportwissenschaften, Goethe-Universität FrankfurtsupportingSport pedagogy consultant for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning - providing expertise on physical education and sports facility requirements.
- Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Johannes Gutenberg Universität MainzsupportingSport pedagogy consultant for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning - contributing research on sports science and school sports.
- Beijing Architectural Design and Research Institute Shenzhen BranchsupportingCooperative designer for Shenzhen Skypark project - providing local expertise and technical support for the 77,000 sqm rooftop park development.
- Shenzhen Boliyang Landscape and Architectural Design Co., Ltd.supportingCooperative landscape designer for Shenzhen Skypark - contributing landscape architecture expertise for the 1.2km rooftop transformation.
- Citymakers (China-Europa)supportingLong-term engagement with Citymakers platform dedicated to making cities better places to live with the help of various professionals.
- Raumwerk GmbHsupportingGate Project collaborator for AUDI Design Manuals project - responsible for gate design components within the factory recurring functions design manuals.
- Hochschule RosenheimsupportingAcademic partner for Break Room Project within AUDI Design Manuals - contributing research and design expertise for employee break facilities.
- Pratt InstituteminorFounders Binke Lenhardt and Hao Dong met during architectural studies at Pratt Institute in New York - foundational academic connection.
- Tsinghua UniversitysupportingArchitecture studio engagement and jury panel participation. Co-founder Binke Lenhardt serves on IUPA 2025 jury at Tsinghua.
- Central Academy of Fine Arts, BeijingsupportingEngagement in architecture studios with students. Firm participates in educational programs alongside design practice.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Crossboundaries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Snøhetta: Norwegian/globally-operating interdisciplinary design firm with significant education and public realm portfolio — relevant benchmark for international, award-led cross-disciplinary design practice.
- MAD Architects: Beijing-founded global architecture practice led by Ma Yansong; comparable in design-led ethos and international brand presence but operates at significantly larger scale and scope, serving as a regional incumbent benchmark.
- Büro Ole Scheeren: Beijing/Europe/Hong Kong-based practice with deep cross-continental operating model; relevant comparator for Crossboundaries' transcontinental footprint, though it operates at substantially greater scale.
- MVRDV: Dutch global practice with strong portfolio in public space, education, and urban regeneration — comparable international award profile and competition participation, but substantially larger and more diversified.
Emerging players
- Heatherwick Studio: London-based multidisciplinary design studio with award-winning public space and cultural projects — comparable in design-led, people-centered philosophy and international recognition, but serves a different geographic base.
Direct peers
- Vector Architects: Beijing-based architecture studio known for context-sensitive, research-driven projects in China; comparable in headcount, project-based B2B model, and emphasis on crafted public and cultural architecture.
- Neri&Hu Design and Research Office: Shanghai-founded interdisciplinary design firm with parallel offices in Shanghai and internationally — directly comparable in dual-city model, multidisciplinary offering, and award-winning interior/architecture work.
- OPEN Architecture: Beijing-based multidisciplinary design practice operating at a similar boutique scale, working across architecture, education, and public cultural projects in China — the closest peer in terms of size, ethos, and project typology.
- Plat Asia: Beijing-based landscape and architecture firm working on rural regeneration and public space in China — directly comparable project typology (community parks, urban regeneration) and similar boutique scale.
- AIM Architecture: Shanghai-based practice spanning architecture, interiors, and adaptive reuse with strong international award profile; very similar operating model, scale, and mix of commercial interior and cultural/educational projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crossboundaries social profiles
Digital presenceCrossboundaries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crossboundaries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Crossboundaries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crossboundaries M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crossboundaries
What does Crossboundaries do?
Crossboundaries is a multidisciplinary design practice delivering architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape design, signage systems, and graphic design services. The firm contributes to a vital built environment through architecture and urban regeneration, interior and environmental design, ranging from signage design to master planning. It also provides consulting services including feasibility studies, programming, participation and moderation processes, and design manuals for government, educational, corporate, and community clients across China and Europe.
Is Crossboundaries a public or private company?
Crossboundaries is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Crossboundaries founded?
Crossboundaries was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Crossboundaries based?
Crossboundaries is headquartered in Beijing, China, in the Asia region.
How does Crossboundaries make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Design Services are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services.
Who are Crossboundaries's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Snøhetta, MAD Architects, Büro Ole Scheeren and MVRDV. Heatherwick Studio is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Vector Architects, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, OPEN Architecture, Plat Asia and AIM Architecture.
Does Crossboundaries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crossboundaries.