Crossboundaries

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• CCHE Lausanne SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Cooperation 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)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Chief carpenter and construction collaborator for Tiny Home on the Water project - responsible for custom woodworking and boat construction.
• Ludescher von SpreckelsencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Architecture 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 AllersupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Pedagogy and school building consulting partner for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning framework - contributing educational expertise for school outdoor space design.
• Bierbaum.Aichele.Landschaftsarchitekten Part. G mbBsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Landscape architecture partner for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning project - offices in Mainz and Frankfurt, contributing to outdoor space planning framework.
• Institut für Sportwissenschaften, Goethe-Universität FrankfurtsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Sport pedagogy consultant for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning - providing expertise on physical education and sports facility requirements.
• Institut für Sportwissenschaft, Johannes Gutenberg Universität MainzsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Sport pedagogy consultant for Frankfurt Schoolyards Planning - contributing research on sports science and school sports.
• Beijing Architectural Design and Research Institute Shenzhen BranchsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Cooperative 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.supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Cooperative landscape designer for Shenzhen Skypark - contributing landscape architecture expertise for the 1.2km rooftop transformation.
• Citymakers (China-Europa)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-term engagement with Citymakers platform dedicated to making cities better places to live with the help of various professionals.
• Raumwerk GmbHsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011Gate Project collaborator for AUDI Design Manuals project - responsible for gate design components within the factory recurring functions design manuals.
• Hochschule RosenheimsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2011Academic partner for Break Room Project within AUDI Design Manuals - contributing research and design expertise for employee break facilities.
• Pratt InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Founders Binke Lenhardt and Hao Dong met during architectural studies at Pratt Institute in New York - foundational academic connection.
• Tsinghua UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture studio engagement and jury panel participation. Co-founder Binke Lenhardt serves on IUPA 2025 jury at Tsinghua.
• Central Academy of Fine Arts, BeijingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement in architecture studios with students. Firm participates in educational programs alongside design practice.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/CROSSBOUNDARIES.INTERNATIONAL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crossboundaries
• Instagraminstagram.com/crossboundaries_beijing
• Xx.com/xboundarie5

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Crossboundaries