EM2N Architects

What EM2N Architects does

EM2N is a Swiss architecture and urban design practice founded in 1997/1998 by Mathias Müller and Daniel Niggli and headquartered in Zurich as EM2N AG. The firm delivers architecture, urban design, and masterplanning services for public-sector, institutional, cultural, and commercial clients across Switzerland and Europe. Notable commissions include the Cinémathèque suisse in Lausanne (13,110 m², completed 2019), the ATMOS mixed-use development in Zurich for PSP Swiss Property (40,000 m², CHF 130M construction value, completed 2021), and the ESM Luxembourg State administration complex (33,000 m², won via competition in 2022 and ongoing). The firm operates additional offices in Berlin (EM2N Architekten Berlin GmbH) and Brussels (Atelier Kanal Architects bvba), and has built a portfolio of more than 50 completed projects.

The practice operates on a project-based fee model typical of the architecture industry, where revenue is tied to design fees as a percentage of construction cost (commonly 8–15%) on long-cycle commissions spanning multiple years. Go-to-market is principally through open and invited architectural competitions, where EM2N's track record of first-prize wins (ESM Luxembourg, Binzstrasse) and awards such as the Architecture Prize Canton Zurich (2019, 2022) and Swiss Arc Award 2025 functions as the primary client acquisition channel. The firm is privately held with no disclosed external investment, and partner-attributed design leadership (ETH/SIA/BSA affiliations) is central to its market positioning.

The technology stack comprises standard architectural tooling, including CAD, BIM, and visualization software, with no disclosed proprietary AI or generative-design systems. Clients are concentrated among European public authorities and large institutional owners, with notable engagements including the Swiss Federal Office, City of Zurich, UBS, PSP Swiss Property, and the Luxembourg State, alongside cultural institutions. The firm's competitive position rests on competition pedigree, design-led partner reputation, and a reference portfolio that supports repeat selection in high-value public and institutional commissions.

Name

EM2N Architects

Legal name

EM2N AG

Website

https://em2n.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EM2N Architects is a Swiss architecture and urban design practice founded in 1997 in Zurich by Mathias Müller and Daniel Niggli, delivering buildings and masterplans for public, institutional, cultural, and commercial clients across Switzerland and Europe via offices in Zurich, Berlin, and Brussels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: EM2N generates revenue through professional architectural services including design, planning, and project execution for institutional and private clients. Revenue is project-based with fees typically negotiated per commission or competition win.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EM2N is an architectural firm delivering professional design, planning, and project execution services for cultural institutions, administrative buildings, offices, residential complexes, sports facilities, and public buildings. The firm provides full architectural services from competition concept through construction administration, serving government, real estate developer, and cultural institution clients across Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Product overview

EM2N is an architectural firm offering design and planning services for various building types and urban planning projects. Their portfolio spans cultural institutions, office buildings, residential complexes, sports facilities, and public buildings. The firm's services include architectural design, urban planning, and project execution across Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium. As a service-based firm rather than a product company, EM2N does not offer discrete software products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full architectural design services covering concept, schematic, and detailed design for cultural institutions, administrative buildings, commercial offices, residential complexes, sports facilities, and public buildings. Services are delivered for government, institutional, real estate developer, and cultural clients across Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
• Urban Planning and Master Planning Services Urban and master planning services delivered for large-scale institutional and mixed-use developments, including the design of public parks, green spaces, and integrated urban realms as part of major competition entries.

Named customers5 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 core and supporting.

• ROBERTNEUN™ (Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EM2N formed a consortium with ROBERTNEUN™ Berlin for the international competition for the European Stability Mechanism and Luxembourg State administrative complex. The partnership combined EM2N's architectural expertise with ROBERTNEUN's urban planning capabilities, winning first prize together. Both firms collaborated on the master plan and building design for this flagship project on Luxembourg's Kirchberg plateau.
• Atelier Loidl Landschaftsarchitekten Berlin GmbHsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture specialist partner for the Luxembourg ESM project, responsible for designing the public park and green spaces that form a central element of the project concept.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG): Copenhagen/New York architecture firm with a competition-driven, large-scale civic and cultural portfolio. Comparable to EM2N's competition-based growth model and international project ambition.
• Christ & Gantenbein: Basel-based architecture firm with comparable competition-winning approach on cultural and public buildings in Switzerland. Similar size, Swiss origin, and competition strategy to EM2N.
• David Chipperfield Architects: European architecture firm with strong public-institution and cultural-archive credentials (e.g., Neues Museum Berlin). Closely comparable to EM2N's competition-based public commissions and European footprint.
• Snøhetta: Norwegian-origin architecture firm with global cultural and civic commissions. Comparable in competition-driven growth model and European cultural-institution portfolio.
• Miller & Maranta: Swiss architecture firm of similar size with an award-winning portfolio focused on cultural and public buildings. Closely comparable to EM2N in Swiss origin, scale, and public-sector competition wins.
• Herzog & de Meuron: Swiss architecture firm headquartered in Basel with a global competition-driven portfolio in cultural, institutional, and commercial buildings. Highly comparable to EM2N in scale, Swiss origin, and reliance on international competition wins.
• Caruso St John: Swiss/UK architecture firm with comparable size and a strong record in cultural and heritage projects. Direct competitor to EM2N for European cultural-architecture commissions.
• Steven Holl Architects: Mid-sized architecture firm known for winning international competitions on cultural and institutional buildings. Comparable to EM2N in competition-led model and cultural-civic specialization.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global incumbent architecture firm with a much larger headcount and broader typology portfolio. Competes with EM2N in some large public competitions but operates at significantly greater scale.
• OMA: Rotterdam-based global architecture firm with a strong competition-wins track record in cultural and civic buildings. Overlaps with EM2N in competition-driven practice but at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/em2n_ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/em2nZRH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/em2n-architekten-berlin-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 EM2N Architects