Rich Architects
Reichel Architekten is a Zürich-based architecture firm founded in 2014 that delivers integrated architecture, construction management, project development, and general planner services across residential, commercial, public, and industrial projects in German-speaking Switzerland, with notable anchor work for SBB and various municipalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rich Architects does
Reichel Architekten GmbH is a Zürich-based architecture firm founded in 2014 by Christiane Reichel and Hannes Reichel. The firm operates with a 15-person team from its headquarters at Talacker 50, Zürich, and delivers four integrated service modules: Architecture (analysis, feasibility studies, project and execution planning, cost and schedule management), Construction Management (tendering, contract awards, on-site supervision, trade coordination), Project Development (market analysis, financial planning, approvals), and General Planner Mandate (comprehensive project management and coordination). Its core technology stack combines sustainable Swiss wood construction expertise, Minergie-Eco and GEAK energy certification knowledge, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) at LOD 400+ for technically complex projects including pharmaceutical and research facilities.
The firm serves a diversified client base across residential, commercial, public, and industrial building types throughout German-speaking Switzerland, with completed projects extending into Germany. Revenue is generated through professional service fees acquired via open competitions, invited competitions, and direct commissions. Notable engagements include a 2024 framework contract with SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen) covering 200+ railway stations, a CHF 51.6M housing development in Oetwil am See, a CHF 17.25M multi-family building at Albisstrasse 161, and a CHF 9.3M research facility for WSL. The client roster spans public institutions (municipalities, federal agencies), banks (Raiffeisenbank Schweiz, an international private bank), research institutes (Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL), major consultancies (a Big Four firm), and industrial operators (Sauter Bachmann AG), alongside private developers and family offices.
The business model is project-based and fee-driven, with no disclosed pricing tiers or recurring revenue streams. Distribution is direct — no intermediaries — and competitive positioning rests on competition track record (including multiple 1st-prize wins), academic credentials (ETH Zürich teaching role, publications in professional journals such as FIRST, werk bauen + wohnen, and Hochparterre), and recognition through the German Design Award and Best of Swiss Web Award. The firm is privately held by its two co-founders with no external institutional investors or parent structure.
Rich Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rich Architects
- Legal name
- Reichel Architekten GmbH
- Website
- https://reichel-architekten.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Reichel Architekten is a Zürich-based architecture firm founded in 2014 that delivers integrated architecture, construction management, project development, and general planner services across residential, commercial, public, and industrial projects in German-speaking Switzerland, with notable anchor work for SBB and various municipalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rich Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Operative Builders (1531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE)
Keywords
Where Rich Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rich Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Services: Full-service architecture firm providing analysis, acquisition, feasibility studies, project planning, execution planning, cost and schedule management. Services include architecture, construction management, project development, and general contractor mandates (GP-Mandat). Revenue is generated through professional service fees for projects of varying scales.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Rich Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reichel Architekten is a Zurich-based architecture firm providing full-service architectural services covering analysis, acquisition, feasibility studies, project planning, execution planning, cost and schedule management, construction management (Bauleitung), project development, and general contractor mandates (Generalplaner-Mandat). The firm specializes in renovations, conversions, and new construction projects of all scales for residential, commercial, public, and industrial clients across German-speaking Switzerland.
Product overview
Reichel Architekten is a Swiss architecture firm offering four integrated service modules: Architecture (analysis, feasibility studies, project planning, execution planning, cost/schedule management), Construction Management (tendering, contract awards, construction monitoring, trade coordination), Project Development (market analysis, financial planning, approvals), and General Planner Mandate (comprehensive project management and coordination). The firm specializes in renovations, conversions, and new construction projects across residential, commercial, public, and industrial building types throughout Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architektur (Architecture) Comprehensive architectural services covering analysis, acquisition, feasibility studies, project planning, execution planning, and cost and schedule management for renovations, conversions, new construction, and extensions. Targeted at public institutions, private developers, banks, and corporate clients in German-speaking Switzerland.
- Bauleitung (Construction Management) Construction supervision services including tendering, awarding of contracts, monitoring of construction execution, coordinating trades, construction scheduling, and cost/schedule control. Delivered for building projects across residential, commercial, public, and industrial sectors.
- Projektentwicklung (Project Development) Project development services spanning market and location analysis, project conception, financial planning, approval and legal matters, planning and organization, and risk/opportunity planning. Aimed at private developers, family offices, and investors needing end-to-end development support.
- Generalplaner-Mandat (General Planner Mandate)
Quantifiable outcome
- Minergie-Eco certification achieved for Kindergarten Werd Adliswil
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rich Architects
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rich Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rich Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Arcadis/Tétris (Totalunternehmer)minorTotal contractor for private bank Zürich project. Coordination for interior design execution.
- Wildrich Hien ArchitektencoreCooperation partner for Schule Schauenberg project. Joint design of school center combining turnhallenbau and Unterrichtsräume building.
- Michael Rubin ArchitektcoreCooperation partner for Schule Seegarten project in Arbon.
- WWP (Baumanager)minorConstruction management partner for Mehrfamilienhaus Weltistrasse project.
- SFP-Swiss Finance & Property GroupcoreClient/developer for Mehrfamilienhaus Rütistrasse renovation project in Schlieren.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rich Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Burkhalter Sumi Architekten: Swiss architecture firm with similar contemporary profile working on residential, educational and public projects through competitions. Directly comparable in scale, design philosophy and competition-led project acquisition.
- HHF Architekten: Basel-based architecture studio known for residential, public and cultural projects in Switzerland. Comparable contemporary Swiss practice with similar competition-based GTM and project typology overlap.
- EM2N Architekten: Zürich-based architecture practice of comparable size working on public, educational and residential projects in Switzerland. Directly comparable to Reichel Architekten in scale, geography and project typology (schools, housing, public commissions).
- Pool Architekten: Zürich-based architecture office engaged in new builds, conversions and public projects in German-speaking Switzerland. Comparable in scale, regional focus and the mix of architecture with broader planning services.
- Stücheli Architekten: Zürich-headquartered architecture firm active in new construction and conversions across residential, commercial and public sectors in Switzerland. Comparable in market positioning, GTM (competition-driven) and Swiss DACH focus.
- Diener & Diener Architekten: Established Basel-based Swiss architecture firm with a comparable focus on residential, cultural and urban infill projects. Comparable in Swiss market positioning and competition-driven public project work.
Broad incumbents
- Herzog & de Meuron: Basel-headquartered global architecture firm with deep Swiss roots in cultural, public and residential work. Comparable as a Swiss architectural brand but operates at vastly larger scale and project size.
- Gensler: Global design and architecture firm with broad practice in workplace, commercial interiors and public-sector work. Comparable to Reichel's corporate and banking interior commissions, though at vastly larger scale and global footprint.
- BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group: International contemporary architecture firm active in residential, public and mixed-use projects globally. Comparable in forward-leaning design approach and competition-led public commissions, though at much larger scale.
- David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally active architecture practice with strong portfolio in cultural, public and heritage-sensitive projects. Comparable in design ethos around empathy for place and sustainable renovation, though at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rich Architects social profiles
Digital presenceRich Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rich Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Rich Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rich Architects 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 Rich Architects
What does Rich Architects do?
Reichel Architekten is a Zurich-based architecture firm providing full-service architectural services covering analysis, acquisition, feasibility studies, project planning, execution planning, cost and schedule management, construction management (Bauleitung), project development, and general contractor mandates (Generalplaner-Mandat). The firm specializes in renovations, conversions, and new construction projects of all scales for residential, commercial, public, and industrial clients across German-speaking Switzerland.
Is Rich Architects a public or private company?
Rich Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rich Architects founded?
Rich Architects was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rich Architects based?
Rich Architects is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Rich Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Services.
Who are Rich Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Burkhalter Sumi Architekten, HHF Architekten, EM2N Architekten, Pool Architekten, Stücheli Architekten and Diener & Diener Architekten. Broad incumbents are Herzog & de Meuron, Gensler, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and David Chipperfield Architects.
Does Rich Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rich Architects.
What industry is Rich Architects in?
Rich Architects's product category is Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 8700.