What Huts & Palaces does

Hütten und Paläste (legal entity: Schönert Grau Architekten Partnerschaft mbB) is a Berlin-based architecture firm founded in 2005 by Nanni Grau and Frank Schönert, operating with a team of approximately 15 architects. The firm specializes in the transformation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, with a programmatic emphasis on circular construction, minimal resource use, and participatory design. Its core technology revolves around "R+ Strategien" — a portfolio of circular building approaches including zirkulärer Bau (circular building), flexible hall use, climate capsules, and minimally invasive transformation — combined with modular wooden construction systems and self-build/participatory methodologies that engage future users in design and construction processes.

The firm's product surface spans modular prefabricated garden structures (DuLa, CaLa, MiLa, discontinued), large-scale urban transformation projects (Holzmarkt Dorf, CRCLR House 1, U-Halle Mannheim), rural cooperative developments (Hof Prädikow), and civic/cultural buildings (Temporäre Kunsthalle Berlin, Eine-Welt-Zentrum). Services are delivered as full-scope architectural commissions following HOAI Leistungsphasen 1-8 (the regulated German fee structure), including feasibility studies, expert opinions, and participation moderation.

The business model is professional services revenue, project-based, with pricing governed by HOAI fee guidelines and contracts typically running multi-year. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: the firm acquires work through public tenders, invited competitions, and direct commissions. Customer segments are diversified across public sector clients (cities, municipalities, state-owned entities), housing cooperatives and foundations, and a smaller tail of private clients. The firm has no external investment, operates as an independent partnership, and generates revenue not publicly disclosed but inferred to be in the low single-digit million euro range based on team size and project cadence.

Name

Huts & Palaces

Legal name

Schönert Grau Architekten Partnerschaft mbB

Website

https://huettenundpalaeste.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hütten und Paläste is a Berlin-based architecture firm of approximately 15 architects specializing in circular construction, adaptive reuse, and participatory design. Founded in 2005 by Nanni Grau and Frank Schönert, it serves public sector clients, housing cooperatives, and foundations across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Luxury / High-End Home Construction (IMAFABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Modular & Prefabricated Home Construction (IMAFABAF)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture
• Building transformation
• Circular construction
• Participatory design
• Adaptive reuse

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Planning Services: Full-service architecture firm offering object planning in Leistungsphasen 1-8 according to HOAI (German architecture fee structure), expert opinions, feasibility studies for condition assessment and utilization of existing buildings, and moderation and implementation of participation processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hütten & Paläste is a Berlin-based architecture firm providing full-service object planning following HOAI Leistungsphasen 1-8, including concept design, renovation, transformation, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. The firm specializes in sustainable, circular construction with an emphasis on participatory design processes that involve users, clients, and experts in co-development. It also delivers feasibility studies, expert opinions, and moderation of participation processes for civic, cultural, cooperative, and residential projects.

Product overview

Hütten und Paläste (Huts & Palaces) is an architectural firm founded in 2005 by Nanni Grau and Frank Schönert, based in Berlin. The firm specializes in renovation, transformation, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, with a focus on sustainable architecture, circular construction, and participatory design processes. Their portfolio spans residential, commercial, cultural, and urban planning projects, including modular garden structures (DuLa, CaLa, MiLa prefabricated garden cabins), large-scale urban transformations (Holzmarkt Dorf, CRCLR House, U-Halle Mannheim), and heritage building renovations. The firm offers full architectural services from concept to completion, including participatory planning processes and self-build support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Planning Services (HOAI Leistungsphasen 1-8)
• Building Transformation and Adaptive Reuse Services
• Participatory Design and Self-Build Moderation
• Expert Opinions and Feasibility Studies

Quantifiable outcome

• Staatspreis Umbaukultur 2024, Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis Architektur 2024, Deutscher Städtebaupreis 2025

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Schönert Grau Architekten Part mbBcoreOthersThe firm operates under this legal entity structure as a partnership of architects. Nanni Grau serves as Partnerin (Partner) and Frank Schönert as Geschäftsführung (Managing Director). Both are registered with Architektenkammer Berlin.
• TU Berlin - Architektur der TransformationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder Nanni Grau is Professorin des Fachgebiets Architektur der Transformation at TU Berlin since 2024, enabling academic research integration with practice.
• ZRS IngenieuremajorTechnology or IntegrationEngineering partnership for structural, building physics, and building services work. Collaborated on multiple projects including KRQ Potsdam and Ossietzky-Hof Nordhausen.
• eZeit IngenieuremajorTechnology or IntegrationEngineering partnership for structural work, collaborated on KRQ Potsdam Freischwimmer project.
• Stiftung Edith MaryoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner for multiple projects including CELab, Vollgut Areal, and Hofhaus. Foundation holds property for community-oriented development.
• Selbstbau e.G.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing cooperative partner for Hof Prädikow project and self-build oriented developments.
• Stiftung TriasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner for Hof Prädikow project, focused on sustainable land use and housing.
• Carpaneto ArchitektenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partnership on Holzmarkt Dorf project, a settlement for creative industries.
• Urban AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban planning partnership on Holzmarkt Dorf project.
• Ludescher von Spreckelsen ArchitektenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partnership in working group for Gröninger Hof transformation project in Hamburg.
• Alexander Poetzsch ArchitekturenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partnership for Robotron-Kantine competition entry in Dresden.
• HCU Hamburg (Hafen City Universität)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for lectures on circular building and educational programs.
• Hochschule MünchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership - co-founder Nanni Grau was professor at Munich University of Applied Sciences 2021-2024.
• MetrozonesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Parkhaus Heerstraße project in Berlin for activating vacant parking structures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• De Architekten Cie. Amsterdam-based architecture firm with strong focus on circular construction, modular building, and adaptive reuse — directly comparable methodology to Huts & Palaces' transformation and circular practice.
• Waugh Thistleton Architects: London-based architecture firm specializing in circular construction and engineered timber — directly comparable technical focus on circular building and modular timber systems to Huts & Palaces' R+ strategies.

Direct peers

• Hild und K Architekten: Munich-based architecture firm comparable in size and focus on residential, cultural, and academic buildings; both firms combine German academic rigor with project delivery.
• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin-based architecture firm of similar size with comparable focus on innovative construction, sustainability, and computational design. Both firms operate as small partnerships serving public and private clients in Germany.
• Ludescher von Spreckelsen Architekten: Berlin architecture firm partnered with Huts & Palaces on Gröninger Hof Hamburg; similar size and a focus on transformation and urban projects in Germany.
• Schulz und Schulz: Leipzig-based architecture firm with comparable focus on residential, cultural, and educational buildings, and similar size. Operates in Germany's specialty architecture firm segment with academic engagement.
• Carpaneto Architekten: Berlin architecture firm partnered with Huts & Palaces on Holzmarkt Dorf; comparable in scale and approach to sustainable urban and creative-industry projects in Berlin.
• Pool Leber Architekten: Munich-based architecture practice of comparable size working on residential, urban renewal, and participatory projects in Germany. Similar boutique professional services model.
• Sauerbruch Hutton: Berlin-based architecture firm with a strong sustainability/environmental portfolio and comparable size, serving cultural, public, and residential projects in Germany. Both firms share academic-discourse integration and award positioning.

Broad incumbents

• David Chipperfield Architects: Large established international practice operating broadly in the same architectural design space, with comparable transformation/renovation work for cultural and public clients across Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/huettenundpalaeste

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Huts & Palaces