SWUP

What SWUP does

SWUP GmbH Landschaft | Stadt | Kommunikation is a German professional services firm offering three integrated service lines: landscape architecture (Landschaftsarchitektur), urban and landscape planning (Stadt- und Landschaftsplanung), and communication and public participation (Kommunikation und Partizipation). Founded circa 1980 and operating for more than 40 years, the firm serves cities, municipalities, Berlin boroughs (Bezirke), municipal housing corporations, harbour authorities, and tourism-oriented public entities across Germany. Its work spans parks, urban squares, waterfront promenades, harbours, residential open-space master plans, coastal infrastructure, cycle-path communication strategies, and garden shows (BUGA/Landesgartenschau). Notable engagements include the €10.1M UrbaneBERKEL river revitalisation in Coesfeld, the GESOBAU open-space master concept for the 15,070-apartment Märkisches Viertel, and the €6.0M Eckernförde harbour promenade redesign.

SWUP delivers services as fee-based professional engagements governed by the HOAI (Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieure) fee structure for architectural and engineering services in Germany, with projects typically invoiced against defined Leistungsphasen (work phases 1–9). The go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, anchored in direct relationships with city administrations and direct commissions or public tender responses; SWUP also participates in project consortia with complementary firms (e.g., Planungsbüro Hahm, Weeber und Partner, inspektour). Marketing is primarily portfolio-driven via swup.de, supplemented by garden-show appearances and professional events such as the Lenné-Symposium.

The company is privately held and operates as part of the Thelen Gruppe, a diversified German conglomerate, with the legal seat at Alfredstraße 150, 45131 Essen. Operational offices are located in Berlin (regional hub, Wohlrabedamm 34), Lübeck (Schleswig-Holstein), and Ostseebad Heringsdorf (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). Reported core headcount is 1–10 employees, supplemented by project-based subcontracting and consortium partners typical of German Planungsbüros. No revenue, funding rounds, M&A activity, or institutional investors are disclosed.

Name

SWUP

Legal name

SWUP GmbH Landschaft | Stadt | Kommunikation

Website

https://swup.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SWUP GmbH is a German professional services firm delivering integrated landscape architecture, urban and landscape planning, and public-participation services to municipalities, public agencies, and social housing corporations across Germany. It operates as part of the Thelen Gruppe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Landscape architecture services
• Urban and landscape planning
• Public participation consulting
• Municipal planning services
• Communication and stakeholder engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Planning Services: SWUP generates revenue through fee-based professional services contracts with municipalities, public agencies, and housing corporations. Projects span landscape architecture design, urban development planning, environmental assessments, and public participation facilitation. Revenue is project-based, typically invoiced against defined project phases (Leistungsphasen nach HOAI — the German fee structure for architectural and engineering services).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SWUP is a German professional services firm delivering integrated landscape architecture, urban and landscape planning, and public participation/communication services to municipalities, public agencies, and housing corporations. The firm operates across all HOAI project phases, producing both physical outdoor-space designs (parks, promenades, plazas, residential open spaces) and the legally required planning documentation (Bebauungspläne, Umweltberichte) as well as stakeholder engagement processes.

Product overview

SWUP is a professional services firm offering three integrated service areas: Landschaftsarchitektur (Landscape Architecture), Stadt- und Landschaftsplanung (Urban and Landscape Planning), and Kommunikation und Partizipation (Communication and Participation). For over 40 years, the firm has served as a reliable partner for cities and municipalities in construction, planning, and environmental projects across Germany. The three service areas work together holistically: landscape architecture designs living outdoor spaces, urban planning provides strategic frameworks and regulatory documents, and communication services ensure stakeholder participation and public engagement. Projects span from tourist infrastructure and waterfront promenades to parks, playgrounds, residential quarters, and urban squares.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landschaftsarchitektur (Landscape Architecture) Landscape architecture services covering the design of parks, squares, waterfront promenades, playgrounds, sports facilities, tourism infrastructure, and residential outdoor spaces. Delivered to municipalities, public agencies, and housing corporations across all project phases from planning through execution and maintenance.
• Stadt- und Landschaftsplanung (Urban and Landscape Planning) Urban and landscape planning services including urban development concepts, site investigations, building construction plans with environmental reports (Bauleitpläne inkl. Umweltberichte), impact assessments (Eingriffsgutachten), formal and informal participation procedures, biotope mapping, landscape conservation plans, and large-scale landscape concepts.
• Kommunikation und Partizipation (Communication and Participation) Communication and public participation services including tailored communication methods, citizen participation procedures, stakeholder engagement, moderation, and workshop facilitation for urban development projects. Designed to support municipalities in running legally required and informal participation processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• UrbaneBERKEL project: approximately €10.1 million in construction costs, spanning 1.6 km of river redesign
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• hcb hospitality conceptsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWUP partnered with hcb hospitality concepts in 2010 to develop the touristischer Masterplan Steinwarder for Heiligenhafen. While hcb defined the economic and real-estate development framework for hotel projects, SWUP was responsible for the urban design concept integrating the various project components.
• Project MminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject M collaborated with SWUP to develop the Masterplan Kutterhafenentwicklung Neuharlingersiel, combining tourism expertise with landscape planning to balance the working harbour with tourism.
• inspektour GmbH – Tourismus- und RegionalentwicklungminorStrategic or Co-development Partnerinspektour GmbH worked jointly with SWUP on the Ortskern-Entwicklungskonzept Pellworm, contributing tourism and regional development expertise alongside SWUP's planning capabilities.
• Weeber und Partner – Institut für Stadtplanung und Sozialforschung BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA project consortium comprising SWUP GmbH and Weeber und Partner conducted the Innenentwicklungs-potenzialanalyse for Henstedt-Ulzburg, combining landscape planning with urban sociology and city planning research.
• Planungsbüro Hahm (Lübeck)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanungsgemeinschaft Priwall: SWUP worked in a planning partnership with Planungsbüro Hahm from Lübeck on the Priwall-Promenade project, combining local knowledge with landscape architecture expertise.
• Planungsbüro Hahm (Osnabrück)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWUP partnered with Planungsbüro Hahm from Osnabrück on multiple UrbaneBERKEL projects (Bernhard-von-Galen-Straße, Wiemannweg) for integrated landscape architecture and civil engineering delivery.
• ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWUP collaborated with ift Freizeit- und Tourismusberatung GmbH on the original Standort-Entwicklungskonzept Wuhlheide (2004–2007), combining landscape planning with leisure and tourism consulting.
• Grün Berlin GmbH / infraVelo GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSWUP was commissioned by Grün Berlin GmbH / infraVelo GmbH to develop a communication structure concept for cycling infrastructure projects in Berlin. infraVelo, a subsidiary of Grün Berlin, handles the implementation of Berlin's cycling infrastructure program.
• City West RegionalmanagementminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSWUP facilitated the Werkstattverfahren YVA-Bogen on behalf of City West Regionalmanagement in Berlin-Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a coordination body for urban development in the City West district.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WES LandschaftsArchitektur: Hamburg/Berlin-based landscape architecture firm with a similar integrated planning and design practice serving German cities. Comparable on service scope and municipal client base, slightly larger scale.
• Topotek 1: Berlin-based landscape architecture firm with strong municipal and international project portfolio in public space design. Comparable in scope of landscape architecture services and German municipal client mix.
• gruppe F Landschaftsarchitekten: Berlin landscape architecture and urban planning office delivering integrated design, planning, and participation for German municipalities. Direct comparable on service model and target client base.
• SINAI Landschaftsarchitekten: Berlin-based landscape architecture firm with a comparable integrated practice spanning urban landscape design, planning, and public participation. Closest direct peer given shared Berlin base, multi-decade municipal client base, and similar service scope.
• bbz Landschaftsarchitekten: Berlin-based landscape architecture firm working on urban open space, residential estates, and public realm projects. Comparable in scale and municipal client focus.
• Planungsgruppe Grün: German landscape architecture and urban planning firm working on public open space, urban development, and environmental planning projects for municipalities. Comparable in service mix and target client base.

Broad incumbents

• ASTOC Architects and Planners: Cologne-based architecture and urban planning practice with broader portfolio including master planning, urban design, and landscape. Larger incumbent offering overlapping capabilities for municipal and public-sector clients in Germany.

Regional players

• Hager Partner Landscape Architecture: Switzerland-based landscape architecture firm with strong public-sector and urban planning practice. Comparable in service model and integrated landscape + urban design approach, but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SWUPBerlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SWUP