What Plasma Studio does

Plasma Studio is an international architecture and design practice founded in London in 1999 by Eva Castro and Holger Kehne, with Ulla Hell joining as a partner in 2002. The firm specializes in landscape-integrated architecture — what the studio describes as folding 'space into space, drawing landscapes into buildings, streets into facades, inside to outside' — using parametric and computational design tools (Rhino, Grasshopper, RhinoScript) to produce site-specific, topographically-responsive buildings. Its portfolio spans hospitality (Hotel Savoy, Strata Hotel, Paramount Alma, Continuous Extension, Appropriate_Bistro Bergsteiger, Biwak 12), private residential (House L, Dolomitenblick), cultural and museum projects (Reinhold Messner Haus at 2,000m on Monte Elmo), and large-scale landscape masterplans (37-hectare Flowing Gardens at the 2011 Xi'an International Horticultural Expo, Guangzhou One Center One Garden).

The studio operates from five offices — Beijing, Sesto/Bolzano (Italy), Singapore, Vienna, and Bruneck (Italy) — serving a horizontally-segmented mix of private individuals, hospitality operators, cultural institutions, and government/municipal clients across Europe and Asia. Revenue is generated through negotiated per-project architectural fees; there is no public pricing model, no software product revenue, and no disclosed subscription or recurring revenue component. The business model is project-based commissions acquired through reputation, award recognition, editorial coverage, and referrals. Plasma Studio has accumulated over 20 international awards (BIG SEE, Architecture MasterPrize, A+Awards, Dedalo Minosse, iF Design jury service) and consistent editorial presence in publications including The Plan, Abitare, designboom, Architizer, and DWELL. The firm is privately held with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company.

Name

Plasma Studio

Legal name

Plasma Studio

Website

https://plasmastudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plasma Studio is an international architecture firm founded in 1999 that designs landscape-integrated hospitality, residential, cultural, and masterplan projects for private, institutional, and government clients across Europe and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bolzano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Plasma Studio is an international architecture practice providing integrated architectural design, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban masterplanning services. The studio specializes in landscape-integrated architecture, with a particular focus on Alpine hospitality projects, adaptive reuse of existing structures, cultural and exhibition spaces, residential projects, and large-scale landscape masterplans. The firm applies parametric and computational design tools (Rhino, Grasshopper, RhinoScript) to deliver site-specific, contextually sensitive built work across Europe and Asia.

Product overview

Plasma Studio is an international architecture firm founded in London in 1999, with offices in Beijing, Sesto (Italy), and Vienna. The studio operates as a unified practice offering integrated architectural design services across multiple scales and typologies. Their portfolio spans hospitality architecture (Weaving Hotel Savoy, Strata Hotel, Continuous Extension), cultural and exhibition spaces (Reinhold Messner Haus), residential projects (House L, Dolomitenblick, Esker House), and large-scale landscape masterplanning (Flowing Gardens Xi'an). The studio employs parametric and computational design methodologies using tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and AutoCAD. Services are delivered through collaborative multidisciplinary teams rather than discrete software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design from concept through construction documentation for international clients across hospitality, residential, cultural, and public sectors. Engagements are commissioned per project and tailored to specific site, climate, and cultural context.

Quantifiable outcome

• Flowing Gardens at Xi'an Horticultural Expo received approximately 15 million visitors in 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GroundlabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Plasma Studio collaborated with Groundlab (co-founded by Eva Castro) on the Xi'an International Horticultural Expo competition, which they won. Groundlab is a landscape urbanism practice co-founded by Eva Castro and focuses on large-scale landscape and urban design. The partnership represents a core strategic alliance between the architecture studio and its landscape sister practice.
• Frei & ZeitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Frei & Zeit on the Walkable Summit Journal and Time Stone projects for the 150 Years of Alpine History in the Sesto Dolomites initiative.
• 3 Zinnen AGcoreOthersClient for the Reinhold Messner Haus project — the transformation of a former cable car station into a cultural museum dedicated to alpinism. The project was inaugurated in October 2025 at 2,000m altitude on Monte Elmo.
• PolyMorphArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlasma Studio partner Chuan Wang is also founder of PolyMorphArchitects. The two practices collaborated on the Roca Gallery Beijing exhibition 'A thousand View of Rivers and Mountains' curated by PolyMorphArchitects and Plasma Studio.
• Photography partners (Roland Borgmann, Hertha Hurnaus, Florian Jaenicke, Cristobal Palma, Michael Pezzei, Peter Guenzel, Die Photodesigner)minorOthersNetwork of professional architecture photographers whose work documents Plasma Studio's projects. Key photographers include Florian Jaenicke (primary), Hertha Hurnaus, Michael Pezzei, Cristobal Palma.
• formAxiomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch lab co-founded by Plasma Studio partner Eva Castro and Federico Ruberto. Developed the 'Negentropic Fields' exhibition at National Gallery Singapore and the online platform negentropicfields.info.
• Caterina TestaminorOthersJournalist and writer who has authored multiple articles about Plasma Studio projects in The Plan magazine, including coverage of House L and Weaving_Hotel Savoy.
• Kunst Merano ArteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt institution that organized the traveling exhibition 'Neue Architektur Südtirol / Alps. Architecture. South Tyrol.' Plasma Studio was included in the 4th edition selection covering 24 years of South Tyrolean architecture (2000–present).
• AIAC (Italian Association for Architecture and Criticism)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIAC organizes traveling exhibitions including HyperRegionalism and Supermostra in which Plasma Studio has participated. Led by Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Zaha Hadid Architects: London-headquartered global architecture firm synonymous with parametric and curvilinear design. Comparable in computational methodology and cultural-project pedigree, though operating at substantially greater scale and brand reach.

Direct peers

• MAD Architects: Beijing-headquartered studio known for parametric, futuristic architecture with a strong China footprint. Comparable in computational design orientation, Asia-Pacific reach, and signature large-scale cultural commissions.
• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture practice with a strong emphasis on landscape-responsive design and cultural/community projects. Comparable in mid-sized studio scale, ecological sensitivity, and reputation-driven hospitality/cultural pipeline.
• Carlo Ratti Associati: Italy-based, internationally active architecture and innovation practice with strong parametric and computational design credentials. Comparable in Italian design pedigree, multi-region footprint, and integration of architecture with research.
• MVRDV: Rotterdam-based practice recognized for computational design, urban masterplans, and data-driven architecture. Comparable in use of parametric tools and willingness to tackle civic-scale commissions alongside smaller cultural projects.
• Coop Himmelb(l)au: Vienna-headquartered architecture practice known for deconstructivist and parametric cultural architecture. Comparable in Central European orientation and focus on signature cultural and civic commissions.
• UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture network with a strong parametric and technology-driven design ethos. Comparable in computational design leadership, multi-office international structure, and cultural/institutional client mix.
• Morphosis: Los Angeles-based studio with deep theoretical and computational-design roots under Thom Mayne. Comparable emphasis on experimental form-finding, academic engagement, and award-led reputation.
• Snøhetta: Norway-founded international architecture practice specializing in landscape-integrated design, hospitality, and cultural buildings. Comparable in emphasis on contextual, topographically responsive architecture and in operating across multiple international offices.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Copenhagen/New York architecture practice known for parametric and computational design across hospitality, cultural, and masterplan projects. Comparable in design-tech differentiation and award-led positioning, though materially larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Plasma Studio