LAAC

What LAAC does

LAAC zt-gmbh is a privately held Austrian architecture and landscape architecture firm founded in 2008 by Kathrin Aste and Frank Ludin and headquartered at Fürstenweg 10, Innsbruck. The firm operates as a Ziviltechniker Gesellschaft (civil engineering professional corporation) registered in Tirol, Austria (FN 392981p), with a team of approximately 14 named professionals including Associate Partner Daniel Luckeneder. LAAC generates revenue through professional services fees on architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture commissions, acquired primarily via architectural competitions, direct public-sector commissions, and private developer relationships.

The firm's core technical offering centers on terrain-responsive architecture, sustainable Alpine infrastructure design, and contemporary public-space interventions. Proprietary methodology combines terrestrial laser scanning for precise documentation of existing structures with parametric modeling to translate landscape morphology into architectural form. Notable flagship projects include the P2 Urban Hybrid | City Library in Innsbruck (a mixed-use library, public space, and residential complex), MPREIS supermarket series featuring passive-house standards, the Landhausplatz | Eduard-Wallnöfer Platz public-space redesign, the Stadtnaht Dornbirn urban intervention, the Top of Tyrol viewing platform, and the Copa Cagrana redesign in Vienna. The firm runs a research program on sustainable Alpine infrastructure in partnership with alpS (Center for Alpine Ecology and Sustainability).

LAAC serves three primary customer segments in roughly equal measure: public-sector clients (City of Innsbruck, State of Tyrol, City of Vienna, City of Dornbirn), private commercial developers (MPREIS Group across multiple retail locations, HYPO Tirol Bank), and Alpine tourism operators (Stubaier Gletscher, Bergbahnen-Steinplatte). The firm has executed projects across 15+ countries including Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the USA, Kazakhstan, and South Korea. Revenue mechanics are project-based: design fees on commissions, competition prizes, and consulting engagements, with no recurring-revenue or subscription model. Academic teaching, exhibition design (notably the Austrian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2018), and a published monograph via Park Books supplement the core service business and serve as brand-building channels rather than revenue streams.

Name

LAAC

Legal name

LAAC zt-gmbh

Website

https://laac.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LAAC is a privately held Austrian architecture firm in Innsbruck specializing in terrain-responsive architecture, sustainable Alpine infrastructure, and contemporary public-space design, serving public-sector clients, private developers, and Alpine tourism operators across Europe and select global markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Urban Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Construction & Hardscaping (Patios, Retaining Walls, Outdoor Structures) (IMAIAIAE), Commercial Landscape Design & Installation (HSAIABAJ), Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban design
• Landscape architecture
• Alpine infrastructure design
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Innsbruck

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Project-based architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture services including competition entries, commissions, and consulting. Revenue generated through design fees, competition prizes, and project commissions from public and private clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LAAC provides professional architectural, urban design, and landscape architecture services for residential, commercial, and public-sector projects. The firm specializes in sustainable design for Alpine infrastructure, contextually integrated urban public spaces, and energy-efficient buildings, delivering through competitions, direct commissions, and consulting engagements.

Product overview

LAAC (Landform Architecture) is an Austrian architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural and urban design services. The firm's portfolio includes diverse project types: urban hybrid buildings (P2 Urban Hybrid with city library, public space, and residential components), retail facilities (MPREIS supermarket series featuring passive house standards), public spaces (Landhausplatz, Stadtnaht Dornbirn, Copa Cagrana), alpine infrastructure (Top of Tyrol observation platform, cable car stations), and sports facilities. LAAC maintains an active research program in sustainable alpine infrastructure design and provides academic teaching through university partnerships. The firm also contributes exhibition design, including the Austrian Pavilion at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Urban Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple international awards including Passivhausaward 2021 Special Recognition, BigSEE Architecture Award 2020 Winner, Mies van der Rohe Award nominations

Named customers9 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• alpS (Center for Alpine Ecology and Sustainability)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership formed between alpS, LAAC, and partners from the industrial sector with the goal of maintaining both ecological and economic value of natural environments in Alpine regions. Focused on sustainable environmental design and sensitive treatment of complex landscape aspects.
• Henke Schreieck ArchitektenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with LAAC and Sagmeister & Walsh on the Austrian Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2018, titled 'Thoughts Form Matter'. Joint installation exploring spatial and architectural concepts.
• Sagmeister & WalshflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative design partnership for Austrian Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2018, contributing to the spatial installation 'Thoughts Form Matter' alongside LAAC and Henke Schreieck.
• Verena Konrad (Curator)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurator of Austrian Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2018, commissioned LAAC along with Henke Schreieck and Sagmeister & Walsh for the national exhibition contribution.
• University of Innsbruck ./studio3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathrin Aste serves as University Professor heading ./studio3 at the Institute for Experimental Architecture. Ongoing academic collaboration and teaching partnership.
• Fa.Schedler Oberhauser, Fa.Metallbau Raggl, Fa.Bellutti PlanenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject partners for BMX Track Berlin Spandau including construction and specialist trade firms.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Zaha Hadid Architects: Large international architecture firm with broad portfolio across cultural, infrastructure, and urban projects. Competes for marquee public commissions at a much larger scale than LAAC.
• David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally established architecture firm with renowned public, cultural, and urban projects. A larger-scale practice that competes with LAAC for high-profile European public commissions and biennale visibility.

Direct peers

• Coop Himmelb(l)au: Vienna-headquartered architecture firm with international reputation, known for deconstructed, contextually ambitious public buildings. Another Austrian practice competing for similar high-profile European public commissions and biennale visibility.
• Delugan Meissl Associated Architects: Vienna-based architecture firm producing international cultural, public, and mixed-use projects with strong competition pedigree. Comparable in scale, Austrian origin, and pursuit of premium public and private commissions.
• Studio Gang: US-based architecture practice with strong focus on context-responsive, sustainable, and ecologically integrated design. Comparable in combining research-driven methodology with public sector commissions and award recognition.
• Henke Schreieck Architekten: Austrian architecture firm that collaborated with LAAC on the Austrian Pavilion at Venice Biennale 2018. Operates in the same Austrian public/urban design space with comparable scale and project typology.
• Snøhetta: Internationally renowned architecture and landscape architecture firm with deep expertise in terrain-responsive, contextually integrated design across harsh environments (including Arctic and mountain contexts). Highly comparable to LAAC in combining landscape architecture, radical site integration, and award-winning competition work.
• HPP Architects: German architecture firm with comparable size, regional focus, and strong track record in public buildings, sports facilities, and urban design across Europe.
• Baumschlager Eberle: Austrian/Swiss architecture firm with strong Alpine and DACH-region focus on sustainable, contextually integrated buildings. Comparable in project type, regional client base, and sustainability positioning.

Emerging players

• Studio Vulkan: Zurich-based architecture practice with overlapping interest in landscape-integrated, Alpine-context work. Comparable in scale and emerging international profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/laacarchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 LAAC