Zanderroth

What Zanderroth does

Zanderroth is a Berlin-based architecture firm founded in 1999 by Sascha Zander and Christian Roth, specializing in residential architecture and urban design across Germany. The firm delivers projects at all scales — from single residential buildings to multi-hundred-unit ensembles and urban extensions — serving private developers (LBBW Immobilien, UBM Development, Pandion AG, BUWOG), municipal housing companies (HOWOGE, Gemeinnützige Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Ingolstadt, Stadibau), housing cooperatives (Wohnungsgenossenschaft "Karl Marx" Potsdam), and collective building groups (Baugruppen). Its core methodology, described as "Induktiver Städtebau" (Inductive Urban Development), derives each project's design from specific local context rather than applying standardized typologies, and has produced a portfolio of 30+ award-winning residential projects.

Zanderroth's core technology is conventional architectural design software (ArchiCAD cited) with no proprietary platform; differentiation sits in design philosophy, construction typologies (timber-hybrid, lightweight concrete, mixed-use courtyards), and project pipeline integration. The firm uses standard HOAI-regulated fee structures for architectural services covering Leistungsphasen 1–8 (design through construction supervision).

The business model combines two revenue streams: (1) architectural fees from design and planning commissions, earned through direct client relationships, public and invited competitions, and reputation-driven inbound; and (2) project development revenue via SmartHoming GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary founded in 2005, through which zanderroth acquires sites, forms Baugruppen, and commissions its own architectural services. The integrated architect-developer model distinguishes zanderroth from typical German architecture practices and provides control over the full value chain from site identification to construction. The firm remains founder-owned, with no external institutional investors, and operates with a ~10–15 person core team headquartered in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district.

Name

Zanderroth

Legal name

zanderroth gmbh

Website

https://zanderroth.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zanderroth is a Berlin-based architecture firm specializing in residential buildings and urban design across Germany, serving private developers, municipal housing companies, cooperatives, and Baugruppen via its integrated architect-developer model with subsidiary SmartHoming GmbH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Residential architecture
• Urban design
• Housing development
• Baugruppen architecture
• Architectural planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services (Planungsleistungen): Architecture and planning fees for residential construction projects, covering design through construction supervision (Leistungsphasen 1-8). Projects range from single residential buildings to large urban ensembles. Clients include private developers, housing cooperatives, municipal housing companies, and Baugruppen.
2. Project Development via SmartHoming: Through the affiliated company SmartHoming GmbH (founded 2005), zanderroth acts as project developer for its own Baugruppen and housing projects, generating development revenue alongside architectural fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zanderroth is a Berlin-based architecture firm that provides architectural design and urban planning services for residential construction projects across Germany. The firm delivers full architectural services (Leistungsphasen 1-8 under German HOAI regulations) for residential buildings at all scales — from single infill buildings to large housing estates with hundreds of units. Through its affiliated project development company SmartHoming GmbH (founded 2005), zanderroth also acts as a project developer, sourcing development sites and commissioning its own architectural services, particularly for Baugruppen (building community) projects.

Product overview

Zanderroth is an architecture firm founded in 1999 by Sascha Zander and Christian Roth in Berlin that specializes in innovative residential housing projects across Germany. The firm develops residential buildings at all scales—from single residential buildings to housing estates and urban extensions. They are known for architecturally ambitious and innovative housing projects, particularly Baugruppen (construction group) projects. Their integrated approach combines architectural design with project development through their affiliated company SmartHoming GmbH, focusing on lifecycle value, quality, sustainability, and financial feasibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design and Planning Services Full architectural services for residential construction covering Leistungsphasen 1-8 (design through construction supervision under German HOAI regulations) at all scales — from single building infill (12 apartments) to half-city blocks (45 units) to large courtyard ensembles (100+ units) and urban extensions (up to 396 apartments). Clients include private developers, municipal housing companies, cooperatives, and Baugruppen.
• SmartHoming Project Development Project development services for residential construction and Baugruppen (building community) projects, providing integrated site identification, financing, and project coordination. SmartHoming acts as both developer and co-development partner for zanderroth's own Baugruppen and housing projects, generating development revenue alongside architectural fees. Projects include m17, lh24, s8, pa1925, li01, and ze05.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 completed residential projects across Germany since 1999
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• SmartHoming GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Founded in 2005 by Sascha Zander, SmartHoming GmbH is zanderroth's affiliated project development company. It serves as both the developer and co-development partner for numerous Baugruppen and residential projects, enabling zanderroth to control the entire development process from site identification to architectural design. SmartHoming has co-developed projects including m17, lh24, s8, pa1925, li01, ze05, and many others. This partnership is the core differentiator of zanderroth's business model.
• friedburg & Co. LandschaftsarchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding landscape architecture partner of zanderroth. Collaboration began with gardens for ly43, du63, and cb19 projects. Continued partnership on award-winning residential ensembles including BigYard/ze05 (2010, 2015), li01, spb, and multiple competition entries. friedburg & Co. (Susanne Friedburg) is described as 'längjährige Partnerin' (long-term partner) and has co-authored numerous competition wins including Belsenpark II Düsseldorf, Dragonerareal Berlin, and Stellinger Markt Hamburg.
• LBBW Immobilien Development GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeveloper client commissioning zanderroth for the Zollhafen Mainz project (69 apartments, 6,200 sqm Wohnfläche) and the Zollhafen Mainz 'Rheinwiesen' project. The partnership also includes the Zollhafen Mainz, Hafeninsel 1 competition win (1st prize, 2021).
• UBM Development AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeveloper partner for th62 in Berlin-Pankow (396 apartments, completed 2020) and the Timber Living project in Munich-Berg am Laim (264 apartments, Holz-Hybrid construction). UBM is listed as the developer/realisierer alongside SmartHoming for th62.
• Pandion AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeveloper client commissioning zanderroth for the Midtown project in Berlin-Friedrichshain (former Böhmisches Brauhaus site, ~160 apartments, 12,000 sqm) and the Belsenpark II project in Düsseldorf (1st prize, 2022, ~700 units on 46,500 sqm).
• HOWOGE Wohnungsbaugesellschaft mbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal housing company for which zanderroth designed an ensemble of five residential buildings in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen (kur project). Project completed around 2018.
• Gemeinnützige Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Ingolstadt GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal housing company commissioning zanderroth for House 3 (41 publicly subsidized rental apartments) at the Hans-Stuck-Straße development in Ingolstadt (seven buildings, 206 total apartments). Richtfest held November 2024.
• BUWOG GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeveloper partner for the Stellinger Markt project in Hamburg (1st prize, 2018, ~7.3 ha mixed-use quarter). BUWOG commissioned zanderroth for this large-scale urban development.
• Stadibau GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMunicipal housing company for state employees in Bavaria. Developer client for the McGraw-Kaserne project in Munich (257 affordable apartments, 1st prize 2018).
• Wohnungsgenossenschaft 'Karl Marx' Potsdam eGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHousing cooperative commissioning zanderroth for two residential buildings at Alter Markt in Potsdam (Potsdam Mitte, Block III), neighboring St. Nikolaikirche. Richtfest held November 2022.
• ArtetecturaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture partner for the Packhof-Quartier project in Brandenburg an der Havel (2025, new residential ensemble in city center).
• 100landschaftsarchitekturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for the lh24 Baugruppen project in Berlin-Weißensee (47 apartments).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heinle, Wischer und Partner: Berlin and Dresden-based architecture firm with established residential and urban design portfolio in Germany. Comparable scale and focus on housing typologies, urban infill, and developer-led residential commissions makes them a relevant German-market peer.
• Kuehn Malvezzi: Berlin-based architecture firm with comparable focus on residential and cultural architecture in Germany. Similar scale and project typology including housing and urban infill, making them a close peer for residential architecture commissions in the German market.
• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin and New York-based architecture firm of comparable size with significant residential and urban housing commissions. Their integrated practice model combining research, design, and innovation parallels zanderroth's positioning in German residential architecture.
• Sauerbruch Hutton: Berlin-based architecture firm established in 1989 with a comparable portfolio spanning residential buildings, urban masterplans, and cultural projects. Their work on residential ensembles and urban extensions in Germany makes them directly comparable to zanderroth's housing-focused practice.
• MVRDV: Rotterdam-based architecture firm with substantial residential and urban housing portfolio including social housing and densification projects. Their residential urbanism work and innovative housing typologies directly parallel zanderroth's residential-focused practice.
• Max Dudler: Berlin and Munich-based architecture firm with comparable residential and urban design portfolio in Germany. Similar scale and focus on residential building typologies makes them a relevant peer for German architectural commissions.
• Lacaton & Vassal: Paris-based architecture firm renowned for social and affordable housing design, including the 'social housing transformation' approach. Their focus on high-quality, cost-efficient residential architecture directly parallels zanderroth's 'gut und günstig' (good and affordable) housing philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• David Chipperfield Architects: Established international architecture firm with Berlin office and significant residential portfolio. While broader in scope and larger in scale than zanderroth, they compete for similar premium residential commissions and cultural-residential mixed-use projects in Germany.
• HPP Architekten: Major German architecture firm with broad residential, commercial, and healthcare portfolio. They compete for residential commissions in German cities at a larger scale, representing the established incumbent tier of German architectural practice.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): International architecture firm with significant residential and mixed-use development portfolio. They compete for high-profile residential commissions globally including in Germany, with overlapping expertise in housing innovation though at a much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zanderrotharchitekten
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zanderroth
• Instagraminstagram.com/zanderroth_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Zanderroth