What Magma Architecture does

Magma Architecture is a Berlin-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice founded in 2003 by Prof. Martin Ostermann and Lena Kleinheinz. The firm operates as magma architecture GmbH with a parallel partnership structure (Ostermann & Kleinheinz Partnerschaft, PR 534 B) and is privately held without external institutional investors. Its core practice centers on expressionist, non-linear form-giving enabled by high-tech materials, sustainable digital technologies, and specialized expertise in membrane structures, textile architecture, double-curved facades, and modular temporary building systems. Notable technical signatures include ballistic-trajectory-driven building geometry (Pan American Games venue), double-curved membrane facades with colored tensioning nodes (Olympic Shooting Arenas), and elastic textile interior systems (Masrah Al Qasba Theatre).

The firm delivers full architectural services from concept through construction handover across cultural, sports, leisure, residential, and commercial sectors. Its portfolio spans 20+ countries and includes landmark public commissions such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Shooting Arenas, the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games Sports Venue, the 25,000 m² Tushino Sports Center in Moscow, the 60,000 m² Cologne Convention expansion, Doha Bridge and Lagoon, and the Serlachius Museum Gösta extension. Revenue is generated through professional service fees tied to project scope and complexity, with no standardized pricing. Customer acquisition is sales-led via direct engagement, invited architectural competitions, and international tenders, anchored by relationships with Olympic committees, national cultural foundations, and Gulf government authorities. The firm maintains a 70+ person multidisciplinary team in Berlin complemented by an established ecosystem of structural engineering partners (Buro Happold, Mott MacDonald, Knippers Helbig, Bollinger + Grohmann).

Name

Magma Architecture

Legal name

magma architecture GmbH

Website

https://magmaarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Magma Architecture is a Berlin-based, founder-led architecture practice specializing in expressionist design, membrane structures, and complex geometry for public-sector cultural, sports, and convention projects across 20+ countries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Membrane architecture
• Sports venue design
• Cultural facility design
• Sustainable architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architectural firm providing design and project management services from concept through construction handover. Revenue generated through professional fees based on project scope, complexity, and contract structure. Projects span cultural, sports, leisure, residential, and commercial sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Magma Architecture is a multidisciplinary architecture and design practice providing full-service architectural and project management services from concept through construction handover. The firm specializes in expressionist architecture, non-linear form-giving, membrane and textile structures, complex geometric facades, and sustainable temporary/demountable buildings delivered for cultural, sports, leisure, residential, and commercial clients worldwide.

Product overview

Magma Architecture is an architectural firm offering a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple categories: sports venues (Olympic Shooting Arenas, Pan American Games Venue, Tushino Sports Center, Stettin Stadium), cultural facilities (Masrah Al Qasba Theatre, Imperial War Museum renovation, Serlachius Museum extension), urban infrastructure (Doha Bridge and Lagoon, Harstad City Centre masterplan), convention/exhibition spaces (Cologne Convention/Koelnmesse), interactive attractions (Art Zone, Danfoss Universe), commercial renovations (Southwark Foundry, Funkhaus Berlin, Nexus Productions Office), residential projects (Madina Villa, East London Loft), and temporary pavilions (Pop Up Library, pPod mobile theatre, Tuned City installation). The firm is led by Prof. Martin Ostermann and Lena Kleinheinz from their Berlin office, with a design philosophy emphasizing expressionist non-linear form-making, membrane structures, and sustainable digital technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Olympic Shooting Arenas (London 2012) Design and delivery of the temporary and mobile London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic shooting venues, featuring 18,000 m² of phthalate-free PVC membrane facades with colorful tensioning nodes, natural ventilation, and fully reusable materials. Commissioned by the Olympic Delivery Authority.
• Pan American Games Sports Venue (Toronto 2015) Design of the 5,500 m² Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Shooting Range in Toronto, Canada, with form generated from ballistic trajectory geometries and a jagged maple-leaf-inspired perimeter, built from locally sourced H2 utility poles.
• Tushino Sports Center (Moscow) 25,000 m² multi-purpose sports complex in Moscow featuring two ice rinks, three rhythmic gymnastics halls, a fitness studio with swimming pool, and the headquarters of the Russian Auto Motor Sport Federation, with a publicly accessible rooftop landscape. Commissioned by VI Holding.
• Art Zone (Sharjah) 1,800 m² indoor interactive family attraction in Al Majaz Park, Sharjah, UAE, featuring a double-layered translucent membrane structure (4% light transmittance inner layer) with interactive stations exploring color, sound, reflection, composition, and patterns. Commissioned by the Sharjah Government.
• Masrah Al Qasba Theatre (Sharjah) Renovation of a 300-seat / 820 m² cultural theater in Sharjah, UAE, featuring a sculptural undulating interior wrapped in elastic fabric membrane evoking the desert landscape, with integrated lighting concealed in fold lines. Commissioned by Shurooq, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority.
• Imperial War Museum North - Foyer Ground floor and first floor refurbishment of the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester, UK, including shop, orientation, learning studios, and corporate hire facilities (led by Martin Ostermann while at Studio Daniel Libeskind, 1997-2003).
• Cologne Convention / Koelnmesse Expansion 60,000 m² expansion of Cologne Convention Centre (Koelnmesse), featuring an iconic sculptural entrance building and a continuous fabric membrane wrapping the complex to unify operations of the CONFEX venue.
• Doha Bridge and Lagoon 1km-long bridge and lagoon development in Doha, Qatar, comprising a two-level structure with cultural water area and a mobile fountain (lower level) and pedestrian walkway (upper level), as a modern interpretation of historic Isfahan bridge architecture. Commissioned by the Emirate of Qatar.
• Madina Villa (Sharjah) 700 m² private residence in Sharjah, UAE, inspired by traditional Arabic city fabric, featuring narrow labyrinthine passages, staggered volumes for privacy, and a central courtyard with pool.
• Danfoss Universe Science Park 3.5 hectare interactive science and technology park in Nordborg, Denmark, with over 150 interactive exhibits covering natural forces, hydropower, hydraulics, thermodynamics, and mechanics. Designed for Danfoss A/S.
• Serlachius Museum Gösta Extension (Finland) 3,000 m² low-rise museum extension in Mänttä, Finland, integrated into the forest landscape with fully glazed spaces between exhibition rooms, making nature the 'fifth exhibition'. Designed for the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation.
• Harstad City Centre Masterplan (Norway) 24 ha masterplan for revitalization of the Harstad, Norway harbor area, awarded shared first prize in the urban design competition, reconnecting the city center to the sea through five distinct coastal zones. Commissioned by Harstad City.
• Head in | im Kopf Exhibition Installation 150 m² amorphous textile sculpture installation at Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, where visitors insert heads through perforations to experience an orange light-filled envelope with suspended project models.
• Tuned City Sound Installation (Berlin) Acoustic spatial installation in Berlin featuring three drainage tubes (86, 172, 343 meters) creating artificial echo effects, created in collaboration with sound artist Sam Auinger.
• pPod Mobile Theatre Tiny mobile performance space designed for Horse & Bamboo Theatre, comprising a lightweight aluminum tent structure with dual membrane skins (red exterior, aluminum interior) accommodating 35 audience members.
• East London Loft Conversion Top-floor loft conversion in London, UK, with compact pods containing kitchen and bathroom to maximize open living space between old wooden roof trusses.
• Funkhaus Berlin Revitalization 48,000 m² renovation of the former GDR radio center into a media, culture, and entertainment campus, preserving listed buildings while adding new structures for Berlin's music industry.
• Nexus Productions Office (London) Renovation of a former bank in London for animation studio Nexus Productions, with waist-height tubs defining workspaces and prismatic meeting rooms emerging from the containers.
• Stettin Stadium Renovation (Poland) Renovation of the Florian Krygier Football Stadium in Stettin, Poland, featuring a double-layer membrane roof in club colors (white/yellow) that provides shading while blending into the surrounding landscape.
• Southwark Foundry and Annexe (London) Conversion of historical foundry buildings in London into 11,000 m² of flexible office space for start-ups, retaining the building's character while adding an 8-floor rooftop extension.
• Pop Up Library (Sharjah) 65 m² mobile pavilion designed for the Sharjah International Book Fair, constructed with CNC-cut foam inspired by Arabic calligraphy, with a spiral path through book-lined walls leading to a central garden courtyard.

Quantifiable outcome

• Olympic venues hosted 200,000+ visitors during London 2012 Games
• +3 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

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Itten BrechbühlcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStructural engineering partner on Cologne Convention Centre expansion project (60,000 m²). Collaboration on facade design and architectural integration.
• Bollinger + Grohmann IngenieurecoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering consultant for Doha Bridge and Lagoon project. Provided structural design for the 1km bridge inspired by historic Isfahan bridge architecture.
• Knippers Helbig GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering partner for Cologne Convention Centre project. Expertise in complex facade and membrane structures.
• Gardiner + TheobaldminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCost management consultant for Doha Bridge and Lagoon project.
• Mott MacDonaldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain consultant and structural engineering for Olympic Shooting Arenas and Pan American Games Sports Venue projects.
• WZMH ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitect of Record for Pan American Games Sports Venue project.
• Buro HappoldcoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering consultant for pPod mobile theater and Stettin Stadium projects. Expert in lightweight structures and tensile membrane design.
• John Sisk & SoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMain contractor for London 2012 Olympic Shooting Arenas project.
• ES GlobalminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTemporary buildings contractor for Olympic Shooting Arenas.
• Alba Tower Aluminum Factory L.L.C.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for Art Zone interactive family attraction in Sharjah.
• A24minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Doha Bridge and Lagoon project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MVRDV: Dutch architecture firm known for expressive, data-driven, and visually distinctive built work across cultural, residential, and mixed-use typologies. Similar to Magma in international reach, innovative use of materials, and competition-driven public commissions.
• Studio Daniel Libeskind: Expressionist architecture firm founded by Daniel Libeskind in 1989, with major museum and cultural projects (Imperial War Museum North, Jewish Museum Berlin). Co-founder Martin Ostermann was a senior architect there, and the firm shares Magma's profile of iconic, geometry-driven cultural and civic commissions.
• Snøhetta: Multidisciplinary architecture and design firm with strong cultural, public-realm, and pavilion work (e.g., Norwegian National Opera, SFMOMA expansion). Comparable to Magma in scale, sustainability orientation, and international project profile.
• Populous: Specialist architecture firm dedicated to sports venues and major events (Olympic stadiums, arenas, convention centers). Direct overlap with Magma's Olympic Shooting Arenas, Pan American Games, Tushino Sports Center, and Stettin Stadium projects.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Innovative architecture firm with a portfolio spanning cultural, sports, residential, and commercial projects worldwide. Comparable to Magma in its emphasis on distinctive form-making, sustainability, and a steady pipeline of competition-winning public commissions.
• Zaha Hadid Architects: Iconic architecture practice known for parametric, non-linear forms across cultural, sports, and infrastructure projects globally. Closely comparable to Magma in design philosophy, complex-geometry expertise, and a portfolio of stadium and cultural commissions.
• MAD Architects: Beijing-based practice with a global portfolio of expressive, nature-inspired architecture (e.g., Absolute Towers, Harbin Opera House). Strong overlap with Magma in non-linear form-making, museum and cultural commissions, and emerging-market project delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architecture and integrated design firm with a much broader portfolio spanning commercial, infrastructure, cultural, and masterplan projects. Overlaps with Magma in cultural and public-sector commissions but operates at significantly larger scale and scope.
• OMA: Rotterdam-based practice with a broad portfolio of cultural, civic, and commercial projects globally (e.g., Seattle Central Library, CCTV Beijing). Comparable in pursuit of culturally significant built work but with a much larger institutional footprint than Magma.
• Herzog & de Meuron: Swiss architecture firm with a celebrated portfolio of cultural, stadium, and residential projects (Bird's Nest Stadium, Tate Modern). Comparable in cultural-institution and stadium commissions, though operating at a substantially larger scale and recognition tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/magmaarch
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/magma-architecture/234952727517
• Instagraminstagram.com/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Magma Architecture