What Rapp Architects does

Rapp Architekten is a privately held German architecture firm headquartered in Ulm, founded in 1995, that provides full-scope architectural design, planning, and project management services across residential, public/civic, commercial, and industrial building typologies. The firm is recognized for deep expertise in timber and wood-hybrid construction (Holzbau), including proprietary approaches such as prefabricated XXL solid timber modules and modular kindergarten (Kita) building concepts that have been replicated across multiple municipalities. Its technical portfolio also spans renovation and adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites (e.g., the award-winning Stadtregal conversion of the former Iveco Magirus factory in Ulm).

The firm serves a client base concentrated in southern Germany, principally municipalities, municipal housing corporations (UWS, GWG München, Siedlungswerk), Catholic parishes, and private industrial clients (Blanco, Noerpel, Steico). Project acquisition is driven primarily by participation in architectural design competitions (Wettbewerbe), where Rapp has secured numerous first prizes, complemented by repeat direct commissions from established clients. Revenue is earned through project-based professional services fees structured around the German HOAI Leistungsphasen 1-9 framework.

Rapp operates from a single Ulm headquarters with a team of 11-50 employees under founder Stefan Rapp (Dipl. Ing (FH) Freier Architekt BDA). The firm maintains a stable roster of senior architects with cross-typology expertise and a track record of regional and national award recognition, including the Deutscher Architekturpreis (2011), Gestaltungspreis der Wüstenrotstiftung (2010), and Effizienzpreis Bauen & Modernisieren Gold (2022).

Name

Rapp Architects

Legal name

Rapp Architekten Dipl. Ing (FH) Stefan Rapp Freier Architekt BDA

Website

https://www.rapp-architekten.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rapp Architekten is a privately held German architecture firm based in Ulm that provides full-scope design and planning services, with notable specialization in timber and wood-hybrid construction, serving municipalities, housing corporations, and private clients across southern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Timber construction
• Residential architecture
• Public building design
• Urban renewal

Headquarters

HQ city

Ulm

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services (Entwurf und Planung): Rapp Architects generates revenue through commissions for architectural design and planning services (HOAI Leistungsphasen 1-9). Projects span residential, commercial, public, and industrial buildings. Revenue is earned through project-based fees, typically invoiced per defined project phases in accordance with German HOAI fee structures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Rapp Architects provides architectural design and planning services (German HOAI Leistungsphasen 1–9) across residential, commercial, public, and industrial building typologies. The firm's portfolio includes single- and multi-family housing, kindergartens (Kitas), civic and government buildings, logistics centers, and adaptive reuse projects, with specialized expertise in timber construction (Holzbau) and wood-hybrid methods.

Product overview

Rapp Architects (Rapp Architekten) is a German architectural firm based in Ulm specializing in comprehensive architectural design services. The firm operates a unified service model offering design, planning, and project management across multiple building typologies. Their portfolio includes residential housing (single-family homes, apartment complexes, housing developments), commercial and office buildings, public buildings (government facilities, daycare centers, community centers), and specialized wood construction projects. The firm is particularly known for sustainable timber construction, modular kindergarten designs, and adaptive reuse of industrial buildings. Their work spans new construction, renovation, and modernization projects throughout southern Germany, with notable expertise in energy-efficient and wood-hybrid construction methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Architecture (Wohnen) Design and planning services for residential buildings including single-family homes, multi-family housing, housing developments, and apartment complexes with focus on sustainable and contemporary living spaces.
• Commercial and Office Buildings (Gewerbe und Büro) Architectural services for commercial properties, office buildings, logistics centers, and industrial facilities with emphasis on functional design and energy efficiency.
• Public Buildings (Öffentliche Bauten) Design of public facilities including government buildings, administrative centers, civic infrastructure, community centers, and parish halls serving municipalities and religious institutions.
• Kindergarten and Kita Design (Kindertagesstätten) Specialized design of daycare facilities and kindergartens with a modular, flexible building concept using prefabricated two-story group modules combined with base modules, suitable for various group sizes (4, 5, 6 groups) and educational concepts.
• Wood Construction (Holzbau) Specialized timber and wood-hybrid construction services including Holz-Beton-Verbunddecken, Brettsperrholz walls, Holzrahmenbau exterior walls, and prefabricated solid timber modules, applied to residential, civic, and commercial buildings.
• Renovation and Adaptive Reuse (Bauen im Bestand) Conversion and modernization of existing buildings including adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites such as the former Iveco Magirus factory into residential and commercial spaces (Stadtregal).

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple projects have achieved KfW55 energy efficiency standard
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gurland + Seher Architekten BDA BiberachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRapp Architects formed an Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE / joint venture) with Gurland + Seher Architekten BDA Biberach for the Landratsamt Biberach extension project. This partnership combined Rapp's timber construction expertise with Gurland + Seher's local knowledge and BDA affiliation. The ARGE was also applied to the Museumsdorf Kürnbach project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heinle, Wischer und Partner: Stuttgart-based architecture firm with comparable portfolio across residential, public, and educational buildings in southern Germany. Both firms compete in similar HOAI-driven public tender and competition environments.
• Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten: Munich-based architecture firm working on residential, public, and urban renewal projects in Bavaria. Comparable in scale and competition-driven project acquisition model in the same southern German market.
• Hild und K Architekten: Munich architecture practice with comparable focus on residential, civic, and timber/hybrid construction. Both firms compete for similar municipal and developer clients in Bavaria.
• Kaden+Lager Architekten: Berlin-based architecture firm specializing in residential and sustainable construction. Comparable practice in modular timber approaches and German competition-based project acquisition.
• Staab Architekten: Berlin/Vienna architecture firm with strong residential and public building portfolio. Comparable as a German-speaking peer competing for award recognition and public commissions.
• Hascher Jehle Architektur: Berlin-based architecture firm with parallel focus on commercial, public, and educational buildings. Comparable competition-winning approach with strong portfolio in German institutional and developer projects.
• Duplex Architekten: German architecture firm with comparable size and similar residential/public building focus. Both firms operate in competition-based project acquisition within the German market.
• Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten: Austrian/German architecture firm with strong expertise in timber construction and public buildings. Highly comparable in their Holz/Hybrid specialization and competition-driven residential portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin-based architecture firm with broader international practice. Operates in similar residential and public typologies but at greater scale and with global exposure.
• HPP Architekten: Large established German architecture firm with offices across multiple cities. Overlaps with Rapp in residential, public, and commercial sectors but at significantly greater scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rapp-architekten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Rapp Architects