Three architects

What Three architects does

Drei Architekten is a privately-held German architecture firm founded in 1989 and headquartered in Stuttgart. The firm delivers full-scope architectural services — design, planning, project management, and construction supervision across all Leistungsphasen (1–9) — to public-sector and institutional clients, with a portfolio spanning educational facilities (schools, gymnasiums, student housing), fire and emergency service buildings, sports and cultural venues, senior care facilities, municipal buildings (town halls), and corporate/institutional workspaces. The firm has completed more than 60 documented projects across Germany, with international work in Liechtenstein (Altenpflegezentrum Haus St. Martin, 2009) and Georgia (Black Sea Arena, 2016). The firm references the proprietary "2-Liter-Haus" energy concept, rotatable lamella facade systems, and stone reuse methodologies as technical differentiators, alongside a strong emphasis on sustainable, energy-efficient construction (passive house standards, photovoltaics, geothermal, natural materials).

The firm's business model is professional services revenue generated through German public procurement processes (VOF-Verfahren, Planungswettbewerb) and direct commissions, with fees governed by HOAI architectural fee schedules. Projects are acquired almost exclusively through competition and tender processes, with the firm's track record of more than 25 documented awards (Hugo-Häring, German Design Award, Mies van der Rohe nomination, Auszeichnung Beispielhaftes Bauen) serving as the primary marketing asset rather than active outbound sales. Customer concentration is exclusively in the public and nonprofit sector, with repeated engagements from municipalities (Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg, Köln, Weil am Rhein, Wendlingen, Biberach, Neu-Anspach, Althengstett), churches, and student housing associations. The firm structure is a partnership of named principals (Sebastian Haffner, Peter Krieg, Kai Haag among others), and it operates as ARGE (Arbeitsgemeinschaft) joint ventures on major projects, notably with wolf.sedat architekten for the Liechtenstein project and with sbp for structural engineering on the Black Sea Arena. No headcount, revenue, or funding data is publicly disclosed.

Recent strategic activity through 2024 indicates measured geographic expansion beyond the firm's Baden-Württemberg stronghold — notably to Berlin (Steinbeis-Haus Berlin, 2024) and North Rhine-Westphalia (Emanuel-Schule Köln-Rodenkirchen, 2022) — alongside a steady cadence of award recognition and active project pipeline. Marketing channels are limited to the firm website, Instagram, and LinkedIn; there is no evidence of AI/ML capability, software products, or venture funding.

Name

Three architects

Legal name

Drei Architekten

Website

https://drei-architekten.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drei Architekten is a Stuttgart-based private German architecture firm (founded 1989) delivering full-scope design, planning, and construction supervision services for public-sector and institutional clients across Germany, with a focus on schools, fire stations, sports venues, and care facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable building design
• Public building architecture
• Energy-efficient construction
• Heritage building renovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional architectural services for public and institutional building projects including design, planning, project management, and construction supervision through all phases (Leistungsphasen 1-9). Revenue is project-based, generated through architectural competitions and direct commissions from public sector clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Three Architects (Drei Architekten) is a Stuttgart-based architectural firm providing full-scope architectural design, general planning, project management, and construction supervision for public-sector and institutional buildings. The firm specializes in sustainable, energy-efficient buildings, with a proprietary 2-Liter-Haus ultra-low-energy concept, and serves municipalities, governmental agencies, schools, healthcare operators, and cultural organizations across Germany, Liechtenstein, and Georgia.

Product overview

Drei Architekten is a German architecture firm (founded in Stuttgart) offering architectural and general planning services across multiple building typologies. Its 'product' is the portfolio of architectural projects it has designed, built, and documented on its website. The portfolio spans educational facilities (schools, gymnasiums, vocational schools), public safety buildings (fire stations, rescue centers), sports and cultural venues (sports halls, concert arenas, community centers), residential and care facilities (student housing, retirement homes), municipal buildings (town halls, administrative centers), and specialized buildings (university institutes, congress halls). Projects range from new construction to major renovation and conversion work, primarily in Germany with notable international work in Georgia and Liechtenstein.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public-Sector Architectural Design and Planning Services Full-scope architectural design, general planning, project management, and construction supervision services delivered to municipalities, governmental agencies, schools, healthcare operators, cultural organizations, and corporate clients for civic, institutional, and commercial buildings.
• 2-Liter-Haus Ultra-Low-Energy Building Concept Proprietary energy-efficient building methodology targeting heating energy consumption of approximately two liters of oil equivalent per square meter per year. Implemented in public-sector and institutional new builds to deliver deep energy performance aligned with passive-house principles.
• Heritage and Stone-Reuse Renovation Services Specialized renovation services combining a proprietary stone-reuse methodology with energy-efficient retrofitting, applied to protected and culturally significant structures. Demonstrated on heritage projects such as the Black Sea Arena in Georgia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% below EnEV energy consumption achieved at Rathaus Neu-Anspach through compact design, insulation, and pellet heating
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Baumeister ArchitektenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017Local architecture partner for construction management (Örtliche Bauüberwachung) on Steinbeis-Haus Stuttgart-Hohenheim project.
• Christoph Bücheler LandschaftsarchitektminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2016Landscape architecture partner for Service- und Verwaltungsgebäude Studierendenwerk Augsburg project (2.BA) and other projects.
• Koeber LandschaftsarchitekturcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2014Recurring landscape architecture partner across multiple projects including Feuerwehrgebäude Biberach (LPH 1-3), Haus Heiliggeist Freiburg, and Emanuel-Schule Köln.
• IST-EnergiePlan GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008Energy planning partner for HLS (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) design on the Feuerwehrgebäude Weil am Rhein project, enabling energy-self-sufficient building operation.
• Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp gmbh)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2007Engineering partnership for structural steel design and execution planning of the Black Sea Arena in Georgia. SBP was responsible for the overall roof structure design combining steel and translucent lamella facade elements.
• wolf.sedat architektencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2006Joint venture partnership (ARGE) for the Altenpflegezentrum Haus St. Martin in Liechtenstein, working jointly as Drei Architekten with wolf.sedat architekten.
• Vereinigung Stuttgarter Studentenwohnheime e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Long-standing partnership with student housing association for multiple student residence projects including Herdweg, Allmandring, and Bürgermeister-Ulrich-Straße Augsburg.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• gmp Architekten: One of Germany's largest architecture firms with extensive public, cultural, and infrastructure portfolio across Europe, Asia, and Africa. While much larger than Drei Architekten, they compete for similar large-scale public commissions including cultural venues and educational facilities.
• Behnisch Architekten: Larger Munich- and Boston-based firm internationally recognized for sustainable architecture and energy-efficient public buildings. Comparable focus on passive house standards and integrated sustainability design, though at greater scale and international reach than Drei Architekten.
• HPP Architekten: Major German architecture firm with deep public sector experience including educational, cultural, and administrative buildings. Operates at a broader scale and across more building types than Drei Architekten, but competes for similar VOF-Verfahren public commissions in Germany.
• Henn Architekten: Munich-based German architecture firm with significant expertise in educational facilities, workplace design, and public buildings. Competes in similar VOF-Verfahren public commissions and shares focus on modern learning environments and inclusive design.

Direct peers

• Staab Architekten: Berlin-based German architecture firm with comparable focus on cultural and public buildings. Similar mid-sized profile and strong recognition in German public architecture awards, making them a relevant comparable for cultural and civic building commissions.
• Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten: Munich-based German architecture firm with comparable focus on cultural, public, and educational buildings. Similar mid-sized profile and reputation for high-design public architecture makes them a relevant direct comparable in the German public sector market.
• Hascher Jehle Architektur: Berlin-based German architecture firm with a comparable focus on public buildings including educational facilities, sports venues, and cultural projects. Similar mid-sized profile and strong track record in German public sector architecture competitions makes them one of the most direct comparables for Drei Architekten.
• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin- and Los Angeles-based German architecture firm with comparable focus on cultural, educational, and public buildings. Similar mid-sized profile and award-winning design portfolio in German public architecture, with comparable international project experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drei-architekten
• Instagraminstagram.com/dreiarchitekten

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 Three architects