Tegnestuen Vandkunsten

What Tegnestuen Vandkunsten does

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten A/S is a Copenhagen-based architecture firm founded in 1970, organized as a privately held Danish partnership with approximately 80 employees and a rotating partner cohort (currently nine, with two senior partners, Jan Albrechtsen and Pernille Schyum Poulsen, scheduled to step down at end of 2025). The firm specializes in low-rise, high-density residential architecture, sustainable timber construction, co-housing and community-oriented master planning, alongside cultural buildings, urban transformation, and renovation work.

Its core product is design services delivered through competitions, public-procurement tenders, and direct commissions from housing associations, municipalities, and private developers. Notable recent mandates include the 150,000 m² Odense Havneby urban development (won 2023), the Hillerød master plan (2024), and the Greater Copenhagen Fingerplan 2.0 (2025). Project delivery is anchored in proprietary know-how around sustainable timber and low-rise density, codified via an open-source digital tools platform launched in June 2021 and reinforced by multiple DGNB Gold certifications.

The business model is fee-based professional services, with revenue generated from architectural and master-planning commissions won through competitions and procurement. The customer base is diversified across Danish housing associations (VIBO, fsb, AKB, Pension Danmark, AAB, Boligselskabet Sjælland), municipalities in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, German housing operator GWG Tübingen, and private developers including Home.Earth and A Enggaard. Geographic footprint has expanded beyond Denmark into Norway (Hamar Cultural Centre, Munkehagen, Sandnesvågen, Sandnessjøen) and Germany (Tübingen), supported by academic positioning through partner Søren Nielsen's 2024 professorship at Aarhus School of Architecture. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but an ~80-employee Danish architecture practice with competition-grade project flow is consistent with a $25M-$50M annual revenue band.

Name

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten

Legal name

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten A/S

Website

https://vandkunsten.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten is a Copenhagen-based architecture firm founded in 1970 with ~80 employees, specializing in low-rise high-density housing, sustainable timber construction, and co-housing master plans for housing associations, municipalities, and developers across Denmark, Norway, and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Residential Landscape Design (HSAIABAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable housing design
• Urban master planning
• Social housing architecture
• Timber construction design

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural design and consulting services: Revenue is generated through professional architectural services including design commissions, competition prizes, master planning, landscape architecture, and consulting across residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional projects. Projects are delivered across Scandinavia and Northern Europe for public housing associations, municipalities, private developers, and cultural institutions. The firm operates on a project-by-project commission basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten is a Copenhagen-based architectural practice delivering professional design services across housing, urban planning, landscape architecture, cultural institutions, and renovation. The firm is built around a 55-year-old 'low-rise, high-density' housing philosophy (originating in Project 35, 1970) and specializes in sustainable timber construction, co-housing communities, and circular-economy renovation. Projects range from individual housing developments (e.g., 40–244 units) to large-scale urban master plans (e.g., 150,000 m² Odense Havneby), delivered across Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

Product overview

Tegnestuen Vandkunsten offers a unified portfolio of architectural design services, not a software product platform. The core offering spans architectural design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and renovation services, organized around key specializations: low-rise high-density housing (their founding philosophy since 1970), sustainable timber construction with prefabricated wooden modules, co-housing and community housing design, and urban development planning including waterfront transformations. Projects range from individual housing units to large-scale urban master plans across Scandinavia and Northern Europe. No distinct branded product modules or SaaS offerings exist — all services flow from their integrated architectural practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Low-Rise High-Density Housing Design Signature housing design service combining multi-storey density with detached-home qualities, fostering community, residential democracy, and flexible spatial configurations through narrow alleys and shared spaces. Applied across Scandinavia since 1970.
• Sustainable Timber Construction Design

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.73 kg CO2-eq./m²/year climate footprint at Home.Earth Nærheden — Denmark's lowest climate footprint for a six-story residential building (60%+ lower than standard requirements)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

37 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• ABC - Consulting EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering consultancy partner with Vandkunsten in the winning team for the Generationernes Kvartershus ideas competition in Hillerød (October 2024). Vandkunsten serves as lead consultant. The ~13,500 m² project aims for DGNB Gold certification.
• Steenbergs TegnestuecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering consultancy collaborating with Vandkunsten on Denmark's first newly built women's crisis center in Rønne, Bornholm. Vandkunsten won the competition and signed the total consultant contract with Women's Crisis Center Bornholm, with Steenbergs providing engineering services.
• DANAKON A/S Consulting EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering consultancy partnering with Vandkunsten on the renovation of the Local Center in AAB dept. 55 Vejleåparken (August 2024). Vandkunsten serves as overall consultant, architect, and landscape architect.
• KOMMONsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Design consultancy partner with Vandkunsten and DANAKON on the AAB dept. 55 Local Center renovation in Vejleåparken.
• Steenbergs TegnestuecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering consultancy for the Nyt Kvindekrisecenter Bornholm (2024), collaborating with Vandkunsten who signed the total consultant contract.
• DET BLÅcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023DET BLÅ is a landscape architecture firm that partnered with Vandkunsten and others in the parallel assignment for Munkehagen Grønlikaia in Oslo. Vandkunsten served as main consultant for the team.
• Brendeland KristoffersensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Architecture firm partner in the Team Vandkunsten parallel assignment for Munkehagen Grønlikaia in Oslo, Norway.
• R21 ArkitekterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Architecture firm partner in the Team Vandkunsten parallel assignment for Munkehagen Grønlikaia in Oslo.
• Gartnerfuglen ArkitekterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Architecture firm partner in the Team Vandkunsten parallel assignment for Munkehagen Grønlikaia in Oslo.
• Det BlåcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Landscape architecture firm partnering with Vandkunsten on the Sandnesvågen project in Sandnessjøen, Norway (2023), a strategic planning project for the Kingdom of the Thousand Islands.
• Beta MobilityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Mobility consultancy in the Vandkunsten team for the Sandnesvågen planning project.
• Ikast-Brande Municipality with support from Realdania and Brande CitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Municipal client and funding partners for the Gennembruddet i Brande urban transformation project (2023-2025), creating a new connection through the town center.
• SLAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022SLA is a landscape architecture firm that partnered with Vandkunsten as part of Team Vandkunsten to win the Odense Havneby competition in June 2023. SLA serves as the landscape architecture partner in the 150,000 m² urban development plan. This is one of Vandkunsten's flagship projects in Denmark.
• EKJ Rådgivende IngeniørercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Engineering consultancy part of the Team Vandkunsten for Odense Havneby. EKJ provides structural and civil engineering expertise for the urban development project spanning 150,000 m².
• Cushman & Wakefield/REDsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Real estate advisory firm included in the Team Vandkunsten for Odense Havneby, contributing expertise in urban development advisory alongside SLA and EKJ.
• Linq TrafikminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Traffic planning consultancy in the Team Vandkunsten for the Odense Havneby development, providing traffic and mobility planning services.
• Mogens A. MorgensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Urban planning consultancy partner in the Team Vandkunsten for Odense Havneby, contributing to the district development plan.
• Artelia A/ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Engineering consultancy that has partnered with Vandkunsten on multiple projects including the Daycare in Ny Rosborg (Vejle, 2022-2023) and Urbania project in Copenhagen. Vandkunsten serves as architect with Artelia as engineer.
• DOMINIAsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Consultancy partner in the team with Vandkunsten and Rolvung og Brøndsted Arkitekter for the Fremtidens Campus Odsherred competition win.
• Wissenberg A/ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Engineering consultancy for the Sankt Hans Hospital transformation (2022), converting historic buildings into 77 housing units in Roskilde.
• Einar Kornerup A/ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Contractor for the Sankt Hans Hospital transformation project.
• Rolvung og Brøndsted ArkitektersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Architecture firm partnering with Vandkunsten and DOMINIA to win the Campus Odsherred competition (September 2022).
• SwecocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Engineering consultancy for the Home.Earth Nærheden project (2022-2025), delivering Denmark's lowest climate footprint residential building (4.73 kg CO2/m², DGNB Gold).
• ScandibygcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Turnkey contractor for the Home.Earth Nærheden project, a 158-unit residential development with prefabricated wooden boxes and wooden column-beam system.
• Byens TømrerentreprisesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Carpentry contractor for the Home.Earth Nærheden project.
• Sjælsø ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Construction management partner for the Home.Earth Nærheden project, a collaboration with developer Home.Earth achieving Denmark's lowest residential climate footprint.
• Skaarup LandskabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Landscape architecture firm partnering with Vandkunsten on the Development Plan for Åkvarteret in Horsens (2020-2023), a major urban transformation plan restoring the river to the city center.
• Via TrafikminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Traffic planning consultancy in the Vandkunsten team for the Åkvarteret development plan in Horsens.
• BactoconminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2020Engineering consultancy in the Vandkunsten team for the Åkvarteret development plan in Horsens.
• Nordstern A/ScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Contractor for the Teglgården in Trælasten project (Aarhus, 2019-2023), a major 244-apartment co-housing development with ~90% material reuse.
• ArteliacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Engineering and brand consultancy for the Cohousing for Urbania project in Copenhagen (2019-2023), 120 housing units developed with AKB Copenhagen/KAB.
• BrandgruppensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019Fire safety consultancy for the Cohousing for Urbania project in Copenhagen.
• Nordic Built partnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Nordic Built is a collaborative network of architecture studios and universities (Copenhagen, Hamburg, London, Helsinki region) working on sustainable construction. Vandkunsten participated in Nordic Built STED, a three-year research collaboration developing tools and processes for data-driven and sustainable architecture.
• OrbiconsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Engineering consultancy that partnered with Vandkunsten Architects and AIX Arkitekter to win the competition for a new culture house and theater in Hvidovre (2018).
• AIX ArkitektersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Architecture firm partner with Vandkunsten Architects and Orbicon in the winning competition team for the Hvidovre Culture House and Theater (2018).
• NorconsultcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2008Lead engineering consultancy for the Hamar Cultural Centre (2008-2014), a 15,000 m² multi-purpose cultural building in Norway with 600 mio DKK construction cost.
• MoecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy partner for the Modern Danish Timber House at Lisbjerg Bakke (Aarhus, 2014-2018), a 40-unit DGNB Gold certified social housing project using hybrid timber construction.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• White Arkitekter: Sweden's largest architecture firm with strong social housing, sustainability, and urban planning portfolio. Directly comparable to Vandkunsten in Nordic residential architecture focus and DGNB-certified sustainable design, with significantly broader geographic reach across the Nordics and UK.
• COBE: Copenhagen-based architecture studio focused on architecture, urban development, and landscape. Direct peer to Vandkunsten given similar Scandinavian urban transformation projects (e.g., Nørreport Station masterplan), social housing emphasis, and DGNB-certified sustainable design work.
• EFFEKT: Danish architecture studio focused on sustainability, adaptive reuse, and social housing (e.g., Transformation of Paldiski Military Base, LIVING Places). Direct peer to Vandkunsten in Nordic residential architecture and circular construction methodology.
• 3XN: Danish architecture firm with strong cultural, residential, and sustainability portfolio (e.g., Greenwave House, DGNB-certified works). Comparable to Vandkunsten in Danish architectural leadership, sustainability focus, and cultural-building expertise, though larger in scale and more international.
• Dorte Mandrup: Copenhagen-based architecture studio with award-winning cultural and public-sector projects (e.g., Wadden Sea Centre, Eskilstuna Art Museum). Directly comparable to Vandkunsten in Nordic design philosophy, cultural institution focus, and competition-based project acquisition.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Copenhagen-headquartered architecture firm with international reach and sustainability focus. Most comparable to Vandkunsten as a Danish design-led studio operating globally on housing, cultural buildings, and urban projects, though at significantly larger scale and with broader typology coverage.
• Snøhetta: Norwegian-founded architecture and design firm with strong cultural and public-sector portfolio. Comparable to Vandkunsten in Scandinavian DNA, sustainability leadership, and cultural institution projects (e.g., Norwegian National Opera), though operating at much larger scale with global footprint.

Emerging players

• SLA: Danish landscape architecture firm partnering with Vandkunsten on multiple projects (Odense Havneby). Comparable as a Nordic design studio focused on urban nature, climate adaptation, and public realm — partially overlapping with Vandkunsten's landscape architecture services.

Broad incumbents

• C.F. Møller Architects: Denmark's largest architecture firm with extensive social housing, healthcare, and urban planning portfolio. Comparable to Vandkunsten in Nordic housing expertise and competition-based acquisition, though operating at significantly larger scale with broader sector coverage.
• Henning Larsen: Danish-founded architecture firm (now part of Ramboll Group) with strong cultural and public sector portfolio. Comparable to Vandkunsten in Danish design DNA and sustainability credentials, but operates at much larger scale within a broader engineering consultancy portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tegnestuen-vandkunsten
• Instagraminstagram.com/vandkunsten
• Facebookfacebook.com/TegnestuenVandkunsten

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Tegnestuen Vandkunsten