What ZESO Architects does

ZESO Architects A/S is a privately held Danish architecture studio founded in 2008 in Copenhagen, equally owned by its three founding partners: Colm Morgan (Director of Aviation Design), Kelly Andrew Nelson (Director of Aviation), and Kristian Weber Thomsen (CEO/Partner). The firm employs approximately 20+ staff across architectural and constructing-architect roles and specializes in two primary domains: aviation infrastructure (airport terminals, pier buildings, lounges, border control facilities, and masterplanning) and building transformation (adaptive reuse, renovation, and conversion of existing structures). Notable aviation projects include Pier E and Terminal 3 Airside at Copenhagen Airport, Nuuk and Qaqortoq Airports in Greenland, and Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands.

The studio operates a fee-for-service professional services model, engaging clients through direct project mandates, invited tenders, design competitions, and as part of larger consulting teams alongside engineering firms such as COWI and turn-key contractors. Beyond traditional architectural services, ZESO has productized two offerings: HAVN, a modular furniture system made from recycled plastics in partnership with SMALLrevolution, and POP-UP UNITS, a kit-of-parts retail system for airport environments. The firm emphasizes sustainability as an integrated design principle, evidenced by DGNB Gold certification for the Jernstøberigrunden residential project and membership in the Green Building Council Denmark.

For fiscal year 2021/2022 (October 2021 to September 2022), ZESO reported revenue of 28 million DKK, up from 19 million DKK the prior year, with pre-tax profit of 4.4 million DKK. Geographic operations span Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Norway, and a competition-stage entry in China, anchored primarily by aviation and transformation project mandates from public and institutional clients.

Name

ZESO Architects

Legal name

ZESO Architects A/S

Website

https://zeso.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Aviation architecture
• Building transformation
• Architectural services
• Adaptive reuse design
• Airport terminal 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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Professional services revenue from architectural design, planning, and consulting services on construction and transformation projects. Revenue model based on project fees for concept development, design, and project supervision.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZESO Architects is a Copenhagen-based architecture practice providing professional design services with a dual specialization in aviation infrastructure (airports, terminals, and related facilities) and the adaptive transformation of existing buildings. The firm serves public and private sector clients across the Nordics and select international markets, and complements its project work with select productized design offerings such as the HAVN furniture line and POP-UP UNITS.

Product overview

ZESO Architects is a Danish architecture firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of architectural services and products. Their core offering encompasses two primary specialties: Aviation (airport terminal design, pier buildings, border control facilities, airport lounges) and Transformation (adaptive re-use, renovation, conversion projects). Key commercial products include HAVN, a modular seating system made from recycled plastics for public spaces, and POP-UP UNITS, a flexible retail system for airports. The firm also delivers residential complexes, cultural/educational facilities, and commercial buildings across Denmark and internationally, with notable projects in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Services span full project lifecycle from concept to completion, including masterplanning, due diligence, analysis, temporary setups, and airport-specific furniture design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HAVN: A flexible, modular seating system inspired by the timber wharf edges of Copenhagen's canals, developed in collaboration with SMALLrevolution using recycled plastic.

Products and services

• Aviation Architecture and Terminal Design

Quantifiable outcome

• DGNB Gold certification achieved for Jernstøberigrunden project
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SMALLrevolutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Copenhagen-based company that transforms plastic waste into new products. Together developed HAVN furniture system made from recycled plastics from Copenhagen household waste bins for use in airport environments.
• Creator ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration on Terminal 3 Airside Experience Project for Copenhagen Airport. Creator Projects coordinated artist Ruth Campau for art wall installation.
• Green Building Council DenmarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZESO is a member of Green Building Council Denmark, demonstrating commitment to sustainable building practices and contributing to a more sustainable society.
• COWIcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on Vágar Airport planning and masterplan development. Also worked together on T3 Airside Copenhagen Airport project.
• Vilhelm Lauritzen Arkitekter (VLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration on Copenhagen Airport projects including Pier E and T3 Airside. ZESO and VLA work together as architectural team.
• PensionDanmark A/ScoreOthersClient for Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers transformation project. PensionDanmark as property investor/owner.
• RambøllminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRambøll conducted CO₂ savings assessment for Finsensvej transformation project comparing renovation vs new construction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Copenhagen-based global architecture firm with strong aviation, residential, and transformation portfolios. Most directly comparable Danish peer by scale ambition, design-forward reputation, and overlap with ZESO's aviation and adaptive reuse segments.
• Vilhelm Lauritzen Arkitekter: Copenhagen architecture firm and ZESO's longstanding collaborator on Copenhagen Airport projects (Pier E, T3 Airside). Directly comparable in aviation terminal design, Nordic design sensibility, and overlapping client base.
• Grimshaw Architects: UK-headquartered architecture firm specializing in aviation terminals (Zurich, Istanbul, Melbourne). Comparable in aviation-specific focus, design-competition driven model, and similar project scale profile.
• Pascall+Watson: London-based architecture practice dedicated to aviation, transport, and education sectors. Closest pure-play aviation terminal peer at similar size and design-competition profile.
• Nordic Office of Architecture: Norwegian architecture firm with strong airport terminal portfolio (Oslo, Helsinki, other Nordic airports). Highly comparable in aviation specialization, Nordic design language, and public-sector airport client base.
• Cobe Architects: Copenhagen-based architecture firm known for the Nordhavn masterplan and cultural buildings. Comparable Danish peer of similar size with overlapping design-led, public-sector focus.

Broad incumbents

• 3XN: Large Danish architecture firm with global footprint across cultural, commercial, and public buildings. Comparable in Nordic design approach but operates at significantly larger scale than ZESO.
• Henning Larsen: Major Danish architecture firm, now part of Rambøll, with global portfolio including airports, civic and cultural buildings. Comparable in aviation experience but operates as part of a much larger engineering and design platform.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with a benchmark aviation portfolio (Beijing, Hong Kong, Stansted). Relevant comparable for the high-end, design-led aviation terminal segment ZESO competes in, though at vastly larger scale.

Others

• COWI: Major Nordic engineering and architecture consultancy and ZESO's partner on Vágar and T3 Airside projects. Adjacent peer — competing for some project leadership while also serving as implementation partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZESOArchitects
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zeso
• Instagraminstagram.com/zesoarchitects

Compliance3 records

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 ZESO Architects