What Topotek 1 does

Topotek 1 is a Berlin-headquartered landscape architecture and urban design firm founded in 1996 by Martin Rein-Cano, who has run the studio in equal partnership with Lorenz Dexler since 1999. The firm specializes in public-space design across typologies including parks, cultural and educational institutions, sports facilities, memorials, urban squares, and mixed-use developments, and operates through two legal entities: Topotek 1 Gesellschaft von Landschaftsarchitekten mbH in Berlin and Topotek 1 Architektur GmbH in Zurich, which extends the practice into building architecture under managing partner Dan Budik.

The studio's core technology is human-led, project-based landscape and architectural design, with delivery through competitions (open, invited, and restricted), direct commissions, and feasibility studies. Notable signature works include the Aga Khan Award-winning Superkilen in Copenhagen (with BIG and Superflex), the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cloister Lorsch in Germany, Konzerthaus Nürnberg (2018 1st prize), Schulhaus Champagne in Biel (2019 1st prize), and the Visitor Centre for King Salman Park in Riyadh. The firm maintains active collaborations with architecture and engineering partners including hg merz, AFF Architekten, Barkow Leibinger, XDGA, Proger, Systematica, BuroHappold, and Transsolar KlimaEngineering.

The business model is project-based professional services revenue, won through design competitions and direct commissions primarily from public-sector clients — German and Swiss cities, state governments, educational institutions, and one-off private developers. The firm operates from Berlin and Zurich, with project delivery evidenced across Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Saudi Arabia, China, South Korea, the USA, Canada, and Australia. Pricing is fee-based, negotiated per project, and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Topotek 1

Legal name

Topotek 1 Gesellschaft von Landschaftsarchitekten mbH

Website

https://topotek1.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Topotek 1 is a Berlin- and Zurich-based landscape architecture and urban design firm founded in 1996, delivering public-space, cultural, educational, and sports-facility projects through competitions and direct commissions for government and municipal clients across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Professional Services: Revenue is generated through winning competitions and direct commissions for landscape architecture, urban design, and architectural projects. Projects range from public parks, cultural institutions, educational facilities, sports complexes, to residential and mixed-use developments. The firm works primarily with government clients, municipalities, and public institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Topotek 1 is a multidisciplinary landscape architecture, urban design, and architecture studio that delivers public space, park, cultural venue, sports facility, educational campus, and mixed-use development projects. Services span competition entries, direct commissions, and feasibility studies for government, municipal, educational, cultural heritage, and private developer clients across more than 15 countries.

Product overview

Topotek 1 is a multidisciplinary landscape architecture and urban design studio founded in 1996 in Berlin. The firm operates two entities: Topotek 1 Gesellschaft von Landschaftsarchitekten mbH (landscape architecture, urbanism, and public realm design) and Topotek 1 Architektur GmbH (architecture). The portfolio encompasses landscape design for parks, cultural venues, sports facilities, educational institutions, memorials, urban squares, and transportation infrastructure. Projects range from UNESCO World Heritage Site interventions (Cloister Lorsch) to urban competition entries across Europe, Asia, and North America. The studio also produces publications, installations, and exhibitions exploring landscape architecture theory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape Architecture Services
• Architecture Services
• Urban Design

Named customers16 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

Partnerships

49 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barkow LeibingercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Architecture partner for The Resilient Campus project at University at Buffalo.
• Guy Nordens & AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration partner for The Resilient Campus project.
• Transsolar KlimaEngineeringcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Climate engineering partner for University at Buffalo Resilient Campus project.
• Holger Meyer ArchitekturcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Architecture collaboration for Gloria Tower project in Frankfurt.
• MDT-texcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner for Sit Together climate-adaptive urban furniture project, developing dual-sided bench combining classic European bench with Persian chimney concepts.
• AFF Architekten BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration partner for Alfons-Kern & Emma-Jäger-Areal project in Pforzheim, Germany.
• JW StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration partner for Jinhua Concert Hall concept study in China.
• XDGAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration partner for Hochschule für Gestaltung project in Offenbach.
• Bollinger GrohmanncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Engineering collaboration partner for Hochschule für Gestaltung project.
• TranssolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Climate engineering partner for Hochschule für Gestaltung project. Transsolar provides climate-adaptive design solutions.
• AFF ArchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Architecture collaboration for Gesamtschule Nord+ comprehensive school in Kassel.
• Machleidt Städtebau + StadtplanungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Urban planning partner for Gesamtschule Nord+ project.
• Adept ApScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Architecture partner for Gesamtschule Krampnitz project in Potsdam.
• Brandschutz plus GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Fire safety partner for Krampnitz comprehensive school.
• Andreas van GraffenriedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Theatre planning partner for Neues Theater Luzern project.
• AB BühnenplanungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Stage planning partner for Lucerne theater project.
• KB StrelkacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaboration partner for 416 Memorial Park project in Ansan, South Korea.
• BuroHappoldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Engineering partner for Schulstandort Sandinostraße school project in Berlin.
• Eberl-Pacan BrandschutzplanercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Fire safety planning partner for Berlin school project.
• Ivas Ingenieure DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Engineering partner for Mobilitäts-Hub Willy-Brandt-Platz project in Krefeld.
• AFF ArchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration partner for Gesamtschule Nord+ project in Kassel.
• ProgercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration partner for King Salman Park Visitor Centre project in Riyadh.
• SystematicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Mobility and transport planning partner for King Salman Park project.
• AJ SaudicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Local partner for King Salman Park project in Saudi Arabia.
• DG JonescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Project management partner for King Salman Park Visitor Centre.
• Krafthaus StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Design collaboration partner for King Salman Park project.
• Bruns PflanzencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Horticulture and plant specialist partner for King Salman Park project.
• Super Future CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration partner for Konzerthaus Nürnberg project. Super Future Collective worked with Topotek 1 on this major concert hall design competition.
• Johannes KapplercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration partner for Konzerthaus Nürnberg project.
• LabicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Architecture collaboration with Topotek 1 Architektur for CuBo Building Campus Bio-Medico in Rome.
• Schnetzer Puskas BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Collaboration partner for Stadion Jahnsportpark project in Berlin.
• Winter Beratende Ingenieure für Gebäudetechnik BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Building services engineering partner for Stadion Jahnsportpark project.
• Brandschutz plus BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Fire safety engineering partner for Stadion Jahnsportpark project.
• Iwan BaancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Photography collaboration for exhibitions and projects including Superkilen.
• BIG Bjarke Ingels GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration on Superkilen project with BIG and Superflex.
• SuperflexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration on Superkilen project with BIG and Topotek 1.
• Rebecca SaunderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Composer collaboration for Myriad installation and other projects.
• Grüntuch Ernst ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Exhibition collaboration partner.
• MVRDVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration partner for exhibition and projects.
• Haus-Rucker-Co./Manfred OrtnercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Historical collaboration partner for exhibition.
• Sauerbach HuttoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Exhibition collaboration partner.
• Martha SchwartzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration partner for exhibition.
• Rosemarie TrockelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Artist collaboration for exhibitions.
• Jun YangcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Artist collaboration for exhibitions and projects.
• hg merz architektencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Collaboration partner for UNESCO World Heritage Site Cloister Lorsch project, working with Topotek 1 on this landmark heritage landscape.
• Dennis Byrne ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Architecture collaboration partner for Bord Gaís Networks Centre in Dublin, Ireland.
• Dürig AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Collaboration partner for Heerenschürli Sports Facilities in Zurich. Dürig AG implemented architectural facilities for the project.
• Behles & Jochimsen ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Architecture collaboration partner for Kindergarten Griechische Allee project in Berlin.
• MDT-texminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Sit Together climate-adaptive urban furniture project.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SWA Group: International landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with comparable emphasis on public realm, waterfronts, and large-scale civic commissions across multiple continents. Direct peer in service offering and client base.
• James Corner Field Operations: New York-based landscape architecture and urban design firm renowned for High Line and other global public-space projects. Directly comparable as a competition- and reputation-driven practice working at the intersection of landscape architecture and urban design.
• Michel Desvigne Paysagiste: Paris-based landscape architecture studio with comparable emphasis on large-scale public spaces, cultural landscapes, and international civic commissions. Closely aligned in project typology and European institutional client base.
• Agence Ter: Paris- and Berlin-based landscape architecture and urban design practice with comparable international footprint, civic/public client base, and competition-driven project pipeline. Closely matched peer in scale and European public-realm focus.
• Gross Max: Edinburgh/London landscape architecture and urban design studio of similar size with a comparable focus on public space, civic competitions, and European civic/institutional clients. Direct peer in scale and project typology.
• OLIN: Philadelphia- and Los Angeles-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm with a similarly competition-driven, award-winning practice serving public and cultural clients. Comparable in studio size and prestige-tier positioning.
• Latz + Partner: German landscape architecture and urban planning firm with comparable focus on post-industrial landscapes, public parks, and European institutional clients. Direct geographic and disciplinary peer.
• West 8: Rotterdam-based international landscape architecture and urban design office with comparable portfolio of large-scale public realm projects, competition-led practice, and global footprint across Europe, North America, and Asia. Closest scale-and-strategy match to Topotek 1.
• Karres en Brands: Dutch landscape architecture and urban design office of similar size with comparable focus on public-space competitions, civic and cultural clients, and European/DACH project geography. Direct peer in scale and approach.

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Multidisciplinary architecture and landscape architecture practice with strong public-sector and cultural-venue portfolio. Larger and broader than Topotek 1 but operates in the same international competition landscape and serves overlapping public clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/topotek1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Topotek 1