Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG

What Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG does

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG (DHPA) is a privately held Swiss architecture firm headquartered in Winterthur, Canton of Zürich. Founded by Alexander Dahinden in 1952 and reorganized as a partnership with Werner Heim in 1983, the firm operates as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft (CHE-100.086.410) governed by seven partners including second-generation principal Lorenz Dahinden. With approximately 28 architects and specialists (first-party description), DHPA provides a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning Arealentwicklung (area development), Projektierung/Ausführung (project planning and execution), Bauleitung/Kostenmanagement (construction management coordinating 40 work disciplines), Generalplanung (general planning), Denkmalpflege (heritage preservation), Wettbewerb (competition services), Bauherrenberatung (client advisory), Gesamtleistung (turnkey delivery), and Expertise/Gutachten (expert appraisals).

DHPA serves predominantly Swiss municipalities and public-sector clients in the Canton of Zürich region, with a documented portfolio of school buildings, sports facilities, senior housing, cooperative residential developments, and selective commercial mandates (notably Credit Suisse AG Winterthur). The firm differentiates through repeated 1st-place competition rankings, expertise in hybrid timber-concrete construction (Holz-Hybrid-Bauweise), building-integrated photovoltaic systems (e.g., 121 kWp / 103,224 kWh annual generation at Sunnezirkel West), geothermal heat pump integration, and heritage-conscious renovation. Client engagement is supported by BIMx-based virtual architecture tours enabling immersive walkthroughs on tablet devices.

DHPA's business model is professional services fee-based, with project fees negotiated individually under Swiss SIA guidelines and acquired primarily through architectural competitions, selective public-sector tenders, and direct commissions from repeat clients and housing cooperatives. Geographic focus remains concentrated in Canton of Zürich with no international footprint claimed. The firm is founder/partnership-owned with no external investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed. Cultural engagement includes donating up to 1% of annual revenue to regional cultural institutions including Architekturpreis Winterthur and Kunstmuseum Winterthur.

Name

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG

Legal name

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG

Website

https://dhpa.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG is a privately held, partnership-owned Swiss architecture firm in Winterthur delivering general planning, heritage preservation, and sustainable building services — including hybrid timber-concrete construction — primarily to Canton of Zürich municipalities, housing cooperatives, and selected commercial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Construction project management
• Heritage preservation services
• Urban area development
• General planning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

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 Planning and Design Services: DHPA generates revenue through providing comprehensive architectural services from initial design concept through construction execution and management. Services include area development (Arealentwicklung), project planning and execution (Projektierung/Ausführung), construction management and cost control (Bauleitung/Kostenmanagement), architectural competitions (Wettbewerb), general planning (Generalplanung), heritage preservation (Denkmalpflege), client consulting (Bauherrenberatung), and expert assessments (Expertise/Gutachten). Revenue is project-based, earned through direct commissions and competition wins.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG is a Swiss architecture firm providing comprehensive architectural services from concept to completion, including site/area development (Arealentwicklung), project planning and execution (Projektierung/Ausführung), construction supervision (Bauleitung), general planning (Generalplanung), and heritage preservation (Denkmalpflege). The firm serves Swiss municipalities, housing cooperatives, private clients, and commercial enterprises with a team of 28 employees based in Winterthur.

Product overview

Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG (DHPA) is an architecture firm based in Winterthur, Switzerland, offering a comprehensive portfolio of architectural and consulting services. The firm operates as a single integrated service platform rather than a software product company. The core offerings include Arealentwicklung (area development), Projektierung/Ausführung (project planning and execution), and Bauleitung/Kostenmanagement (construction management) as the primary service pillars, supplemented by specialized offerings including Wettbewerb (competition services), Generalplanung (general planning), Denkmalpflege (heritage conservation), Bauherrenberatung (client advisory), Gesamtleistung (turnkey delivery), and Expertise/Gutachten (expert appraisals). The firm specializes in public buildings (schools, sports facilities), residential developments, area developments, and renovations, with documented expertise in timber construction and sustainable building practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arealentwicklung (Site/Area Development)

Quantifiable outcome

• 121 kWp photovoltaic system generating 103,224 kWh annually (Sunnezirkel West project)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Kollektiv MarudominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration partner for Schullandschaft Margeläcker project in Wettingen. Kollektiv Marudo contributed to architectural design collaboration on this comprehensive school campus development.
• Balliana SchubertminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Landscape architecture partner for Schullandschaft Margeläcker project. Balliana Schubert provided landscape architectural services for the school campus outdoor spaces and sports facilities.
• Filippo Bolognese ImagesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Visualization partner providing renderings for Berufs- und Weiterbildungszentrum Toggenburg campus project in Wattwil, creating photorealistic architectural visualizations for competition submissions.
• ryffel + ryffelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Landscape architecture partner for Erweiterung Primarschule Weiden project in Jona, providing landscape architectural services for the school extension outdoor areas.
• BGS & PartnerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Construction management partner (Baumanagement) for Arealentwicklung Birchweid Uetikon project, providing project management and construction coordination services.
• vetschpartnerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Landscape architecture partner for Schulanlage Pünten project in Stallikon. vetschpartner provided landscape architectural design services for the school extension.
• Björn Siegrist PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Professional photography partner providing high-quality architectural photography for completed projects including Sunnerai Wald and Sunnezirkel West residential developments.
• Ursula Litschi PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Interior and architectural photography partner providing professional photography services for completed projects including EFH Büelweg and Birchweid Uetikon residential developments.
• ERNE AG HolzbauminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017General contractor partner serving as total performance provider (Gesamtleistungsanbieter) for Erweiterung Primarschule Weiden project, providing integrated timber construction services as part of the project's design-build approach.
• Tollkirsch AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017Website concept and design partner responsible for DHPA's corporate website design and implementation. Tollkirsch AG is a Winterthur-based design agency.
• Tom Schmid VisualizationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Visualization partner providing architectural visualizations for Steinel Areal Einsiedeln project, creating renderings for the mixed-use development proposal.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Itten+Brechbühl: Major Swiss general planning and architecture firm with comprehensive service offerings including architecture, general planning, and total performance delivery. Overlaps with DHPA's general-planning positioning but at significantly larger scale.
• Burckhardt+Partner: One of Switzerland's largest and oldest architecture firms with a much broader portfolio across building types and regions. Competes with DHPA on large public tenders but operates at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Stücheli Architekten: Established Swiss architecture practice with broader portfolio spanning commercial, public, and cultural buildings. Larger than DHPA but overlapping in public-sector tender activity and architectural competition participation.

Direct peers

• E2A Architekten: Zurich-based architecture practice of comparable size known for public, educational, and residential buildings with strong sustainability profile. Directly comparable in scale, geographic catchment, and public-sector portfolio mix.
• Burkhalter Sumi Architekten: Swiss architecture firm of similar mid-sized scale with notable work in public buildings, schools, and cooperative housing. Comparable in service offering and Swiss SME positioning to DHPA.
• Bürgi Schärer Architekten: Swiss architecture firm of comparable size with documented expertise in public buildings and residential projects. Operates with similar SME structure and competition-driven project acquisition to DHPA.
• Diener & Diener Architekten: Swiss architecture practice with established reputation in public and residential buildings, comparable in craft and competition-led project acquisition model to DHPA, though Basel-anchored.
• L3P Architekten ETH FSA SIA AG: Swiss mid-sized architecture firm with comparable size and a similar focus on public buildings, schools, and sustainable construction. Closely comparable in service offering (architecture, general planning) and Swiss SME positioning to DHPA.
• Jordi + Partner AG: Winterthur-based architecture firm of similar scale serving public and private clients in the Canton of Zürich with comparable service breadth including project planning and execution. Direct local competitor for the same regional tender pool.

Emerging players

• Snøhetta: Internationally active architecture practice with strong sustainability and public-building credentials that overlap thematically with DHPA's hybrid timber and integrated-PV expertise. Larger and more international, but a relevant comparability benchmark for sustainable public-architecture positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Dahinden-Heim-Partner-Architekten-AG-268958763511550
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhpa.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dhpa-winterthur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG