Haus der Farbe - Fachschule für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur

What Haus der Farbe - Fachschule für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur does

Haus der Farbe is a Zurich-based, federally accredited vocational school (Fachschule) organized as a non-profit Verein (association), founded in 1995 to elevate craftsmanship and color design in Swiss architecture. It serves practicing craftspeople — primarily painters, plasterers, carpenters, florists, and architects — through postgraduate continuing education programs that lead to federally recognized Swiss qualifications: the Higher Vocational School diploma in Farbgestaltung am Bau (HF), and the Federal/Advanced Federal Professional Examinations in Gestaltung im Handwerk (BP/HFP). The curriculum is practice-oriented and interdisciplinary, delivered through on-site ateliers, workshops, and a physical material sample collection (Mustersammlung) at the school's Zürich Oerlikon campus; it is explicitly not a software or technology platform.

The institution's core technology is pedagogical infrastructure — dedicated Werkstätten, Ateliers, and a 30-year accumulated library of color culture publications and regional color guides for 15+ Swiss cities and cantons. A separate Institute arm (Institut für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur) monetizes this expertise through municipal color consulting, heritage color research, corporate custom workshops (Workshops nach Mass), and applied research. The school is integrated into the Swiss craft ecosystem via formal partnerships with seven professional associations (SMGV, ZMV, VSSM, SWB, pro/colore, Schweizerischer Werkbund, Schweizer Baumuster-Centrale) and a tiered corporate partner network of 20+ material and project sponsors (SABAG, Lascaux, Keimfarben, Kabe-Farben, Dold, CRB, Thymos).

Revenue is generated through four streams: multi-semester tuition for accredited diploma programs (subscription/recurring model, with Gimafonds subsidies of up to CHF 26,300 for color designers), short professional courses (Kurse), consulting and applied research services through the Institut (professional services), and room rental of campus ateliers and seminar rooms (professional services). Distribution is direct at the Zürich campus, supplemented by an online webshop and a third-party bookstore (Muster-Schmidt GmbH) for color culture publications. The institution operates internationally through sister organizations in France (Maison de la Couleur), Italy (Casa del Colore), and English-speaking countries (House of Colour), plus academic partnerships with the University of Edinburgh Architecture faculty and German Werkakademien. Enrollment is recruited through in-person information evenings (Infoveranstaltung), half-day and full-day insight visits (Einblicktage), professional association referrals, alumni word-of-mouth, and trade media coverage.

Name

Haus der Farbe - Fachschule für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur

Legal name

Haus der Farbe - Fachschule für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur

Website

https://hausderfarbe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Haus der Farbe is a Zurich-based non-profit vocational school founded in 1995, offering federally recognized continuing education programs in color design, architecture, and craft trades. It serves professional painters, plasterers, carpenters, florists, and architects through accredited diploma programs, short courses, and applied research consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Postgraduate Education Programs: Tuition fees from accredited continuing education programs leading to federally recognized diplomas: Farbgestaltung HF (Higher Vocational School diploma), Gestaltung im Handwerk BP/HFP (Federal/Diploma/Advanced Federal Diploma). Programs are multi-semester with modular structure.
2. Professional Short Courses (Kurse): Short professional development courses for painters, plasterers, and other craftspeople, many supported by Gimafonds (covering 80% of costs for eligible painters/plasterers). Also open to laypersons interested in color, material, form, and design.
3. Consulting and Research Services: The Institute provides color consultation, historical color research, and applied research services to municipalities, heritage offices, institutions, and private clients. Deliverables include color culture publications (Farbkultur regional color guides) and color strategies for public spaces.
4. Room Rental: Ateliers and seminar rooms are rented out at fair conditions, available for half-day, evening, semester, or annual use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Haus der Farbe is a Swiss vocational school that delivers federally accredited continuing education programs in color design and craft design (HF, BP, HFP diplomas) for craft professionals and architects, alongside short professional courses. It also runs an Institute offering color consulting, historical color research, applied research, and customized workshops for municipalities, heritage offices, and private clients.

Product overview

Haus der Farbe is an educational institution offering a portfolio of professional development programs in design and craftsmanship. The core offerings include: (1) Farbgestaltung am Bau HF - a higher technical school diploma in color design for construction; (2) Gestaltung im Handwerk BP/HFP - federal and advanced federal professional examinations for craftspeople; (3) Dekorationsmaler:in SMGV Vorkurs - a preliminary course for decorative painters; and (4) Licht Farbe Raum - a new program on light, color, and space design. These programs are complemented by short courses, consulting services (Beratung und Dokumentation), applied research activities, customized workshops (Workshops nach Mass), and room rentals for events. The institution also publishes color culture guides (Publikationen) for various Swiss regions. All programs are practice-oriented, interdisciplinary, and focused on strengthening building and craft culture through dialogue between design planning and craft execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farbgestaltung am Bau HF

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 graduates working across Swiss crafts and architecture sectors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SABAGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial partner (Bernstein tier) with permanent and comprehensive presence at Haus der Farbe, in educational programs and promotional materials. Philosophy aligned with the school's commitment to quality construction and color culture.
• LascauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — a paint and artistic materials company with ongoing presence at the school.
• Keimfarben AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — mineral paint manufacturer with permanent presence at the school.
• DoldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — company representing quality materials for construction.
• CRB (Schweizerische Agentur für Bauprodukte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — Swiss agency for building products.
• Kabe-FarbencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — Swiss paint manufacturer.
• ThymoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBernstein (material) partner — design materials company.
• SMGV (Schweizerischer Maler- und Gipserunternehmerverband)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLapislazuli (education) partner and member of the organization's network. Swiss painters' and plasterers' association whose members are directed to the school's programs. SMGV is also represented on the school's board.
• ZMV (Zürcher Malermeisterverband)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLapislazuli (education) partner. Zurich painters' association whose members are directed to the school's programs. Collaborates on apprentice courses (Lehrlingskurse).
• GimafondscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGraphit (project) partner and education fund for painters and plasterers. Provides generous financial support for students in 'Gestaltung im Handwerk' and 'Farbgestaltung am Bau' programs — up to CHF 26,300 for color designers. Also supports most short courses with 80% reimbursement.
• ZHdK (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste) – Farb-Licht-ZentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the school's network. Co-leadership of the Color-Light-Center (Farb-Licht-Zentrum) with ZHdK, involving joint research activities.
• Universität Edinburgh (Architekturfakultät)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership for academic exchange and collaboration in architecture education.
• VSSM (Verband Schweizerischer Schreinermeister und Möbelfabrikanten)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss carpenters' association whose members receive support through MAEK and ZPK for the school's programs. Students from the carpentry trade participate in Gestaltung im Handwerk.
• Schweizerischer Werkbund (SWB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the organization's network. Swiss Werkbund is an association focused on design and craftsmanship quality.
• pro/colore (Schweizerische Vereinigung für die Farbe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the school's network. Swiss association for color in architecture and design.
• Muster-Schmidt GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline bookstore that distributes Haus der Farbe's color culture publications (Farbkultur series and color strategy books) to architects, municipalities, and the public.
• Schweizer Baumuster-Centrale ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the school's network. Swiss building sample archive in Zürich.
• Bosshard-Farben AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraphit (project) partner — paint company whose products are featured in student project work, providing practical relevance.
• Schweizer AG (Max Schweizer AG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarsrot (event) partner — company that supports public discourse events on building culture, craftsmanship, and color design.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ZHdK — Zürcher Hochschule der Künste: Zürich University of the Arts is a much larger public arts university and an explicit partner (co-leads the Farb-Licht-Zentrum with Haus der Farbe). It overlaps in design, color, and architecture education but operates at vastly greater scale across all art disciplines.
• Universität Edinburgh — Edinburgh College of Art / Architecture: Edinburgh University's architecture faculty is an explicit cooperation partner for academic exchange. Comparable as a research/education peer in architecture with overlapping interest in material and color research, though vastly larger scale.
• ENSCI Les Ateliers (Paris): Paris-based prestigious design school trains 'designer-maker' profiles that bridge craft and industrial production — directly comparable philosophy to Haus der Farbe's craft-design integration, though at French national-school scale and a wider industrial design scope.
• ECAL — Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne: Lausanne's cantonal art school is internationally renowned for product, graphic, and media design education. It is a Swiss peer in design higher education with comparable reputation but a much larger and more generalist portfolio than Haus der Farbe's craft/color specialization.
• HEAD — Genève (Haute école d'art et de design): Geneva's public university of art and design offers bachelor's and master's programs overlapping with Haus der Farbe's design and craft remit. Comparable as a Swiss higher-education peer in design and applied arts, but with a much broader portfolio.
• FHNW Academy of Art and Design (HGK Basel): Basel's Academy of Art and Design is part of the FHNW university network and covers design, art, and conservation — overlapping with Haus der Farbe's craft/material/color themes, particularly in heritage conservation and applied design.

Others

• Schweizerischer Werkbund (SWB): Swiss association for design and craft quality and a documented network partner of Haus der Farbe. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem organization shaping Swiss discourse on craft, design, and building culture.

Direct peers

• Ecole Boulle (Paris): Paris's historic school of decorative arts, furniture, and spatial design trains craftspeople in fine cabinetmaking, decorative painting, and surface design. Closest functional peer to Haus der Farbe in combining federally-equivalent vocational diplomas with decorative craft and design training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haus-der-farbe---fachschule-f%C3%BCr-gestaltung-in-handwerk-und-architektur

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Haus der Farbe - Fachschule für Gestaltung in Handwerk und Architektur