What Just Architekten GmbH does

Just Architekten GmbH is a privately held, Frankfurt am Main-based multidisciplinary architecture firm founded in 2002 and reorganized under sole ownership of Managing Director Malte Just in 2021. The firm delivers full-scope architectural services across all nine German HOAI work stages (Leistungsphasen 1–9), organized around three practice pillars: 'Bauen im Bestand' (sustainable retrofit of existing buildings), 'Arbeitswelten' (corporate interior design and tenant fit-out), and 'Lebenswelten' (urban and public space design). Approximately 25 professionals including four Managing Directors execute commissions across scales from small tenant fit-outs to flagship projects such as the 25,000 m², 160-meter WestendGate revitalization for RFR Management and the award-winning Haltestelle Offenbach bus stop for Stadt Offenbach.

The firm's underlying capability mix centers on heritage-compliant retrofit, climate-adaptive urban design, and design-led interior fit-out for enterprise tenants. Differentiated technical components include the VERD° modular urban greening system (co-developed with OMC°C, Bollinger+Grohmann, and Stefan Diez), the CARLO installation for World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, the 'folded landscape' approach to transit infrastructure (U5 station Glauburgstraße), and formal heritage conservation certification held by Managing Director Benedikt Völker. Computational and parametric design workflows are led by a dedicated specialist, and circular construction partnerships with Concular and Lindner/CircleNow support lifecycle-oriented retrofit delivery.

The revenue model is fee-for-service under the German HOAI architects' fee ordinance, billed per project on multi-year contract cycles. Projects are secured through open competitions (e.g., VGF U5, Rodenbach RoBBe), invited tenders, and direct repeat commissions from enterprise clients in financial services (Allianz, PIMCO, Robeco, Seven Invest, RFR), creative industries (McCann), industrial and technology (BASF, Bilfinger, Fraunhofer IIS), cultural institutions (Senckenberg, Vitra), and municipal governments (Stadt Offenbach, VGF). The go-to-market motion is reputation- and award-driven, leveraging consistent recognition from the German Design Council (German Design Award, Iconic Awards), DAM Prize, arch daily, and Best Workspaces, supported by the proprietary 'Just think' thought-leadership platform.

Name

Just Architekten GmbH

Legal name

Just Architekten GmbH

Website

https://justarchitekten.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Just Architekten GmbH is a Frankfurt-based multidisciplinary architecture firm specializing in sustainable retrofit, corporate interior design, and urban public-space design for enterprise tenants, institutional investors, and municipal governments across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Residential Interior Fit-Out (Multi-Family & High-End) (IMAFANAE), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Sustainable building retrofit
• Architectural design services
• Interior fit-out
• Urban greening systems
• Heritage conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural design commissions spanning all work stages (Leistungsphasen 1-9 per German HOAI), covering concept, design development, permit documentation, construction administration, and project completion. Revenue is project-based, fee-for-service, and varies by scope, complexity, and building type.
2. Interior Design & Tenant Fit-Out: Specialized interior design and tenant fit-out (Mieterausbau) services for office, commercial, and hospitality clients. Includes design enhancement, material specification, and full interior delivery.
3. Urban Design & Public Infrastructure: Public-sector and municipal commissions for transit infrastructure (bus stops, metro stations), urban greening installations, and public space design.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Just Architekten is a Frankfurt-based architecture and interior design firm providing full-service architectural design across all German HOAI work stages (Leistungsphasen 1-9). Its core offering spans sustainable retrofit of existing buildings (Bauen im Bestand), corporate workplace interior design (Arbeitswelten), public-space and living-environment design (Lebenswelten), and climate-adaptive urban greening installations such as the VERD° system and CARLO project.

Product overview

Just Architekten GmbH is a multidisciplinary architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural services across three core areas: Bauen im Bestand (building in existing structures), Arbeitswelten (work environments/interior design), and Lebenswelten (living environments/public space design). The firm specializes in sustainable retrofitting and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, delivering projects from concept through construction management across all work stages. Their portfolio includes signature projects such as the award-winning Haltestelle Offenbach bus stop, McCann Frankfurt office interiors, the VERD° urban greening system developed with OMC°C, and the CARLO installation for World Design Capital 2026. The firm also maintains a Think discourse platform for knowledge sharing on architecture and urban design topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bauen im Bestand (Sustainable Building Retrofit) End-to-end architectural services for the sustainable renovation, retrofit, and adaptive reuse of existing buildings (Bauen im Bestand), including heritage-compliant restoration. Targets commercial real estate owners, investors, and corporate clients seeking to modernize aging building stock without demolition.
• Arbeitswelten (Workplace / Interior Design) Interior design and workspace planning service for corporate and enterprise tenants, including tenant fit-out, office concept design, and workplace transformation. Creates flexible modern work environments aligned with brand, hybrid-work, and change-management objectives.
• Lebenswelten (Public Space / Living Environments) Public-space, urban, and residential architecture service including urban interventions, landscape integration, climate-adaptive public-space design, and sustainable housing solutions. Delivered primarily for municipal governments, transport authorities, and cultural institutions.
• Just think (Discourse Platform / Thought Leadership) Proprietary editorial and discourse platform published on the firm website, hosting themed 'Think' editions with industry partners on sustainable retrofit, urban climate adaptation, workplace transformation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Functions as a content-marketing and thought-leadership asset supporting the firm's brand and inbound referrals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Offenbach Bus Stop: German Design Award 2024 (Winner), Iconic Award 2024 (Winner), arch daily Building of the Year 2025 nomination, DAM Prize 2026 Longlist
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 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

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

• OMC°C – Office for Micro Climate CultivationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep strategic collaboration with OMC°C (founders Carlotta Ludig and Nicola Stattmann) on urban greening and climate adaptation projects. Just Architekten contributes the urban spatial and architectural dimension to OMC°C's VERD° system (scalable greenery for squares, streets, facades) and the CARLO installation at Carlo-Schmid-Platz (World Design Capital 2026). Collaboration spans product development, engineering (with Bollinger+Grohmann), prototyping, and exhibition/public deployment.
• Lichtwerte FrankfurtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred lighting design partner across multiple projects including Conference Center mainBuilding, Häuser der Mode, McCann Frankfurt, Just Architekten office, and Schnell Winery. Lichtwerte develops custom lighting concepts aligned with the firm's interior design vision.
• M.O.O.CON GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChange management and workplace strategy consulting partner for workplace transformation projects. The firm's spatial design expertise is paired with M.O.O.CON's organizational change methodology to deliver holistic, sustainable office transformation. Collaboration formalized through joint events (e.g., 'Wandel gestalten – Strategies for Sustainable Transformation in Existing Buildings').
• Bollinger+GrohmanncoreTechnology or IntegrationStructural engineering partner for technically demanding projects including the VERD° system (structural optimization of the modular greening support structure), and the folded landscape U5 subway station. The firm challenges Bollinger+Grohmann engineers to optimize structural designs, enabling innovative architectural forms.
• ConcularsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular economy and construction lifecycle software partner. Featured at the 'Re-New. Re-Think.' BiB Sprechstunde event (June 2026) at Westend Tower. Concular provides transparent material inventories and intelligent resource matching to enable scalable reuse in retrofit projects.
• CircleNow (by Lindner Group)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular economy partner focused on reusable building components and material cycles. Presented at the 'Re-New. Re-Think.' BiB Sprechstunde (June 2026) alongside Concular, as part of the firm's commitment to sustainability and circular building practices.
• unit designsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency partner for corporate identity, branding, and signage projects — notably collaborated on the Häuser der Mode project to develop a cohesive corporate design, logo, key visuals, and wayfinding system alongside the interior redesign.
• MESO Digital InteriorssupportingTechnology or IntegrationDigital interior and technology integration partner for projects requiring advanced digital environments. Collaboration noted for the Fraunhofer IIS KI Showroom project at Augustinerhof Nürnberg.
• BERTSCH.Brand ConsultantsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand consulting partner for projects requiring strategic brand positioning alongside architectural design — collaboration noted for the Musikalische Akademie Mannheim publication project.
• Kerstin Just GrafikdesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraphic design partner for firm identity and project communication materials. Contributed to the design and realization of the Just Architekten website and brand materials.
• Frings BrandschutzsupportingTechnology or IntegrationFire safety engineering partner integrated into the firm's project delivery for complex building retrofits and new-builds requiring specialized fire safety certification.
• Kunstagentur Cornelia SaalfrankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt curation and installation partner for integrating art installations into architectural projects (e.g., Corinna Rosteck's 'Eurydice' at Conference Center mainBuilding).
• Schneider+SchumacherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaboration on the 2013 Architecture Biennale Antalya contribution, alongside INDEX and Bollinger+Grohmann.
• a3Lab / Asterios AgkathidissupportingTechnology or IntegrationDigital fabrication and 3D design partner for complex geometry realization — collaborated on WestendGate facade redesign and Vitra 'Twisted Tube' installation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Max Dudler: Berlin/Zurich-based architecture firm with strong public and commercial building portfolio. Comparable on design-led German architecture practice but operates at national scale.
• David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally recognized architecture firm with Berlin office and deep heritage conservation practice (James-Simon-Galerie Berlin, Neues Museum). Comparable on heritage conservation expertise and design award profile.
• Sauerbruch Hutton: Berlin-based architecture firm with strong sustainability credentials and design-led commercial and cultural commissions. Comparable focus on sustainable design quality and German/European premium positioning.
• gmp Architekten: Large, internationally recognized German architecture firm with broader portfolio across stadia, transport, and commercial buildings. Comparable on major public infrastructure commissions (U5, transit hubs) but at materially larger scale.
• Staab Architekten: Berlin-based architecture firm with reputation for cultural and public architecture. Comparable on design quality and award positioning but operates at larger project scale and broader geographic reach.
• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin and New York-based architecture firm known for innovative construction and technology integration. Comparable on award-driven practice and design-led approach to public/commercial architecture.

Direct peers

• KSP Engel: Mid-to-large German architecture firm with strong interior fit-out and workplace design practices. Directly comparable to Just Architekten in tenant fit-out and existing-building work; multiple Just Architekten team members previously worked at KSP.
• Schneider+Schumacher: Frankfurt-based architecture firm with overlapping design and sustainable retrofit practice. Documented collaboration partner with Just Architekten on the 2013 Architecture Biennale Antalya contribution.
• BFB Architekten (formerly BFB Bürgfrienen): Berlin-based architecture firm specializing in heritage-listed building renovations and contemporary insertions. Comparable practice profile to Just Architekten's Bauen im Bestand and Denkmalschutz expertise.
• HPP Architekten: German architecture firm with comparable expertise in corporate interiors, retail, and large-scale building design. Karla Bendele at Just Architekten previously worked at HPP on FOUR Frankfurt and tenant fit-out.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/justarchitekten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Just Architekten GmbH