LivingCircles GmbH

What LivingCircles GmbH does

LivingCircles GmbH is a German architecture and educational consulting firm that delivers holistic design and realization of kindergartens and schools, headquartered in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg (registered Amtsgericht Ulm). Founded as a GbR in 2017 by Krishna Saraswati, Felix Ziegenbein, Bernhard Hanel, and Daniel Fels and re-incorporated as a GmbH in 2019, the company targets municipalities, public-sector clients, and free non-profit kindergarten trustees (freie Träger). Its core differentiator is the integration of pedagogy, architecture, and strategic planning within a single interdisciplinary team, replacing the conventional separation between pedagogical concept development and physical building design.

The company's core product is the proprietary LivingCircle Gebäudesystem — a modular kindergarten building system centered on a 50 m² circular multi-functional group room (the LivingCircle) to which up to six 20 m² functional modules (wardrobe, sanitation, sleeping room, kitchen, office, parent room) dock in a star pattern. The system is complemented by a proprietary educational furniture line, pedagogical sanitary solutions (including a visible water cycle with plant-based filtration and a dry separation toilet), a pedagogical photovoltaic station, a visible-flame pellet stove, and integrated food-cycle elements (raised beds, orchards). Buildings are designed to be relocatable, splittable, expandable, or reducible. Adjacent offerings include strategic studies and feasibility analyses, pedagogical concept and whole-day care consulting, full HOAI-compliant architectural planning and general contracting, and a three-phase Akademie training program that can be sold standalone.

Revenue is generated from a mix of project-based professional services (strategy, concept, planning, construction management) and one-time sales of the modular building system and educational furniture. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales to municipal decision-makers and non-profit trustees, supplemented by event-driven demand generation — free on-site visits to completed kindergartens, scheduled online presentations, a quarterly newsletter, and academy workshops. Distribution is direct (no resellers), domestic Germany-focused. The company also operates its own non-profit subsidiary CircleKids gGmbH (founded 2024), which by 2025 ran two kindergartens (Schwäbisch Gmünd and Schwaikheim) as both an operating entity and a reference site. The firm is privately held by founders and co-shareholders, with no disclosed external funding rounds.

Name

LivingCircles GmbH

Legal name

LivingCircles GmbH

Website

https://livingcircles.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LivingCircles GmbH is a German architecture and education firm that designs and builds holistic, nature-based kindergartens and schools for municipalities and non-profit trustees, using a proprietary modular building system that integrates pedagogy, architecture, and strategic planning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Architecture Services

NAICS

Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (337127), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Public Bldg & Related Furniture (2531), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Modular/Prefabricated Classroom Buildings & Installation (EDAEABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Classroom & Learning Space Fit-Out (Interior Build-Outs) (EDAEABAC)

Keywords

• Educational building design
• Modular kindergarten construction
• Pedagogical architecture consulting
• Nature-based education facilities
• Sustainable school planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwäbisch Gmünd

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic consulting and analysis services: Studies, expert opinions (Gutachten), and feasibility analyses (Machbarkeitsstudien) provided as decision-making foundations for municipalities, trustees, and public clients. Typically one-time project-based engagements.
2. Pedagogical concept development and advisory: Development of educational concepts and whole-day care advisory (Ganztagesberatung) for schools and kindergartens, including workshops with school management, pedagogical teams, and trustees. Provided as standalone service or integrated into larger projects.
3. Architectural planning and construction: Full architectural planning and construction (Objektplanung nach HOAI) through to physical implementation and commissioning (Inbetriebnahme) of educational buildings. Includes integral planning coordination with specialized disciplines and sustainable construction methods. LivingCircles has acted as general contractor (Generalübernehmer).
4. Pedagogical training and workshops (Akademie): Construction-phase coaching, nature pedagogy workshops, and ongoing professional development for Kita teams covering sustainability and natural cycle topics. Offered in three phases: during construction (Phase 1), opening year support (Phase 2), and ongoing in-service training (Phase 3). Also available as standalone workshops for existing kindergartens without a LivingCircles building.
5. Modular building system and equipment sales: Sale of proprietary modular building system (including LivingCircle modules and functional area expansions) and the complete range of educational furniture and equipment (pädagogische Möbel und Ausstattungselemente). The system is designed to be relocatable, splittable, expandable, or reducible over time.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LivingCircles GmbH plans, designs, and constructs nature-based kindergartens and schools using a proprietary modular building system (the LivingCircle) that centers on a 50 m² circular multi-functional group room expandable with docking functional modules. The company provides integrated services spanning feasibility studies, pedagogical concept development, architectural planning (HOAI), and physical construction, complemented by an Akademie offering pedagogical training to Kita teams and operation of its own non-profit kindergarten subsidiary (CircleKids gGmbH).

Product overview

LivingCircles GmbH is an architecture and educational consulting firm specializing in holistic educational building design. The company offers a proprietary modular building system called LivingCircle—a 50 m² circular multi-functional group space with configurable functional modules (wardrobe, sanitation, sleeping room, kitchen, office, parent room). This core building product is complemented by modular furniture, pedagogical kitchen solutions, sanitary installations, and cloakroom systems. Services include strategic analysis, pedagogical concept development, architectural planning, and construction management. The company also operates the CircleKids gGmbH non-profit subsidiary as a kindergarten operator and provides training programs through the Akademie. Nature cycles (water, food, heat, energy) are integrated throughout as educational features. The product portfolio spans from individual studies to full project support across multiple phases through to completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LivingCircle Gebäudesystem (Modular Building System) Proprietary modular kindergarten building system centered on the LivingCircle, a 50 m² circular multi-functional group space. Expandable with up to six docking functional area modules (wardrobe, sanitation, sleeping room, kitchen, office, parent room) each providing 20 m² of additional space. The building can be relocated, divided, expanded, or reduced in size as needs change.
• Strategie & Analyse (Strategic Analysis) Studies, expert opinions, feasibility analyses, and economic viability assessments providing decision-making foundations for municipalities, public clients, and trustees. Includes site analyses, feasibility studies, and building condition reports.
• Konzeption & Beratung (Concept & Consulting) Pedagogical concepts and whole-day consulting (Ganztagesberatung) for schools and kindergartens. Includes pedagogical basic concepts, whole-day structure consulting, space and usage concepts, workshops with school leadership and pedagogical teams, and support for change processes.
• Planung & Architektur (Planning & Architecture) Full architectural planning and construction implementation (Objektplanung) according to HOAI (German fee structure for architects and engineers). Includes object planning, integrated planning with specialist disciplines, sustainable and economical construction methods, and support up to commissioning. LivingCircles has acted as general contractor.
• Akademie Schulungen (Academy Training) Training programs for sustainable development education (BNE) directly integrated into living practice. Delivered in three phases: construction-phase coaching integrating nature cycles into daily structure, opening-year pedagogical support, and ongoing in-service sustainability and nature cycle training. Also available as standalone nature pedagogy workshops for existing kindergartens without LivingCircles buildings.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings are designed for long-term adaptability — relocatable, splittable, expandable, and reducible over time — reducing long-term infrastructure costs and lock-in risk
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Architekten HorneburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Architekten Horneburg on visualization and planning for the project in Hedendorf. The partnership combines LivingCircles' pedagogical and system expertise with Horneburg's architectural capabilities for specific project delivery.
• CircleKids gGmbHcoreOthersNon-profit subsidiary (gemeinnütziger Träger) founded by LivingCircles in 2024 to operate kindergartens directly and articulate the pedagogical guiding principles. CircleKids gGmbH operates two kindergartens as of 2025 (CircleKids am Nepperberg in Schwäbisch Gmünd and CircleKids am Sängergarten in Schwaikheim). CircleKids serves as both an operating entity and a demonstration/reference for LivingCircles' building and concept approach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BÜRO BLAU Architekten: Berlin-based architecture firm with a portfolio of educational buildings combining pedagogy and architectural design. Comparable in interdisciplinary, education-focused architecture for public clients, though lacking a proprietary modular building system.
• KLEUSBERG GmbH & Co. KG: German modular construction specialist producing prefabricated school and kindergarten buildings at industrial scale. Direct comparable in modular educational construction with similar target buyers (municipalities and public clients), though KLEUSBERG operates at significantly larger scale and broader building categories.
• Container- und Hallenbau GmbH: Smaller German modular and container-based building specialist offering rapidly deployable school and Kita extensions. Comparable in modular delivery model and target market for temporary/expandable educational infrastructure.
• Cadolto Modulbau GmbH: German prefabricated modular construction firm producing turnkey school and kindergarten buildings for municipalities. Direct peer serving the same public-sector buyers with comparable prefabricated building delivery, though with less pedagogical/holistic positioning.
• ALHO Group: German modular building manufacturer specializing in prefabricated school and kindergarten buildings using steel-frame modular systems. Direct peer for nature/municipality-driven educational construction with comparable GTM into German public-sector tenders.

Broad incumbents

• Hascher Jehle Architektur: Established German architecture firm with extensive education-sector portfolio including schools and Kindergartens. Broad incumbent with overlapping educational architecture practice, though generally operating at larger project scale and without modular building systems.

Others

• GOLDBECK GmbH: Major German construction services firm with a dedicated modular building (System-Bau) division serving schools, office buildings, and parking structures. Broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in modular educational buildings but a much wider portfolio across commercial and industrial real estate.

Emerging players

• WeGrow GmbH: Emerging German provider of nature-based and forest kindergarten concepts and operations. Emerging player in the nature-pedagogy kindergarten space with overlapping philosophical positioning, though focused on operations and concept rather than building construction.
• Waldorfkindergarten e.V. German association of Waldorf/Steiner kindergartens operating nature-oriented pedagogy. Emerging player in the nature-based kindergarten space sharing LivingCircles' pedagogical philosophy, though focused on operations rather than building design or construction.

Regional players

• FRANK SCHULER Architekten: German architecture firm with documented expertise in educational facility design for municipalities. Regional comparable in education-architecture practice for German public clients, lacking LivingCircles' proprietary modular product.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/livingcircles.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/livingcircles-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 LivingCircles GmbH