Mätsch GmbH - ehemals KuKuk Freiflug

What Mätsch GmbH - ehemals KuKuk Freiflug does

Mätsch Studio GmbH is a Stuttgart-based play architecture and landscape design studio that designs and plans bespoke playable outdoor spaces for municipalities, public institutions, schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, zoos, and developers across Germany and Switzerland. The studio applies a proprietary "Plus 1 Method" and "Beteiligungsprinzip" (participatory planning principle) that involves children and youth in the design process from Phase 0, combined with integrative, inclusive, nature-based design using materials such as robinia wood, natural stone, and hemp rope. Its core service lines are play space design (Spielraumgestaltung), landscape architecture (Landschaftsarchitektur), specialist play equipment planning (Fachplanung Spieleinbauten), participation facilitation (Beteiligungsplanung), and concept development (Konzeptentwicklung).

The company operates on a project-based professional services model, with revenue earned through direct contracts commissioned via website inquiry or phone. Pricing is bespoke and project-specific, with multi-year engagement cadences. Mätsch generates leads through its website, social media (Instagram, LinkedIn), newsletter, earned media (SWR, ARD ttt, Süddeutsche Zeitung), the MÄTSCHPOINT thought-leadership event series, and municipal competition wins. Distribution relies on direct studio engagement plus channel relationships with KuKuk-family implementation partners (KuKuk Spielwerk for Germany, KuKuk Schweiz for Switzerland) and a network of specialist landscape architecture and play-engineering firms.

Founded in 2015 as the KuKuk Freiflug planning department and tracing roots over 20 years into the KuKuk family ecosystem, the studio rebranded as Mätsch Studio GmbH in summer 2025 when founder Bernhard Hanel transferred ownership to five long-term employees (Ottenbreit, Aniceto da Silva, Habicht, Friedenberger, Spallek), with Friedenberger and Aniceto da Silva serving as Managing Directors. The studio has delivered 77+ completed projects spanning playgrounds, schoolyards, urban parks, therapeutic gardens, and nature experience trails across at least seven German states and Switzerland.

Name

Mätsch GmbH - ehemals KuKuk Freiflug

Legal name

Mätsch Studio GmbH

Website

https://maetsch.studio

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mätsch Studio GmbH is a Stuttgart-based play architecture and landscape design studio that plans bespoke, participatory, and inclusive playable outdoor spaces for municipalities, schools, healthcare facilities, and developers across Germany and Switzerland, applying its proprietary Plus 1 method.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Landscape Architecture and Play Design Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Specialized Design Services (5414)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing) (EDAEAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Play architecture design
• Landscape architecture services
• Playground planning services
• Participatory urban planning
• Inclusive play design

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Planning Services: Mätsch generates revenue through project-based professional planning and design services. Services include specialist play installation planning (Fachplanung Spieleinbauten), landscape architecture (Landschaftsarchitektur), concept development (Konzeptentwicklung), and participation facilitation (Beteiligung). Projects range from playgrounds, schoolyards, and urban parks to therapeutic gardens and indoor play spaces. Clients include municipalities, public institutions, schools, kindergartens, and private developers. Revenue is earned through direct project contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mätsch is a professional play architecture and landscape design studio that plans and designs bespoke playable spaces for municipalities, public institutions, schools, kindergartens, and private developers. Core services include specialist play installation planning (Fachplanung Spieleinbauten), landscape architecture (Landschaftsarchitektur), participatory planning via the proprietary Plus 1 method, and concept development (Konzeptentwicklung), delivered through project-based commissions in Germany and Switzerland.

Product overview

Mätsch Studio GmbH (formerly KuKuk Freiflug) is a professional play architecture and landscape design studio based in Stuttgart, Germany. The company operates as a unified service-based practice offering integrated services including play space design (Spielraumgestaltung), landscape architecture (Landschaftsarchitektur), specialist planning for play installations (Fachplanung Spieleinbauten), participatory planning (Beteiligungsplanung), and concept development (Konzeptentwicklung). The studio follows a 'Plus 1' methodology that actively involves children and youth in planning processes from Phase 0. With over 20 years of experience originating from the KuKuk family network, Mätsch creates playable worlds (bspielbare Welt) through the interplay (Zusammenspiel) of people, play, and nature, serving municipalities, schools, kindergartens, and private clients across Germany and Switzerland. The company transitioned to new ownership in summer 2025 when founder Bernhard Hanel handed the studio to long-term employees Lore Ottenbreit, Anna-Maria Aniceto da Silva, Judith Habicht, Eva Friedenberger, and Valerie Spallek.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spielraumgestaltung (Play Space Design)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 77 projects completed across Germany and Switzerland
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KuKuk Spielwerk GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing implementation and project partner. KuKuk Spielwerk GmbH executes the play installations and constructions that Mätsch designs and plans. The two companies have collaborated on dozens of projects across Germany including Balingen Gartenschau, Naturerlebnis Kirchheim, and many playground projects. Part of the broader KuKuk family ecosystem.
• KuKuk Schweiz GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss implementation partner for projects in Switzerland. Collaborates on Swiss play projects including Luzern Waldschwimmbad, Parc du Loup Lausanne, Place de jeux du Chauchy, and others. Part of the KuKuk family ecosystem operating in German-speaking Switzerland.
• KuKuk Kultur e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit cultural association within the KuKuk family focused on community engagement and cultural programming around play. Collaborated on MÄTSCHPOINT 2025 event and various community projects including the Paulinenbrücke Urban Sports Area (color design with Mercedes Benz and KuKuk Kultur).
• KuKuk Box GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of the KuKuk family ecosystem. Contributed to the Paulinenbrücke Urban Sports Area project in Stuttgart alongside KuKuk Kultur e.V.
• STUDIO SF Simon Fischer & Architekten GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm collaboration on multiple competition-winning projects: Wohnungsbau Schafhof Kirchheim under Teck (2024, landscape architecture services) and Schweitenkirchen neue Ortsmitte (2024, landscape architecture). Close project partnership.
• X-Move GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist partner for certain play installations and movement equipment. Collaborated on projects including Amperspielplatz Dachau (2018-2019), Kita Reutersbrunnenstraße Nürnberg, and Frankfurt Konstanzer Straße.
• TollereiminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlay space artists/craftsmen. Collaborated on GS 2025 Freudenstadt Christophstal project alongside A² Landschaftsarchitekten, bringing handcrafted play elements to the Gartenschau project.
• Freiraumwerkstatt Frank Hornikel LandschaftsarchitekturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner. Collaborated on Kinderhaus Carlo Steeb Tübingen project alongside schulz architekten and other partners.
• A² LandschaftsarchitektenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm partner. Worked with Mätsch on GS 2025 Freudenstadt Christophstal project and the Schweitenkirchen neue Ortsmitte competition.
• ArtEngeneering GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist play/art engineering partner. Collaborated on LGS Würzburg 2018 Spielewelten 'Im Urmeer' project alongside Huttereimann Landschaftsarchitektur and others.
• Koeber Landschaftsarchitektur GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner firm listed in the KuKuk/Mätsch partner network.
• Eins + Alles - Erfahrungsfeld der SinneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExperience field of the senses organization. Collaborated on the UrSprung - Ronjas Welt project in Welzheim (2024-2025), where a flood-destroyed play area was rebuilt on the 'Lichtung 2024'.
• Stiftung Denk an michminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss foundation supporting accessible play spaces for all children. Accompanied and supported the planning and execution of the Hüslispielplatz Wanderspielplatz in Tenna (2019), which includes wheelchair-accessible elements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Topotek 1: Topotek 1 is a Berlin-based landscape architecture firm that designs public landscapes and urban spaces in Germany, including notable playground commissions. It is one of the leading direct competitors of Mätsch in the German municipal landscape-architecture and public-realm tender market.
• Hutterreimann Landschaftsarchitektur: Hutterreimann is a German landscape architecture firm with a portfolio in public-realm and play-related projects (e.g., LGS Würzburg 2018 Spielewelten), and has worked with Mätsch on joint projects. It competes with Mätsch for the same German municipal tenders while also serving as an occasional collaborator.
• Monstrum: Monstrum is a Copenhagen-based playground design studio recognized for sculptural custom-built play equipment in municipal and cultural public spaces. It is comparable to Mätsch in producing bespoke identity-driven play architecture for similar European municipal clients, although skewed more toward manufactured sculptural play elements.
• Carve: Carve is an Amsterdam-based creative design studio that delivers bespoke playground installations and public play spaces across Europe. Like Mätsch, it serves municipalities and developers with artist-led, narrative-driven play environments rather than catalog equipment, and competes for the same public-tender segment.

Broad incumbents

• Lappset Group: Lappset is a Finnish global play and outdoor exercise equipment provider with multi-category offerings. It overlaps with Mätsch in the public-playground procurement market but is a broader incumbent operating through product manufacturing and installation rather than bespoke studio commissions.
• Proludic: Proludic is a France-based international playground design and equipment manufacturer serving municipalities and developers across multiple continents. It competes for the same public-sector playground clients as Mätsch but via a catalog-plus-design-build model rather than the studio's specialist design-only approach.
• Kompan: Kompan is a Denmark-headquartered global playground equipment manufacturer serving municipalities worldwide. It is one of the largest incumbents in the broader play-equipment supply chain that overlaps with Mätsch in serving the same DACH municipal clients, though via standardized catalog solutions rather than bespoke design.
• ASPECT Studios: ASPECT Studios is an internationally active landscape architecture firm with offices across Australia and Asia and a growing practice in Europe, including inclusive and play-led public-realm projects. It is a broader incumbent that increasingly competes for larger-scale playground and public-realm tenders on a global stage.

Regional players

• Richter Spielgeräte: Richter Spielgeräte is a German playground equipment manufacturer with strong DACH municipal relationships supplying turnkey equipment. It serves many of the same municipal clients as Mätsch but competes on equipment supply rather than participatory bespoke design.
• Berliner Seilfabrik: Berliner Seilfabrik is a Berlin-based manufacturer of rope-based playground equipment with a strong German public-sector presence. It overlaps with Mätsch in German public-realm projects as a regional equipment supplier, complementary to the studio's design role in many municipal tender consortia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maetsch-studio
• Instagraminstagram.com/maetsch.studio

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 Mätsch GmbH - ehemals KuKuk Freiflug