:mlzd
:mlzd is a Swiss architecture cooperative (Genossenschaft) founded in 1997, with offices in Biel/Bienne and Berlin. It provides architectural design, urban planning, and interior services across residential, cultural, public, and commercial sectors, acquiring work primarily through architectural competitions and direct commissions in the DACH region and Benelux.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBiel/Bienne, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What :mlzd does
:mlzd (legal name: Genossenschaft :mlzd Architekten) is a Swiss architecture cooperative founded in 1997 and headquartered in Biel/Bienne, with a second office in Berlin, Germany. The firm delivers comprehensive architectural services spanning competition entry, urban planning, building design, and construction administration across residential, cultural, public/institutional, and commercial typologies. Its portfolio includes the THF Tower visitor center at Berlin Tempelhof Airport, the Museum MCSN Locarno, the Kulturzentrum Abbaye de Forest in Brussels, large residential developments (e.g., Wohnüberbauung Veillon Bussigny at 45,700m2), and corporate fit-outs (Triumph International headquarters, 2,770m2). The firm has participated in more than 150 competition procedures and secured multiple first-prize wins across the DACH region and Belgium.
The business model is professional-services revenue earned through project-based fees, typically structured as a percentage of construction costs or fixed project fees, with billing occurring over multi-year contract horizons. New work is acquired through two parallel channels: open architectural competitions (Swiss SIA-format and international juries) and direct commissions from public and private clients. The cooperative ownership structure is staffed by four named partners — Daniele Di Giacinto, Claude Marbach, Andreas Frank, and Pat Tanner — supported by a lean team of approximately eight total employees. Engineering, landscape, and specialist partners (e.g., Dr. Lüchinger + Meyer for structural engineering, Chaves Biedermann for landscape, Amstein+Walthert for building systems) are engaged on a project basis rather than employed in-house.
The firm is currently investing in proprietary sustainable-building research, including a pilot facade greening installation on its own Biel headquarters and participation in ETH Zürich's 'Think Earth' research consortium on climate-neutral timber-and-clay construction. Customer segments are predominantly public-sector (municipalities, cantons, educational institutions) with select enterprise accounts in fashion/retail and testing/certification. Marketing is conducted through an active website, annual printed booklets, exhibitions, university lectures, and a strong competition track record, with no external investment, parent company, or M&A activity. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.
:mlzd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- :mlzd
- Legal name
- Genossenschaft :mlzd Architekten
- Website
- https://mlzd.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- :mlzd is a Swiss architecture cooperative (Genossenschaft) founded in 1997, with offices in Biel/Bienne and Berlin. It provides architectural design, urban planning, and interior services across residential, cultural, public, and commercial sectors, acquiring work primarily through architectural competitions and direct commissions in the DACH region and Benelux.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
:mlzd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (541410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where :mlzd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Biel/Bienne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
:mlzd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Professional services revenue generated through architectural design fees for competitions, studies, and construction projects. Fees are typically calculated as a percentage of construction costs or through fixed project fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Architecture services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
:mlzd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
:mlzd is a full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, urban planning, and interior design services. The firm works across multiple building typologies including residential complexes, cultural institutions, public/municipal facilities (schools, sports centers, administrative buildings), and corporate/commercial fit-outs. Projects span from competition entries and feasibility studies through construction management, primarily delivered in Switzerland and Germany with select international engagements.
Product overview
:mlzd is a Swiss architecture firm offering comprehensive architectural services across residential, cultural, public, and commercial building sectors. The firm operates as a single integrated practice rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their portfolio includes diverse project types such as the Wohnüberbauung Zihlstrasse residential development, the THF Tower visitor center at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport, the Triumph International headquarters fit-out, and various public buildings including schools, sports facilities, and cultural centers. The firm participates in architectural competitions and has won numerous awards including first prizes for projects like the Brandlabor Biel and Kulturzentrum Abbaye de Forest.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architectural Design and Planning Services Comprehensive architectural design, urban planning, and interior design services delivered across residential, cultural, public/institutional, and commercial building typologies. Services cover the full project lifecycle from competition entries and feasibility studies through to construction management, for public and private clients primarily in Switzerland and Germany.
- Architecture Booklets and Project Brochures Print publications including annual firm booklets and project-specific brochures available for purchase by the public, documenting completed projects such as the Tempelhof visitor centre. Sold at fixed prices (e.g., CHF 15 plus shipping for booklets; 9.80 EUR/CHF for the Tempelhof brochure).
Companies that use :mlzd
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
:mlzd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
:mlzd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- a-practicecoreCollaboration won competition for Kulturzentrum Abbey de Forrest in Brussels suburb (2017). a-practice sends construction photos and manages on-site execution while :mlzd provides design services.
- buzzi architetticoreJoint competition winners for Museum MCSN Locarno project. Collaboration combining :mlzd's architecture expertise with buzzi architetti's local knowledge for successful competition entry.
- Sollberger + Bögli ArchitektencoreJoint project team for Gymnasium Hofwil expansion and renovation, working alongside 0815-Architekten.
- Dr. Lüchinger + MeyercoreStructural engineering partner appearing on multiple projects including Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Museum MCSN Locarno, and football stadium Lausanne.
- Chaves / BiedermanncoreLandscape architecture partners for Museum MCSN Locarno and Maison de la Santé Biel projects.
- wh-pcoreStructural engineering partner for Maison de la Santé Biel project.
- CBREcoreProject management partner for Triumph International headquarters fit-out in Wallisellen.
- Gatti AGminorConstruction company partner for facade greening project at Alleestrasse 25, Biel.
- Espace Real Estate Holding AGminorInput provider for economic aspects and institutional real estate perspective for facade greening project.
- kong (design studio)minorDesign studio handling booklet layout for :mlzd publications, including 21_21 and other annual publications.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
:mlzd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Global architecture firm with strong competition track record and broad typology coverage including cultural, public, and residential sectors. Comparable as a competition-driven firm serving public and private clients, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Herzog & de Meuron: Swiss-headquartered global architecture firm operating across cultural, public, and commercial typologies with similar competition-driven culture. Comparable as a Swiss architecture practice, but vastly larger scale and global project portfolio serving as the upper bound of the Swiss architecture firm archetype.
- Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered architecture firm with similar competition methodology and broad typology (cultural, public, landscape architecture). Comparable as a design-led practice with sustainability focus and award-winning public commissions, though operating at global scale.
Direct peers
- Christian Kerez Architect: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm of similar boutique scale known for competition wins and innovative design across cultural and residential projects. Comparable as a small competition-driven Swiss practice with strong individual project identity.
- Diener & Diener Architekten: Basel-based Swiss architecture firm with similar competition-driven project acquisition and multi-typology portfolio spanning residential, cultural, and commercial work. Direct peer as a comparable boutique Swiss practice with strong institutional client base.
- EM2N Architekten: Swiss architecture firm with Zurich/Munich offices, similar size band, and comparable typology spread (cultural, public, residential, commercial). Direct peer as another competition-active Swiss practice with cross-border DACH operations and similar design ethos.
- pool Architekten: Swiss architecture firm (Zurich) of similar small scale with comparable competition participation, typology breadth, and award recognition in Swiss markets. Direct peer as another boutique Swiss practice competing for similar public and cultural commissions.
- Max Dudler Architekten: Berlin/Zurich architecture firm with competition-active practice across cultural, public, and residential typologies. Direct peer as a comparable boutique European firm operating across DACH markets with similar competition-based project acquisition.
- Burkhalter Sumi Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm of similar boutique scale, operating across residential, public, and cultural typologies with a strong competition-based portfolio. Direct comparison as a fellow small Swiss practice with comparable award track record and competition methodology.
- Hosoya Schaefer Architects: Zurich-based architecture practice of comparable size focused on urban planning and architectural design with similar sustainability orientation and typology breadth. Direct peer as a fellow boutique Swiss firm competing in similar competition landscapes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
:mlzd social profiles
Digital presence:mlzd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
:mlzd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
:mlzd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
:mlzd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about :mlzd
What does :mlzd do?
:mlzd is a full-service architecture firm providing architectural design, urban planning, and interior design services. The firm works across multiple building typologies including residential complexes, cultural institutions, public/municipal facilities (schools, sports centers, administrative buildings), and corporate/commercial fit-outs. Projects span from competition entries and feasibility studies through construction management, primarily delivered in Switzerland and Germany with select international engagements.
Is :mlzd a public or private company?
:mlzd is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was :mlzd founded?
:mlzd was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is :mlzd based?
:mlzd is headquartered in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does :mlzd make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Design Services.
Who are :mlzd's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Herzog & de Meuron and Snøhetta. Direct peers are Christian Kerez Architect, Diener & Diener Architekten, EM2N Architekten, pool Architekten, Max Dudler Architekten, Burkhalter Sumi Architekten and Hosoya Schaefer Architects.
Does :mlzd have an API?
No public API is recorded for :mlzd.
What industry is :mlzd in?
:mlzd's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAD, Urban Planning & Master Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning. Its NAICS code is 541310.