Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG

What Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG does

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG is a Zürich-based architecture firm founded in 1992 by Prof. Dietrich Schwarz that specializes in sustainable and energy-efficient building design. The firm serves predominantly institutional clients—including Swiss pension funds, real estate investment foundations, federal and cantonal government entities, and research institutions—through direct commissions and architectural competitions. Active project geographies span Switzerland (Zürich, Winterthur, Davos, Mellingen, Domat/Ems, Schlieren, Klosters), Bavaria/Germany (Neu-Ulm), Austria, and Liechtenstein.

The firm's technical core is net-zero and low-energy building design under Minergie and SNBS frameworks, with documented first-of-kind Swiss projects including the first null-energy residential complex Eulachhof Winterthur, the first Minergie-P-ECO residential high-rise Am Rietpark, and the first SNBS 2.0 Platin building in the ETH domain (WSL Haus D, Davos). Differentiated technology includes phase change material (PCM) facade systems developed with GLASSX AG, vacuum insulated glazing applications, aerogel-based high-performance insulation, and translucent solar storage walls using paraffin PCM for passive solar heating.

DSA operates a professional services model, generating revenue through architectural fees negotiated on a project-by-project basis (typically a percentage of construction cost or fixed project fees) under multi-year contracts. Distribution is direct with no resellers; client acquisition rests on portfolio track record, competition wins, two Watt d'Or awards from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, and the principal's positioning on the Minergie board and as Professor for Sustainable Building at the University of Liechtenstein. The firm is structured as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft (AG), founder-owned and operated, with approximately ten team members including principals, architects, and apprentices.

Name

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG

Legal name

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG

Website

https://schwarz-architekten.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG is a Zürich-based Swiss architecture firm founded in 1992 specializing in net-zero energy buildings and Minergie/SNBS-certified sustainable design. The founder-owned practice serves pension funds, real estate foundations, and government clients across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture
• Net-zero buildings
• Minergie certification
• Energy-efficient design
• Architectural services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Traditional architecture firm providing design, planning, and project management services for residential, commercial, and public buildings. Revenue generated through architectural fees based on project scope and complexity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG provides architectural design, planning, and project management services for sustainable buildings, including residential developments, commercial buildings, hotels, retail outlets, and public-sector research facilities. The firm specializes in Minergie-certified, passive house, null-energy, and net-zero construction, applying advanced facade systems (PCM, vacuum glazing, aerogel) and prefabricated timber construction. Services are delivered through direct commissions and architectural competitions for institutional clients across Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

Product overview

Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG is an architecture firm offering architectural design services with a specialization in sustainable and energy-efficient building design. The firm's portfolio includes residential projects (single-family homes, multi-family housing, residential complexes), commercial buildings (offices, retail), and institutional projects. Key project types include Minergie-certified buildings, solar/passive houses, null-energy buildings, and urban development projects. The company does not offer a software product or platform—its offerings are professional architectural services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sustainable Architectural Design Services End-to-end architectural design, planning, and project management services for sustainable residential, commercial, hotel/retail, and public-sector buildings, including feasibility, competition entries, design development, and construction supervision. Projects target Minergie and SNBS certifications and apply advanced facade technologies (PCM, vacuum glazing, aerogel) and prefabricated timber construction; clients include pension funds, real-estate investment foundations, federal research institutions, and private developers.

Quantifiable outcome

• First zero-energy residential development in Switzerland (Eulachhof)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GLASSX AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership with GLASSX AG for phase change material (PCM) facade solutions. GLASSX provides specialized translucent solar storage glass elements used in multiple DSA projects including Eulachhof and Färbi Areal for thermal energy storage and overheating protection.
• Transsolar StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy concept partnership with Transsolar for building physics and climate engineering. Collaborated on Färbi Areal project for passive solar office building design.
• Hamburger Du Pfamatter Architekten GmbH ETH/SIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for Sigmund Freud Universität Wien competition project, combining DSA sustainable building expertise with partner's architectural capabilities.
• TU RhombergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTotal performance competition partnership for Via Caguils project in Domat/Ems with TU Rhomberg.
• Minergie AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDSA principal Dietrich Schwarz serves on Minergie Board of Directors, representing leading sustainable building standards in Switzerland.
• University of LiechtensteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dietrich Schwarz serves as Professor for Sustainable Building at UNILI, bridging academic research and practical architecture applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: International architecture and design practice with explicit focus on sustainability, social impact, and energy performance across typologies. Comparable to DSA through its sustainability-driven positioning and institutional client work, but operates globally and across broader building types.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with an established sustainability practice, including net-zero and high-performance commercial and institutional projects. Comparable to DSA through sustainability expertise but operates at vastly greater scale, scope, and geographic reach without DSA's specialized residential focus.
• Burckhardt Architekten: One of Switzerland's largest architecture firms, with a broader portfolio of residential, commercial, healthcare, and institutional projects. Comparable to DSA through Swiss institutional client work but operates at materially greater scale and across more building types without DSA's singular sustainability specialization.

Direct peers

• EM2N Architekten: Zürich-based architecture firm of comparable size and regional footprint to DSA, working on residential, commercial, and institutional projects in Switzerland and Germany. Comparable through its mid-sized Swiss practice model and competition-driven institutional client base.
• Bollinger + Grohmann: Frankfurt-based engineering and architecture practice with strong sustainability and high-performance building expertise. Comparable to DSA through its innovative facade and building-physics work, integration of energy modeling, and portfolio of European institutional and residential projects.
• Atelier Kempe Thill: European architecture practice focused on sustainable, prefabricated, and energy-efficient housing and public buildings. Comparable to DSA through its use of innovative construction methods (including timber prefabrication), net-zero residential benchmarks, and similar project scale across DACH.
• Werner Sobek: German engineering and architecture firm specializing in sustainable, energy-efficient, and zero-emission building design. Comparable to DSA through its focus on high-performance facades, innovative materials (including aerogel-adjacent systems), and signature net-zero projects for institutional clients in the DACH region.
• Allmann Sattler Wappner Architekten: Munich-based architecture firm with a strong portfolio in sustainable residential and commercial buildings across southern Germany. Comparable to DSA through its DACH institutional client base and emphasis on energy-efficient design at a similar mid-sized firm scale.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dietrich-schwarz-architekten-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/dietrichschwarzarchitekten

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Dietrich Schwarz Architekten AG