Studio Qwertz

What Studio Qwertz does

Studio Qwertz GmbH is a privately held architecture and design studio headquartered at Schlesische Strasse 28 in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany. The firm was founded in 2020 through the merger of the practices of Andreas Dopfer and Malte Looff, both of whom previously held senior positions at internationally reputed German and European architecture offices including heneghan peng architects, HG Merz Architekten, Rüthnick Architekten, and Anderhalten Architekten. The studio specializes in the reconceptualization of public buildings, renovation and extension of historical structures, monument protection, and construction within UNESCO World Heritage sites, with a portfolio spanning museums, theaters, archives, libraries, and educational institutions.

The studio delivers end-to-end architectural services across all German HOAI planning phases (LPH 1-9), from strategic advisory in early planning phases through detailed design, permitting, and construction supervision. Revenue is generated on a project basis through direct public commissions, architectural competitions, and collaborative joint-venture arrangements with other architecture firms, with fees structured per HOAI regulations. Notable commissioned and ongoing projects include the Deutsches Optisches Museum Jena, Salinemuseum Halle, Berlinische Galerie, Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, Graphische Sammlungen Weimar, Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein extension, Kunstmuseum Sindelfingen, Kornhaus Ravensburg, and the strategic study for the Stasi Unterlagenarchiv center. The firm operates with approximately 24 named team members and serves public-sector clients exclusively.

The firm is entirely founder-owned with no institutional investment or parent company, registered as a GmbH at Amtsgericht Charlottenburg (HRB 224077). Distribution is conducted through direct sales to government and public institutional clients, supplemented by architectural competition wins and partnerships with co-developing architecture firms. Strategic advisory for clients seeking public subsidies or funding bodies is positioned as a distinct service offering, leveraging the partners' experience navigating German public procurement and funding frameworks.

Name

Studio Qwertz

Legal name

Studio Qwertz GmbH

Website

https://studioqwertz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio Qwertz is a Berlin-based architecture and design studio founded in 2020 by Andreas Dopfer and Malte Looff that specializes in reconceptualizing public buildings, renovating historical structures, and designing museum and cultural institution projects under monument protection and UNESCO World Heritage constraints.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Historical building renovation
• Monument protection design
• Public building architecture
• Museum and cultural architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Project-based architectural services including design, planning, renovation, and extension of public buildings, museums, cultural institutions, and educational facilities. Revenue generated through public commissions, architectural competitions, and direct client engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Studio Qwertz is an architecture and design studio that provides comprehensive architectural services across all planning phases (LPH 1-9 per HOAI standards). The firm specializes in reconceptualizing public buildings, renovating historical structures, monument protection, and construction within UNESCO World Heritage contexts, with a focus on museums, cultural institutions, archives, and educational facilities in Germany.

Product overview

Studio Qwertz is an architecture and design studio offering comprehensive architectural services as a single unified practice. The studio provides services across all planning phases (LPH 1-9 according to German HOAI standards), specializing in public buildings, museums, and historical renovation projects. Their portfolio includes cultural institutions (museums, theaters, archives), educational buildings, and heritage conservation projects. The studio was founded in 2020 through the merger of Andreas Dopfer and Malte Looff's teams, both bringing extensive experience from major international architecture practices. Projects range from new constructions to complex renovations of listed buildings, with particular expertise in UNESCO World Heritage sites and monument protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural and Design Services Comprehensive architecture and design services covering all planning phases for public buildings, museums, cultural institutions, and educational facilities, with specialization in heritage protection and UNESCO World Heritage construction.
• Deutsches Optisches Museum Jena Neoconceptualization of the German Optical Museum including new exhibition design, renovation of the historical Optikerschule, and a new building connecting the ensemble and providing a new entrance.
• Berlinische Galerie Renovation and Expansion Expansion and renovation of Berlin's modern art museum, adding new depot facilities, administration spaces, and an event building for public uses.
• Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar General renovation of the main house of the German National Theatre Weimar, including heritage-consistent restoration, extension, and addition of a contemporary upper floor.
• Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein Expansion Large-scale expansion of the state archive with 13,000 m² BGF to accommodate 50 kilometers of files, 155,000 books, and film materials.
• Salinemuseum Halle Reconceptualization of the Saline ensemble as a museum for industrial culture, preserving the historical industrial complex using contemporary technology including augmented reality.
• Graphische Sammlungen Weimar New building for graphic collections featuring a dark terracotta curtain facade with specially developed glazing, combining industrial architecture with artistic craftsmanship.

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

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• heneghan peng architectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaborative partnership on public cultural projects. Studio Qwertz has worked with heneghan peng architects on several significant projects including the Salinemuseum Halle, Botanisches Museum Berlin, and Eingangsgebäude Botanischer Garten Berlin.
• Studio Other Spaces (Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for the Kunstfassade (art facade) on the Deutsches Optisches Museum Jena project. Studio Other Spaces, led by internationally renowned artists Olafur Eliasson and Sebastian Behmann, was brought on as partner for the artistic design elements of the museum's main facade.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Barkow Leibinger: Berlin-based architecture practice with cultural, public, and institutional portfolio. Comparable in Berlin location, project scale, and competition participation for public cultural work.
• Staab Architekten: Berlin-based architecture firm with comparable focus on public buildings, museums, and cultural projects. Direct overlap in competition participation for German public cultural commissions and similar firm scale.
• Bruno Fioretti Marquez: Berlin-based architecture firm specializing in public buildings, museums, and cultural projects. Directly comparable niche, scale, and competition profile within German public sector.
• Kühn Malvezzi Architekten: Berlin architecture practice with strong public-building portfolio including museums and cultural institutions. Closely comparable in size, Berlin location, and public/cultural project focus.
• Ortner & Ortner Architekten: Austrian/German architecture practice known for cultural and museum projects. Comparable niche focus on cultural buildings and museum reconceptualizations, with overlapping competition participation in the DACH region.
• Max Dudler Architekten: German architecture firm with strong public and cultural building portfolio including museums and theaters. Comparable in cultural-heritage focus and competition participation.

Broad incumbents

• David Chipperfield Architects: Internationally recognized architecture firm with significant Berlin office, repeatedly winning major German cultural commissions (e.g., Neues Museum Berlin). Larger incumbent competing in the same high-end public/museum space.
• HG Merz Architekten: Stuttgart/Berlin-based architecture firm and former employer of Studio Qwertz co-founder Malte Looff. Larger incumbent in the same cultural and public-building niche with broader portfolio and longer track record.
• Sauerbruch Hutton: Berlin-based architecture firm with strong cultural and museum portfolio (e.g., Museum Brandhorst). Larger established practice competing in similar public/cultural competition pool.

Others

• heneghan peng architects: Internationally recognized architecture firm and ongoing strategic partner of Studio Qwertz. While not a direct competitor (currently collaborating on joint projects), it is highly relevant as the firm where co-founder Dopfer built his career and continues to co-bid on major public cultural commissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-qwertz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Studio Qwertz