Third Nature Architects
Third Nature Architects is a Copenhagen-based architecture and urban design firm specializing in climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design across building, landscape, plan, and regional scales, serving municipalities, developers, and public institutions in Northern Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Third Nature Architects does
Third Nature Architects is a Copenhagen-based architectural and urban design firm founded in 2011 by Ole Schrøder and Flemming Rafn, operating across four integrated scales — Building, Landscape, Plan, and Region — with a specialization in climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design. The firm has developed proprietary physical and methodological IP including the Climate Tile rainwater-management paving system (piloted since 2018, now touring European museums), POP-UP kinetic infrastructure combining stormwater storage with floating parking, the Habitat 25 urban mushroom-farm prototype, and a Design for Disassembly methodology using biogenic materials. Its project portfolio spans urban regeneration (Refshaleøen 115 Ha, Lynetteholm 275 Ha, Urbanplanen), landmark buildings (The Tip at Nordhavn, 60 m circular structure; Ulricehamns Kulturhus 7,800 m²), circular construction (Nøstebukten Brygge, 90% reuse rate), and regional visioning (the Øhjem 25 km green-blue corridor for Greater Copenhagen).
The firm generates revenue through professional services fees on commissioned architectural design, urban planning, landscape architecture, master planning, and strategic advisory work. Its go-to-market is competition-led: Third Nature wins architectural competitions and tenders, often leading consortium teams with engineering and architecture firms such as COWI, Rambøll, Arup, Cobe, Arkitema, and Mad Arkitekter, and pursues direct commissions from municipalities (City of Copenhagen, Greve, Ulricehamn), utilities (KLAR Forsyning A/S), housing cooperatives (OBOS), cultural institutions (DAC, ArkDes), and private developers (PFA Ejendomme, EGD, Freja Ejendomme, Realkapital Investor AS). The firm currently has ~20 employees, operates across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the UK, and Japan, and rebranded from 'Tredje Natur' to 'Third Nature' in March 2025 to position for international expansion while retaining its Danish design roots.
Third Nature Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Third Nature Architects
- Legal name
- Third Nature Architects
- Website
- https://thirdnaturearchitects.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Third Nature Architects is a Copenhagen-based architecture and urban design firm specializing in climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design across building, landscape, plan, and regional scales, serving municipalities, developers, and public institutions in Northern Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Third Nature Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Architectural Services (54131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where Third Nature Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Copenhagen
- HQ country
- Denmark
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Third Nature Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Third Nature generates revenue through fees for architectural design, urban planning, landscape architecture, and master planning services on commissioned projects for municipalities, developers, and public institutions.
- Strategic Advisory Services: The firm provides advisory services on climate adaptation, circular transformation, and urban development strategy to government clients and private developers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Third Nature Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Third Nature Architects provides integrated architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, and regional development services focused on climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design. The firm works across four scales (Building, Landscape, Plan, and Region) and has developed proprietary climate adaptation products including the Climate Tile rainwater management paving system, the POP-UP kinetic infrastructure concept, and the Habitat 25 urban mushroom farm prototype.
Product overview
Third Nature Architects is a Danish architectural and urban planning firm offering integrated design services across four scales: Building, Landscape, Plan, and Region. The firm's core offering comprises architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, and regional development services focused on climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design. Alongside their service offerings, they have developed proprietary climate adaptation products including the Climate Tile (Klimaflisen) for urban stormwater management, the Habitat 25 urban mushroom farm prototype, the Verket methodology for wastewater plant transformation, and the POP-UP floating infrastructure concept. The firm works on projects in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, UK, and Japan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Building Design Services
- Landscape Design Services
- Urban Planning Services
- Regional Development Services
- Strategic Advisory Services
- Climate Tile (Klimaflisen)
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces land use by more than 100x compared to conventional agriculture
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Third Nature Architects
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Third Nature Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Third Nature Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
48 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- KLAR Forsyning A/ScoreThird Nature was appointed as advisor to KLAR Forsyning A/S for the development and establishment of Mosede Climate Park, an ambitious project that modernizes an active wastewater treatment plant while transforming it into a public landscape and learning environment.
- Greve MunicipalitycoreCollaboration on Mosede Climate Park development, working together to create a green landscape connecting people, nature and technology.
- Krüger A/SsupportingContractor in the Mosede Climate Park project team.
- Gottlieb Paludan ArchitectssupportingContractor in the Mosede Climate Park project team.
- MT Højgaard DanmarksupportingContractor in the Mosede Climate Park project team.
- Aquagain A/SsupportingContractor in the Mosede Climate Park project team.
- CBREsupportingContractor in the Mosede Climate Park project team.
- ArkDes (Swedish National Centre for Architecture and Design)coreLaunched the VERKET practice-based research project in collaboration with Ulricehamn Municipality to explore how decommissioned wastewater treatment plants can be transformed into new places of activity and value.
- Ulricehamn MunicipalitycoreCollaborator with ArkDes on VERKET project and direct client for Ulricehamns Kulturhus cultural center competition.
- Marge ArkitektercoreCollaborator on VERKET project and partner on Ulricehamns Kulturhus cultural center.
- DTU Technical University of DenmarksupportingCollaborated on the upcycled Climate Tile project displayed at European museums.
- COWIcoreEngineering partner on multiple projects including Lynetteholm climate adaptation, H.C. Andersens Boulevard feasibility study, and POP-UP kinetic infrastructure concept.
- ArkitemacorePartner with Third Nature and COWI on the Lynetteholm project advisory team.
- Mad ArkitektercorePartner with Third Nature on Nøstetbukten Brygge waterfront development in Bergen since 2018.
- OBOScoreHousing cooperative and developer for Nøstetbukten Brygge project, bringing 96 apartments to market in Bergen.
- EGDsupportingPartner on Nøstetbukten Brygge waterfront development in Bergen.
- Vilhelm Lauritzen ArchitectscoreDesign collaborator with Third Nature and Cobe on The Tip (Spidsen Nordø) project in Copenhagen's Nordhavn.
- CobecoreDesign collaborator with Third Nature and Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects on The Tip project.
- RambøllsupportingEngineering partner on The Tip project.
- PFA EjendommecoreClient for The Tip development at Nordhavn, Copenhagen's new landmark building.
- TscherningsupportingCollaborator with Third Nature on Urban Life Spaces project awarded by City of Copenhagen's Bylivsgadepuljen fund.
- LINQsupportingCollaborator with Third Nature on Urban Life Spaces project.
- City of CopenhagencoreFunder and client for Urban Life Spaces and multiple other projects including Urbanplanen transformation.
- Danish Association of Architects (Arkitektforeningen)coreManager of the Water's Ways project and initiator of the Øhjem vision for Copenhagen's green transition.
- Sophie Sahlqvist LandscapecoreTeam member on Øhjem vision for 25 km regenerative corridor in Greater Copenhagen.
- ARKAIAcoreTeam member on Øhjem vision project.
- ILCcoreTeam member on Øhjem vision, contributing aquaponic closed loop plant and fish production expertise.
- Artelia DenmarksupportingTeam member on Øhjem vision project.
- ArupcorePartner in consortium selected for Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition (115 hectares) in Copenhagen.
- BRIQsupportingPartner in Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition consortium.
- Aaen EngineeringsupportingPartner in Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition consortium.
- Over Byen ArchitectssupportingPartner in Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition consortium.
- DGE DanmarksupportingPartner in Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition consortium.
- Refshaleøens EjendomsselskabcoreClient and partner for Refshaleøen Structural Plan Competition, managing the 115-hectare harbor area development.
- Udviklingsselskabet By & HavncoreJoint partner with Refshaleøens Ejendomsselskab in evaluating proposals for the prestigious Copenhagen competition.
- JAJAsupportingPartner on Urbanplanen Etape 2 project for City of Copenhagen.
- EKJ Rådgivende IngeniørersupportingEngineering partner on Urbanplanen transformation project.
- Pihl & Søn A/SsupportingContractor on Urbanplanen Etape 2 project.
- COBEcoreCollaborator with Third Nature on Sydlejren (Flyvestation Værløse) masterplan and housing design.
- RekommanderetsupportingPlanners, landscape architects & process coordinators on Sydlejren project.
- Freja EjendommecoreClient for Sydlejren transformation of former Flyvestation Værløse military base into urban neighborhood.
- TyrénssupportingLandscape architects for outdoor areas on Ulricehamns Kulturhus project.
- RambøllsupportingEconomics analysis partner on POP-UP kinetic infrastructure feasibility study.
- Professor Lone-Pia BachsupportingCultural Heritage Restoration expert on VERKET project team.
- Professor Carola Wingren (SLU)supportingLandscape Architecture expert on VERKET project team.
- Sven Olof AhlbergsupportingBuilding Conservation consultant on VERKET project team.
- Dr. Eva Dahlström RittsélsupportingIndustrial Heritage Studies expert on VERKET project team.
- Realkapital Investor AScoreCommissioned Third Nature to develop strategic plan for Grønlands Torg and Smalgangen in Oslo on behalf of Grønland Eiendomsenter AS.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Third Nature Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- OMA: Rotterdam-headquartered international architecture and urban planning firm with active work in masterplans, cultural buildings, and adaptive reuse. Broad incumbent peer competing at the international scale and project complexity where Third Nature increasingly seeks to compete.
- Foster + Partners: Global architecture and urbanism practice with deep sustainability and masterplanning credentials and an established international footprint. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same premium climate-responsive, masterplan-scale commissions Third Nature targets, but with much larger scale and broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Copenhagen-headquartered architecture and urban design firm with global footprint and signature sustainability/climate-forward projects (e.g., Copenhill). Comparable as a Danish design firm competing in the same premium international competition and masterplan market Third Nature addresses.
- Henning Larsen: Copenhagen-founded architecture firm (now part of Rambøll) known for sustainability-led civic, cultural, and masterplan projects worldwide. Directly comparable as a Danish design firm pursuing climate-responsive architecture at the same scale and client base as Third Nature.
- Snøhetta: Norwegian-headquartered architecture, landscape, and urban design firm working at building to regional scales with strong sustainability focus. Directly comparable for cross-scale, climate-resilient design commissions in the Nordic and international markets where Third Nature operates.
- Cobe: Copenhagen-based architecture firm working across urban transformation, residential, and cultural projects. Direct competitor for the same Danish and international commissions; notably partnered with Third Nature on The Tip (Spidsen Nordø), underscoring close overlap in capabilities and target clients.
- Arkitema: Danish architecture and urban planning firm working on masterplans, sustainability, and urban regeneration across the Nordics. Direct peer and existing collaborator on Lynetteholm, competing for similar municipal and developer briefs across Denmark and Sweden.
- MAD Arkitekter: Oslo-based architecture firm focused on sustainability and urban transformation, partnered with Third Nature on Nøstebukten Brygge since 2018. Direct Nordic peer competing for the same Norwegian and Scandinavian waterfront and circular-construction commissions.
- SLA (SLA Architects): Copenhagen-based landscape architecture and urban design firm specializing in nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, and biodiversity-led public space. Most direct peer to Third Nature on the landscape and urban planning side, competing for the same municipal climate-adaptation briefs.
Emerging players
- Studio Gang: US-based architecture and urban design practice known for ecology-driven, climate-responsive projects across building and landscape scales. Comparable as a smaller, mission-aligned design firm operating in the same sustainability and nature-based solution space, though focused on the North American market.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Third Nature Architects social profiles
Digital presenceThird Nature Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Third Nature Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Third Nature Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Third Nature Architects 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 Third Nature Architects
What does Third Nature Architects do?
Third Nature Architects provides integrated architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, and regional development services focused on climate adaptation, circular economy, and regenerative design. The firm works across four scales (Building, Landscape, Plan, and Region) and has developed proprietary climate adaptation products including the Climate Tile rainwater management paving system, the POP-UP kinetic infrastructure concept, and the Habitat 25 urban mushroom farm prototype.
Is Third Nature Architects a public or private company?
Third Nature Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Third Nature Architects founded?
Third Nature Architects was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Third Nature Architects based?
Third Nature Architects is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Europe region.
How does Third Nature Architects make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Design Services are the primary driver. The others are strategic Advisory Services.
Who are Third Nature Architects's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are OMA and Foster + Partners. Direct peers are BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), Henning Larsen, Snøhetta, Cobe, Arkitema, MAD Arkitekter and SLA (SLA Architects). Studio Gang is listed as an emerging player.
Does Third Nature Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Third Nature Architects.
What industry is Third Nature Architects in?
Third Nature Architects's product category is Architectural and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 541320.