ZAGA arquitectura

What ZAGA arquitectura does

ZAGA arquitectura is a privately held architectural practice founded in 2010 in Barcelona by Nicolás Markuerkiaga and Emilio Fernández, operating as an integrated platform that delivers architecture, town planning, sustainability, research, and teaching services across Spain. The firm serves a diversified client base including municipal governments (Ajuntament de Lleida, Ajuntament de Sant Cugat, Patronat Municipal de l'Habitatge), cooperative housing developers (Sostre Cívic), real estate firms (FHAUS, ELIX), educational institutions (Deutsche Schule Barcelona), and retail clients (La Central Callao Bookstore), with a portfolio of more than 30 completed projects spanning social housing, residential renovation, public infrastructure, retail interiors, and town planning across Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid, and Andalusia.

The firm's core technical capability is a BIM (Building Information Modeling) environment adapted specifically to building restoration and heritage conservation, implemented as standard practice since 2014 when restoration specialist and LEED Green Associate Jordi Trias joined the practice. This domain-specialized methodology is combined with a multidisciplinary team of four architect-founders, an in-house lawyer, management staff, and a quantity surveyor, enabling the firm to deliver projects from feasibility studies and technical reports through construction supervision. The practice also engages in research into new construction methods and sustainable materials, and contributes to architectural education through lectures and publications.

ZAGA generates revenue exclusively through professional services fees on a project-by-project basis, quoted according to scope, area, and complexity with no publicly disclosed pricing or recurring revenue model. Distribution is entirely via direct client engagement — competitions, referrals, and direct inquiries — with notable recent co-development partnership with Ravetllat Arquitectura (2023-2024) signaling a move toward consortium-based project delivery. The firm holds no external investment, remains wholly founder-controlled, and has maintained a flat headcount of approximately 6-7 staff since inception, positioning it as a boutique design practice rather than a scaling enterprise.

Name

ZAGA arquitectura

Legal name

ZAGA arquitectura

Website

https://zaga.com.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZAGA arquitectura is a Barcelona-based architectural practice founded in 2010 that delivers project design, town planning, restoration, and sustainability services across Spain, serving municipal governments, cooperative housing developers, real estate firms, educational institutions, and retail clients through a BIM methodology specialized for building restoration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Building renovation
• Heritage conservation
• Town planning
• Cooperative housing design

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Project design, architectural works and budget surveillance, public space and town planning works, feasibility studies and technical reports. Revenue generated through one-time project fees for design and construction supervision services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ZAGA arquitectura is an architectural firm that delivers integrated design, restoration, and urban planning services. Core offerings cover project design, architectural works, budget surveillance, public space and town planning works, feasibility studies and technical reports, interior design, and project management. The firm specializes in building restoration and heritage conservation, social and cooperative housing, and sustainable construction, applying a BIM environment adapted to renovation projects.

Product overview

ZAGA arquitectura is an architecture firm established in 2010 that operates as a single, multifunctional platform offering integrated services across construction, town planning, architecture, and environment. The firm provides Architecture and Design services (project design, architectural works, budget surveillance), Town Planning services (urban planning works, feasibility studies, technical reports), Sustainability Services (green building practices), BIM Environment methodology (Building Information Modeling adapted for restoration projects), Research and Development (new construction methods, sustainable materials), and Teaching and Communication services (lectures, publications). The offering is structured as a unified service platform rather than discrete software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture and Design Services Full-service architectural design including project design, architectural works, and budget surveillance for residential, cooperative housing, public space, and educational projects across Spain. Awarded the FAD Best Public Space prize (Teatre Principal de Lleida, 2004) and the 2018 Sustainable Construction Second Prize for Collective Dwellings.
• Town Planning Services Urban planning and town planning services including feasibility studies and technical reports for public space, development, and renovation projects across Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia, and the Basque Country.
• Sustainability and Green Building Services Sustainable architecture services incorporating environmental considerations, green building practices, and LEED-credentialed expertise into project development and renovation work.
• Interior Design Services (Interiorismo) Interior design (Interiorismo) for residential, retail, and public-space projects, including interior fit-out and finishes design as part of integrated project delivery.
• Project Management Services (ZAGA management) Project management services delivered through the ZAGA management practice, supporting architecture and construction projects with budget surveillance and supervision functions across the firm's commissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• FAD Best public space in Spain 2004 for Lleida Pedestrian Bridge
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OSG Serveis GrupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Construction company for Granollers cooperative dwellings project.
• Ravetllat ArquitecturacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborative partnership on cooperative dwelling projects. Zaga Arquitectura works with Ravetllat Arquitectura on Granollers cooperative dwellings project (3250m2, 2023-2025).
• Natur SystemminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Contractor for Deutsche Schule Barcelona renovation project (7150m2, completed 2018).
• ArlexminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Joinery partner for Deutsche Schule Barcelona renovation project.
• Sostre CíviccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Ongoing partnership with cooperative housing organization Sostre Cívic as developer for multiple social housing projects including La Floresta (885m2, completed 2022) and Granollers (3250m2, 2024-2025).
• La Constructiva - Borja FernandezminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017Construction company partner for cooperative housing project at La Floresta, Sant Cugat.
• ESTEYCO (Javier Rui-Wamba)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Engineering partnership on Lleida Pedestrian Bridge project (1300m2, 3.1M euro budget). ESTEYCO provided engineering expertise for award-winning public infrastructure project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Carme Pinós: Barcelona-based architect with notable public-space and social-housing commissions. Comparable in focus areas but operates as a singular principal practice rather than a multi-architect platform; serves as a relevant comparable for ZAGA's positioning.

Direct peers

• Ravetllat Arquitectura: Barcelona-based architecture practice and ZAGA's actual co-development partner on the Granollers cooperative housing project (2023-2025). Comparable scale and specialization in social/cooperative housing, making them a direct peer and frequent collaborator rather than just a competitor.
• H Arquitectes: Catalan architecture firm of similar boutique scale focused on social housing, public facilities, and contextual contemporary design. Highly comparable in project typology (social housing, public buildings) and geographic market (Catalonia/Spain).
• ARQUITECTURA-G: Barcelona-based practice working on residential, social housing, and renovation projects at a comparable scale. Direct peer in the Spanish small-practice segment tackling housing typology and adaptive reuse.

Broad incumbents

• RCR Arquitectes: Catalan firm (Pritzker Prize 2017) with overlapping capabilities in public space and heritage-sensitive architecture. Operates at a larger scale and brand tier, but competes for similar public-sector commissions and embodies the trajectory ZAGA could pursue with sustained recognition.
• EMBT Architects (Enric Miralles Benedetta Tagliabue): Major Barcelona-based practice with a strong portfolio in public space and adaptive reuse. Competes for the same municipal and institutional clients as ZAGA, though at significantly larger scale and project budgets.

Others

• Esteyco: Spanish engineering firm that partnered with ZAGA's predecessor principals on the award-winning Lleida Pedestrian Bridge (2003). Not a direct competitor but a comparable Spanish specialty firm that collaborates on infrastructure-grade projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zaga-arquitectura
• Instagraminstagram.com/zagaarquitectura

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 ZAGA arquitectura