CooperActiva Arquitectura

What CooperActiva Arquitectura does

CooperActiva Arquitectura is a privately held architecture firm founded in 1993 and headquartered at c/ Kastaños 32 bis bajo in Bilbao, Spain, with two studios in the city. The firm employs approximately six architects, including three founding/directing partners — Ramiro Higuera, Patxi Corcuera, and Miguel Gutiérrez — plus supporting architects (Vanesa Rodríguez, Izar Fernández) and a dedicated BIM manager (Ainhoa Carreras). Its practice centers on the design and construction direction of residential buildings, protected social housing (VPO), tertiary/office buildings, and rehabilitation projects, with documented specialization in energy-efficient and nZEB design supported by an Integrated Quality and Ecodesign Management System in place since 2009.

The firm's revenue model is project-based professional services fees derived from architectural commissions, won primarily through competitive public tenders and architectural competitions. Its go-to-market is sales-led and community-led: a strong track record of first-prize competition wins (30+ documented since 1993) with Basque Country public agencies — VISESA, Viviendas Municipales de Bilbao, NASUVINSA, Gobierno Vasco departments, and Servicio Cántabro de Salud — anchors the pipeline, complemented by selective private developer commissions such as those for NEINOR Homes. The firm operates principally in the Basque Country and northern Spain, with isolated project references in Madrid and Cuba, and markets through its website portfolio and publications in Spanish architecture journals rather than through digital or paid channels.

Name

CooperActiva Arquitectura

Legal name

CooperaCtiva Arquitectura

Website

https://cooperactiva.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CooperActiva Arquitectura is a Bilbao-based architecture firm founded in 1993, specializing in social housing, public facilities, sustainable rehabilitation, and nZEB design. It serves primarily Basque Country government agencies and select private developers through public tenders and architectural competitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Social housing design
• Building rehabilitation
• Public facility architecture
• Sustainable architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Services: Professional architecture services including design, project development, construction direction, and project management for residential programs, public facilities, and urban planning projects. Revenue generated through fees for architectural services on commissioned projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CooperActiva Arquitectura is an independent architectural firm offering design, project development, and construction direction services for residential buildings, social and protected housing (VPO), public facilities, office buildings, and rehabilitation projects. The firm operates from Bilbao with a team-based interdisciplinary approach and an integrated Quality and Ecodesign Management System, with projects sourced primarily through public tenders and competitions.

Product overview

CooperActiva Arquitectura is a single integrated architectural services firm rather than a technology platform. Their offering consists of architectural design, project execution, and construction management services. They specialize in social/public housing (VPO), residential buildings, tertiary/office buildings, and building rehabilitation projects across the Basque Country region. Their work spans new construction and urban interventions through a collaborative team-based methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design and Project Management Services Comprehensive architectural services including design, project development, and construction direction for residential buildings, social and protected housing (VPO), public facilities, and building rehabilitation, delivered to public agencies and private developers primarily across the Basque Country and northern Spain.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ first prize competition wins documented since 1993
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SPRIcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 1999SPRI (Sociedad para la Transformación Competitiva / Enterprise Development Agency of the Basque Country) - Public development agency for the Basque Country. CooperaCtiva won public competition for SPRI offices building in El Campillo, Gallarta (2000-2003).
• Parque Tecnológico de ZamudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology park development agency. CooperaCtiva won public competition for office building in Zamudio Technology Park.
• José Mª BasañezminorOthersCo-author on SPRI Office Building project.
• Etorlur Gipuzkoako LurracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand development agency of Gipuzkoa province. Promoted 38 dwellings in Bergara project.
• Athletic Club BilbaominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports club. CooperaCtiva developed renovation of Athletic Club facilities in Lezama.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ábalos & Herreros: Madrid-based architecture studio known for public, educational, and residential projects with a sustainability-driven approach. Comparable in offering architectural services for public-sector commissions.
• Batlleiroig Arquitectura: Catalan architecture and urban planning firm with strong emphasis on sustainability and public-space design. Comparable mid-sized practice competing on similar public-tender work and sustainability credentials.
• Ruiz-Larrea & Asociados: Spanish architecture firm with focus on residential and public-sector projects including rehabilitation. Comparable in offering architectural services for social housing and public works in Spain.
• Burgos & Garrido: Madrid-based architecture practice specializing in public facilities, urban regeneration, and residential projects. Comparable Spanish public-sector architectural services profile.
• RCR Arquitectes: Catalan architecture studio (Pritzker Prize winner) with a strong public/cultural portfolio and sustainability focus. Comparable in competing on high-prestige Spanish public architecture commissions.
• Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos: Madrid architecture firm with award-winning public cultural and institutional buildings (e.g., Madinat al-Zahra Museum). Comparable in competing for high-profile Spanish public architecture tenders.
• ACXT Arquitectos: Spanish architecture firm with comparable practice in public infrastructure, transport, and residential projects. Similar service offering and Spanish public-sector client base makes it the closest direct peer in scale and focus.

Broad incumbents

• Esteyco: Spanish engineering and architecture firm with public infrastructure and energy projects. Comparable in addressing Spanish public-sector tenders with an architectural/engineering integration model.
• IDOM: Large Spanish engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with a significant public-sector and infrastructure portfolio. Overlaps with CooperActiva on public architectural commissions but at much greater scale and scope.

Emerging players

• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with strong portfolio in social housing, public buildings, and education facilities internationally. Relevant comparator on social-housing and public-facility typologies that CooperActiva serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cooperactivarquitectura
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cooperactiva-arquitectura

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 CooperActiva Arquitectura