Bob Gysin + Partner

What Bob Gysin + Partner does

Bob Gysin + Partner AG (BGP Architekten) is a privately held Swiss architecture firm founded in 1976 in Zurich, operating with a team of approximately 45 employees under a six-person Geschäftsführung (managing board). The firm delivers architectural design and general planning services across residential, educational, healthcare, office and research-building typologies, with a stated focus on integral sustainability — social, ecological, energetic and economic — and a track record of Minergie, Minergie-ECO and zero-energy building delivery. Its flagship technical concepts include the zero-energy building approach realised at the Eawag Forum Chriesbach (Dübendorf, 2005-2009, with Empa) and a process-oriented design methodology that treats floor slabs as thermally activated mass and integrates sustainability into the planning stage rather than as a post-completion evaluation. The firm works primarily on a project-fee basis via direct commissions, invited competitions and open tenders for institutional clients including Belimo, Eawag, Empa, ETH Zürich, AXA Winterthur, BVK Personalvorsorge, Schulgemeinde Küsnacht and multiple care-home foundations.

The firm's core technology stack is a BIM platform built on ArchiCAD, supporting full planning and construction-phase coverage including test planungen, competitions and execution. Notable proprietary design features include prefabricated modular façade construction (Belimo production building, Hinwil), thermally activated floor slabs, and bush-hammered Minergie-standard urban infill construction (Hottingerplatz). Beyond design services, BGP monetises intellectual capital through a substantial self-published catalogue (25+ titles since 1996, including the DETAIL Green Book 'Sustainable Construction Techniques' co-authored by partner Sebastian El Khouli) and through art-in-architecture consulting delivered in partnership with the affiliated Stiftung Bob + Kathrin Gysin and Galerie Privée.

Revenue mechanics are professional services fees scoped per project, supplemented by retail monograph sales (luxuryLiving CHF 78, Holistic Housing CHF 77, Eawag Forum Chriesbach CHF 35, etc.) and consulting fees from the art-and-architecture practice. The firm is privately held, has no disclosed external funding, and publishes no financials; construction-cost benchmarks from cited projects (Belimo CHF 60M, Fehlmann CHF 25M, Freiestrasse CHF 5M) indicate an institutional, project-lumpy revenue profile. Brand and pipeline strength is evidenced by 30+ documented awards (1997-2025) including the German Sustainability Award (2014), Watt d'Or (2007), BDA Hamburg Architecture Award (2014) and recurring best architects recognition through 2025.

Name

Bob Gysin + Partner

Legal name

Bob Gysin + Partner AG

Website

https://bgp.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bob Gysin + Partner AG is a Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm (~45 employees, founded 1976) delivering sustainable building design — including zero-energy and Minergie-standard projects — for institutional, research, educational and residential clients across Switzerland and Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Industrial/Product & Furniture Design (BPAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable architecture consulting
• General planning services
• Building renovation design
• Zero energy building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design & General Planning Fees: Core revenue from full architectural and general planning services for new builds, renovations, masterplans and competitions. Project budgets disclosed include Belimo production building CHF 60 million (2000-2002) and Fehlmann residential development Winterthur CHF 25 million (1999-2008). Engaged on direct commissions, invited studies and competitive tenders (e.g., Eawag Forum Chriesbach — project competition after prequalification, 1st prize 2004; Freiestrasse — competitive design study by invitation, 1st prize 2009).
2. Book & Monograph Sales: Sale of self-published architectural monographs and edited volumes, including 'Holistic Housing' (CHF 77), 'luxuryLiving' (CHF 78), 'Sustainable Construction Techniques' (DETAIL Green Book), and project-specific monographs such as Eawag Forum Chriesbach (CHF 35), Belimo Production Building (CHF 25), Holcim Foundation publication (CHF 10). Distributed via in-house email order ([email protected]) and DETAIL bookshop.
3. Art-in-Public-Space & Kunst-und-Bau Consulting: Consulting and project support for art-in-public-space and art-and-architecture projects, delivered with an in-house art historian. Marketed under the affiliated Stiftung Bob und Kathrin Gysin and Galerie Gysin (gbg-galerie.ch).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bob Gysin + Partner AG (BGP Architekten) is a Zürich-headquartered Swiss architecture firm delivering full architectural design and general planning services for new builds, renovations, masterplans, and competitions across residential, educational, office, healthcare, and cultural projects. Core specialisations include zero-energy building design, Minergie / Minergie-ECO standard construction, and integrated sustainability methodology, supplemented by an art-in-architecture consulting service (Kunst und Bau) delivered with an in-house art historian and a catalogue of self-published architectural monographs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BGP Architekten — Architectural Design & General Planning

Named customers11 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core — embedded within firm brand, core — flagship commission partner, flagship — defining sustainability project, core consulting partner, specialist partner, project-level partner, distribution partner for publications, operational vendor, vendor and recognition partner.

• Stiftung Bob + Kathrin Gysin (Gysin Foundation)core — embedded within firm brandStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bob and Kathrin Gysin Foundation (stiftung-gysin.ch / gbg-galerie.ch) is hosted at the same street address as BGP headquarters (Ausstellungsstrasse 24, 8005 Zürich). It enables the firm's art-in-public-space consulting offering ('Art and Architecture' service line) with an in-house art historian and runs the Galerie Privée programme (e.g., Galerie Privée 2026 – Lumière du Sud, Christian Scholz @ Galerie Privée Lacoste (FR) in 2026). Strategic to BGP's differentiated offering of art-integrated architecture.
• Belimo Automation AGcore — flagship commission partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term direct commission client and strategic partner for the Belimo production and office building in Hinwil (2000-2002), a CHF 60 Mio industrial landmark. BGP also published a dedicated monograph on the project. Other collaborators on this project included Basler & Hofmann (structural engineering), 3-Plan (energy/building services), Büchler + Partner (electrical engineering), Stäger + Nägeli (facade planning).
• Eawag & Empa (Swiss Federal Institutes)flagship — defining sustainability projectStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject competition after prequalification, 1st prize 2004. Joint client for the Forum Chriesbach research and administration building in Dübendorf (2005-2009) — a 'zero-energy building' without conventional heating/cooling. Engineering partners included 3-Plan, Büchler + Partner, Hansruedi Preisig (sustainability), Henauer Gugler (structural), Kopitsis Bauphysik, Vetsch Nipkow Partner + ASP Landschaftsarchitekten (landscape), Implenia (general contractor). Resulting building won 11+ listed awards.
• Basler & Hofmanncore consulting partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner on the Belimo production and office building in Hinwil.
• 3-Plan (Winterthur)core consulting partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilding services / HVAC engineering partner across multiple BGP projects including Eawag Forum Chriesbach (Dübendorf), Belimo production building (Hinwil), and Apartment Building Freiestrasse (Zürich).
• Büchler + Partner (Zürich)core consulting partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical engineering partner on Eawag Forum Chriesbach and Belimo production building.
• Vetsch Nipkow Partner (Zürich)core consulting partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner in competition and design phases of Eawag Forum Chriesbach (Dübendorf) and Fehlmann residential development (Winterthur).
• Hansruedi Preisig (Zürich)specialist partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEcology / sustainability consultant for Eawag Forum Chriesbach, Dübendorf.
• WaltGalmarini (Zürich)project-level partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering partner for the Residential building with studios, Zürich (Haus Englischviertelstrasse), 2007-2010.
• DETAIL (Edition DETAIL / DETAIL Green Books)distribution partner for publicationsGTM or Marketing PartnerPublishing partner for BGP's reference books — DETAIL edition 'Holistic Housing / Nachhaltige Wohnkonzepte' (CHF 77) and DETAIL Green Book 'Sustainable Construction Techniques / Nachhaltig konstruieren' (ISBN 9783955532383, 2014, co-authored by Sebastian El Khouli). Distribution via DETAIL bookshop (shop.detail.de).
• MailChimp (The Rocket Science Group, LLC)operational vendorTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter distribution and tracking-pixel service provider for the BGP newsletter signup form on the Contact page; uses EU-US Privacy Shield certification and GDPR Art. 6(1)(a) consent.
• .HENKELHIEDLvendorTechnology or IntegrationDesign and programming partner for the BGP website.
• Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE / BFE)recognition partnerOthersGranting body for the Watt d'Or Award (2007) — Swiss federal energy award recognising outstanding energy efficiency achievements. Also referenced as the organiser of the Velux Daylight Award Switzerland (2010).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Herzog & de Meuron: Basel-based internationally renowned architecture practice with comparable focus on cultural, educational, and sustainable buildings (e.g., Tate Modern, Elbphilharmonie, 1111 Lincoln Road). Comparable to BGP as a Swiss-headquartered, award-winning practice with strong institutional/public-sector client base and sustainability orientation.
• Christian Kerez: Zurich-based Swiss architect with comparable focus on innovative structural and sustainable design for residential and educational buildings. Comparable to BGP in size, Zurich base, and academic/sustainability orientation (ETH ties).
• EM2N Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm working on public buildings, schools, and urban housing with strong sustainability orientation. Comparable to BGP in size, Zurich geography, and public-sector competition-led business model.
• Max Dudler Architekten: Swiss-German architecture practice with comparable profile in cultural, educational, and public-sector buildings across DACH. Comparable to BGP on competition wins, sustainability credentials, and typological/material focus.
• Gigon / Guyer Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm with comparable portfolio in cultural, residential, and educational buildings (Kirchner Museum Davos, Museum Liner Appenzell). Closely comparable to BGP on Zurich geography, sustainable design philosophy, and competition-winning approach for institutional clients.
• Frei + Saarinen Architekten: Zurich-based Swiss architecture firm comparable to BGP on practice size, residential and educational building focus, and Swiss institutional client base (ETH, cantons).
• Diener & Diener Architekten: Basel-based Swiss architecture practice known for residential, educational, and cultural buildings with strong typological and sustainability thinking. Directly comparable to BGP in Swiss geography, scale (~50-80 employees), client mix (institutions, public sector), and competition-driven GTM.

Broad incumbents

• HPP Architekten: Larger German architecture firm with comparable focus on cultural, educational, and office buildings and an explicit sustainability practice. Comparable to BGP on DACH geography and institutional clients, but with materially larger headcount and broader service offering.
• David Chipperfield Architects: London/Berlin-based internationally established architecture practice with comparable cultural and public-sector portfolio (Neues Museum Berlin, James-Simon-Galerie). Comparable to BGP on sustainability orientation and institutional competition wins, but significantly larger and broader in geographic reach.
• Burckhardt+Partner: Larger Swiss architecture and general-planning firm with broader portfolio across commercial, healthcare, education, and residential. Comparable to BGP on Swiss institutional clients and sustainability practice, but significantly larger headcount and broader service offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bob-gysin-partner-bgp
• Instagraminstagram.com/bgp_architekten

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 Bob Gysin + Partner