What Superpool does

Superpool is a privately-held international architecture practice founded in 2006 by Selva Gürdoğan and Gregers Tang Thomsen, both former OMA (Rem Koolhaas) architects, and headquartered in Istanbul with a secondary office in Copenhagen. The firm delivers a portfolio of interconnected design and research services including architecture, urban design, interior design, exhibition design, and urban research consulting, serving municipal governments (Maltepe, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), cultural institutions (MoMA, SALT, IKSV), foundations (Bernard van Leer Foundation), academia (Columbia GSAPP), and commercial clients (NIKE, Audi, DOORS NYC).

The practice's core technology is a research-driven design methodology that combines urban mapping and data visualization with computational fabrication capabilities, demonstrated through the EU FP7-funded TailorCrete project (a 14-partner consortium developing robotics-integrated concrete construction) and the Istanbul95 child-friendly urban design initiative. It has produced publications including Mapping Istanbul, developed interim-implementation urban design methodologies with measurable outcomes (e.g., a 72% post-implementation increase in time spent at Zümrutevler Square), and operates as director of Columbia University's Studio-X Istanbul urban laboratory.

Superpool monetizes primarily through project-based commissions (multi-year contracts, custom pricing), supplemented by EU research grants (TailorCrete FP7) and publication/educational material sales. Go-to-market relies on a hybrid of international architectural competition wins, invited commissions, EU research consortia, and long-term municipal/institutional partnerships, with brand-building executed through exhibitions at MoMA, Guggenheim, and major biennales, plus publications in Domus, A+U, Wallpaper, and Wired.

Name

Superpool

Legal name

Superpool

Website

https://superpool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Superpool is a privately-held international architecture practice, founded in 2006 by OMA-trained partners Selva Gürdoğan and Gregers Tang Thomsen, delivering architecture, urban design, interior design, exhibition design, and urban research services to municipalities, cultural institutions, foundations, and select commercial clients in Istanbul and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Istanbul

Offices2 records

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 Commissions: Superpool generates primary revenue through commissioned architecture, interior design, urban design, and exhibition design projects for public and private clients. Projects range from residential to large-scale urban interventions.
2. Research Grants and EU Funding: Participation in EU Framework Programmes (FP7) and other research funding initiatives. The 4-year TailorCrete project under EU FP7 with 14 partners represents significant research funding.
3. Publication Sales and Educational Materials: Superpool publishes books and guides including Mapping Istanbul, Istanbul95 Playground Ideas Guide, and other educational materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Superpool is an international architecture practice providing commissioned architecture, urban design, interior design, exhibition design, and urban research services for public and private clients. The Istanbul-based firm delivers projects ranging from neighborhood squares and bike paths to cultural institution interiors, museum exhibitions, residential developments, and EU-funded research collaborations, supplemented by publications such as Mapping Istanbul.

Product overview

Superpool is an international architecture practice offering a portfolio of interconnected design and research services rather than a unified software product. Their core offerings span urban design (squares, bike paths, pedestrian spaces), architecture (residential, cultural, institutional buildings), interior design (offices, cafes, cultural spaces), exhibition design (museums, biennales), and urban research consulting. Notable projects include the EU FP7-funded TailorCrete robotics research, the Istanbul95 early childhood urban design initiative with Bernard van Leer Foundation, Studio-X Istanbul urban laboratory for Columbia University, and publications like Mapping Istanbul. The practice operates from offices in Istanbul, Turkey and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Design Services Public space design, pedestrian priority street implementations, neighborhood square design, and bike path infrastructure for municipalities. Projects include Zümrütevler Square, Yalı Square and Bike Path, and Zemin Istanbul living lab.
• Architecture Services Architectural design for residential, cultural, and institutional buildings. Projects include Konya Residence and the Suryapi housing collaboration with BIG.
• Interior Design Interior design for offices, cafes, and cultural spaces. Projects include TEMA Foundation headquarters (900 m2), SALT Beyoğlu Cafe (225 m2), Studio-X Istanbul (600 m2), and IKSV Alt Kat (150 m2).
• Exhibition Design Exhibition and exhibition space design for museums, biennales, and cultural institutions. Projects include Istanbul Design Biennale, UAE Pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011), Becoming Istanbul at SALT, and MoMA's Uneven Growth exhibition.
• Research and Consulting Urban research and consulting on mobility, urban planning, and city strategy. The TailorCrete project was a 4-year EU FP7 funded research initiative on integrating robotics into concrete construction, in which Superpool designed the Full Scale Demonstrator.
• Mapping and Publications Publications including Mapping Istanbul, a comprehensive collection of maps on Istanbul, and X-Reads, a book collection sourced during the Studio-X Istanbul project.
• Istanbul95 Program Initiative focused on urban design for early childhood (0-3 years), in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation since 2017. Includes the 'Ideas Guide for Playgrounds for 0-3 year olds' and pilot neighborhood playgrounds.
• Studio-X Istanbul An urban laboratory operated by Columbia University's GSAPP and directed by Superpool from 2013 to 2019, occupying a 600 m2 split-level space for exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% post-implementation increase in people spending time at Zümrütevler Square; children (0-4 age) increased 3.5x, children (5-12) doubled, older adults increased 10x
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Bernard van Leer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Istanbul95 program partnership - ongoing collaboration since 2017 with Bernard van Leer Foundation's Urban95 initiative. Superpool serves as partner in research and design work focused on urban environments for children ages 0-3. Partnership includes publication of Playground Ideas Guide, Urban Playspaces Conference, and pilot neighborhood playground implementations.
• Maltepe MunicipalitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing urban design partnership with Maltepe Municipality including Yalı Square and Bike Path project (2,000 m2) and Zümrütevler Square implementation (2,000 m2). Projects focus on pedestrian safety and child-friendly urban design.
• Global Designing Cities Initiative (NACTO GDCI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical consultancy partnership for urban design interventions. GDCI provides expertise on pedestrian priority street implementations and global best practices for street design.
• Columbia University GSAPPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio-X Istanbul partnership - Superpool designed and has directed the urban laboratory since 2013. Studio-X is one of six urban laboratories established by Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Partnership enables global knowledge exchange on urban issues.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Suryapi housing project (120,000 m2) in Umraniye, Istanbul. Superpool invited to contribute design thinking for the large-scale housing development project.
• SALTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cultural institution partnership including Becoming Istanbul exhibition design (1,000 m2), SALT Beyoğlu Cafe (225 m2), and SALT Offices design (300 m2).
• IKSVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition design partnership for Istanbul Design Biennale (2012, 2014) and IKSV Alt Kat learning space (150 m2).
• MoMAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUneven Growth exhibition contribution - selected as one of twelve international offices to develop proposals for MoMA's exhibition on tactical urbanisms for expanding megacities.
• Depo IstanbulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition design for Open City Istanbul at DEPO cultural center, curated by Philipp Misselwitz and Can Altay.
• UAE Venice Biennale PavilionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the UAE National Pavilion at 54th Venice Biennale (2011), curated by SALT's Vasif Kortun.
• Audi AG / StyleparkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudi Urban Future Award 2012 participation - PARK vision for Istanbul 2030 transportation system. Partnership with Stylepark for publication.
• NIKEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOPE Alkazar community space design (1,600 m2) - NIKE-initiated conversation with Istanbul for community facility including event space, sport studio, maker space, and rooftop court.
• Project Projects (New York)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepeated collaboration with New York-based graphic design firm for exhibition design projects including Istanbul Design Biennale (2012, 2014) and Mapping Istanbul publication.
• Danish Technology InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject leader for TailorCrete EU FP7 research consortium. Led by Danish Technology Institute with 14 partners including Bekaert, Chalmers, ETH Zürich, MT Højgaard.
• Kadir Has UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIstanbul95 program partner. City and Children Studies interdisciplinary master's program at Kadir Has University developed in partnership with Superpool and Bernard van Leer Foundation.
• Architectural Association (London)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching partnership - Diploma Unit 20 collaboration with Jonathan Robinson of Civic on 'Architecture of Generosity' for 2019-20 academic year.
• BLOXHUB (Copenhagen)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in Copenhagen's hub for sustainable urban development, joining community of architects and urban planners.
• Studio-X Istanbul NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Columbia University's global Studio-X network with nodes in New York, Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai, Beijing, and Johannesburg enabling global urban dialogue.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hashim Sarkis Studios / Hashim Sarkis: Research-oriented academic-practice model led by the former Dean of MIT School of Architecture. Operates at a similar intellectual/pedagogical register as Superpool's Studio-X and Kadir Has University partnerships, with comparable overlap in civic urbanism.

Direct peers

• Atelier d'Architecture Autogérée (aaa): Paris-based architecture/research collective that co-authored KITO with Superpool for MoMA's Uneven Growth exhibition. Operates in the same research-cum-implementation urbanism niche with comparable scale and exhibition-driven visibility.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture practice with extensive library, cultural-institution, and urban design portfolio. Comparable to Superpool in combining cultural-institution commissions (libraries/museums) with urban research and international competition participation.
• MVRDV: Dutch architecture practice known for data-driven, research-led urban design with strong publishing and exhibition presence. Highly comparable to Superpool in method (research-to-implementation), scale of practice, and emphasis on publicly engaging design narratives.
• COBE: Copenhagen-based architecture practice with a research-led urban design methodology and comparable scale to Superpool. Strong fit given Superpool's Danish office and similar positioning around public-space and civic architecture in Northern Europe.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Superpool has an active collaboration with BIG on the Suryapi housing project (120,000 m² in Istanbul). Both firms share a research-driven, communication-savvy approach to architecture and urban design, with strong global exhibition profiles and a partnership-style project model.
• UNStudio: International architecture network with a research-heavy practice and parametric/technology orientation. Operates at a similar conceptual level to Superpool's TailorCrete and robotic-construction work, with comparable global cultural-institution exposure.
• OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture): Rem Koolhaas's global architecture and urban design firm where both Superpool founders previously worked. OMA operates the same research-driven urban practice model with international competition wins, museum exhibitions, and large-scale masterplans, making it the closest professional reference point.
• Studio Gang (Jeanne Gang / Studio Gang Architects): US-based research-driven architecture and urban design practice with strong museum exhibition profile and civic-project portfolio. Shares Superpool's model of combining ecological/urban research with built commissions and thought leadership through publications.
• Snøhetta: Nordic architecture and landscape practice with deep Scandinavian institutional ties and an interdisciplinary research methodology. Superpool's Copenhagen office and BLOXHUB membership align it operationally with the Snøhetta model of multi-city, research-led practice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/superpoolorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/superpool-ltd.

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 Superpool