Humantektur

What Humantektur does

Humantektur is a Berlin-based, founder-owned architecture and development organization that delivers sustainable, climate-adaptive building planning and consulting to NGOs, humanitarian organizations, and German institutional clients. The firm operates as a dual-entity structure: humantektur gGmbH, a registered non-profit incorporated in 2021 that handles all charitable construction projects in disaster relief and development cooperation; and humantektur – Grausam & Buttler Architekten PartGmbB, a commercial architecture partnership for German projects and energy efficiency consulting. Co-founders Michael Grausam and Maike Buttler lead both entities, supported by a core team of three to four staff plus freelance specialists.

The firm's core technical offering combines bioclimatic design, energy-efficient building systems (KfW / BEG / GEG standards, DIN 18599 and DIN 4108-6 calculations), and locally appropriate construction methods for development and humanitarian contexts. It runs the NaBEK-Netzwerk (since 2016) with Architekten über Grenzen, publishes reference handbooks (NaBEK Handbook, Minimum Standards Handbook, Gender-Inclusive Construction Handbook), and delivers participatory planning, capacity-building workshops, and tournament-style modernization programs — notably 40+ health stations in Chad since 2019.

Revenue is generated through three channels: donations and public grants for the gGmbH's charitable projects (Brot für die Welt, Engagement Global, Caritas International, GIZ, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, CARE as major funders), fee-based architecture and energy consulting from the PartGmbB, and individual/corporate giving through the website. Geographic reach spans Germany and ten Global South countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with documented projects in Chad, Mozambique, Tanzania, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, India, Morocco, Cameroon, and DR Congo.

Name

Humantektur

Legal name

humantektur

Website

https://humantektur.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Humantektur is a Berlin-based dual-entity non-profit architecture firm providing sustainable, climate-resilient building planning and energy efficiency consulting to German NGOs, humanitarian organizations, and Global South project partners across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Architecture and Humanitarian Construction Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Engineering Services (541330), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADABAO

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

SECONDARYBPAHAKAO

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

SECONDARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

Keywords

• Sustainable architecture consulting
• Energy efficiency consulting
• Humanitarian construction services
• Development cooperation building
• Disaster relief construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Public Funding: As a non-profit (gGmbH), humantektur raises donations and public funding for charitable building projects in development cooperation and disaster relief. Major donors include Brot für die Welt, Engagement Global, and Caritas International.
2. Architecture and Consulting Services (Germany): humantektur – Grausam & Buttler Architekten PartGmbB provides architecture services and energy efficiency consulting in Germany, generating fee-based revenue for planning, design, and advisory services.
3. Individual and Corporate Donations: Individual donors contribute via one-time or recurring donations. Corporate giving programs for companies. Christmas donation campaigns and special project fundraising.
4. Publications and Educational Materials: Sales of printed publications (e.g., WIA Booklet at 10 EUR self-cost price) and free downloadable handbooks on sustainable building standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Humantektur operates two entities: a registered non-profit (humantektur gGmbH) that manages charitable construction projects in disaster relief and development cooperation, and a commercial architecture practice (humantektur – Grausam & Buttler Architekten PartGmbB) that delivers architecture and energy efficiency consulting in Germany. Services span needs assessment, participative planning, sustainable building design, energy efficiency consulting (KfW/BAFA/GEG/BEG standards), construction oversight, and capacity building for partner organizations in the Global South.

Product overview

Humantektur operates as a dual-entity architecture and development organization consisting of humantektur gGmbH (non-profit) and humantektur – Grausam & Buttler Architekten PartGmbB (commercial architecture practice). The organization provides comprehensive architecture and construction consulting services including sustainable building planning, disaster relief support, energy efficiency consulting (GEG/KfW standards), and professional training programs. Key service offerings include the NaBEK-Netzwerk knowledge network, Bausprechstunde consulting service, and workshops on sustainable construction. Humantektur also produces authoritative publications including the NaBEK Handbuch, Handbook (Minimum)Standards for the Global South, and gender-inclusive construction guidelines. Projects span residential buildings, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and infrastructure across Germany and the Global South.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bausprechstunde (Project Consultation Hour) Consulting service for construction projects in the Global South, available in German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English. Free initial consultations are provided to project partners and NGO staff, with a surcharge applying for extended advisory services.
• Energieeffizienz-Beratung (Energy Efficiency Consulting) Energy efficiency consulting services for buildings including GEG and KfW standard calculations, energy certificates, and BEG program eligible consulting for residential and commercial projects. Delivered by registered energy efficiency experts for KfW and BAFA programs.
• Workshops & Schulungen (Workshops and Training) Training and seminar services on sustainable, energy-efficient, and resilient construction, building standards for the Global South, and climate-adaptive building techniques, delivered to partners and professionals.
• NaBEK Handbuch (NaBEK Handbook) Handbook on sustainable building in development cooperation and disaster relief, published in 2017 as the result of the NaBEK knowledge cooperation. Available as a free downloadable publication.
• Handbook (Minimum)Standards for Construction Projects in the Global South Working aid for implementing sustainable construction projects in development cooperation and disaster relief, incorporating over 15 years of humantektur experience. Available as a free downloadable publication.
• Handbuch (Mindest-)Standards für gendergerechtes Bauen (Gender-Inclusive Construction Handbook) Handbook for implementing inclusive, gender-appropriate construction projects in development cooperation and disaster relief, published March 2026. Available as a free downloadable publication.
• DKH Hochwasser-Studie (Flood Reconstruction Study) Study on reconstruction strategies after flooding, published in 2022 for Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung. Available as a downloadable publication.
• WIA Festival Booklet (Women Architects in the Global South) Printed booklet accompanying the Women in Architecture Festival 2025 exhibition, profiling female architects from the Global South. Sold at self-cost price of 10 EUR.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 health stations modernized in Chad through competitive-based approach
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Brot für die WeltcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Major funding partner providing financial support for charitable construction projects in development cooperation. Listed as one of three organizations contributing more than 10% of annual revenue.
• Engagement GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Key partner for development cooperation projects, providing funding and programmatic support. Supported WIA Festival 2025 exhibition.
• Caritas InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Long-standing partnership since 2020 for humanitarian aid projects. Partner in Mozambique reconstruction after Cyclone Idai. Listed as one of three organizations contributing more than 10% of annual revenue.
• Architekten über GrenzencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded NaBEK-Netzwerk (since 2016) for networking German NGOs on sustainable building. Collaborative partner for knowledge development and standards.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple project collaborations in Morocco (PEREN program), Oman, and other countries for sustainable building and energy efficiency.
• Diakonie KatastrophenhilfemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for disaster relief and climate resilience projects in Bangladesh (CCDB) and Germany (flood study).
• CAREmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent partnership for BEmONC project in Sierra Leone (since 2024) and past projects in Sierra Leone.
• Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for pediatric ophthalmology clinic at Bugando Medical Centre in Tanzania (2020-2022).
• CCDB (Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner for Climate Centre project in Bangladesh. Responsible for planning and construction implementation.
• TUSONGE Community Development OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 with women's rights NGO in Moshi, Tanzania. Joint projects for inclusive facilities and climate-resilient sanitation.
• Deutsches Institut für Ärztliche Mission e.V. (difaem)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on humantektur website.
• AEST (Association Evangélique pour la Santé au Tchad)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2019 for competitive-based modernization of 40 health stations in Chad. Long-term collaboration with annual projects.
• RENAC (Renewables Academy)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration for training programs on energy-efficient building in Oman and Azerbaijan.
• PIASS (Protestant Institute of Arts and Social Sciences)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in Rwanda for faculty building project. Brot für die Welt as funding organization.
• Mädchenschule Khadigram e.V.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing partnership (since 2009) for girls' school project in Sabukpur, India. humantektur founder Michael Grausam is member.
• Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for Denis Mukwege Excellence Centre in Bukavu, DR Congo (2020-2024).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kéré Architecture: Practice of Diébédo Francis Kéré focused on sustainable, climate-responsive architecture in West Africa and beyond. Highly comparable in mission (sustainable construction in development contexts) and signature project types (schools, health facilities, civic buildings), though operating as a commercial practice.
• Article 25: UK-registered charity providing architectural and design services for humanitarian and development projects globally. Directly comparable to humantektur's gGmbH in mission, sector, and non-profit consulting model, though operating from the UK.
• Shigeru Ban Architects: Internationally recognized practice designing humanitarian and disaster-relief structures including post-earthquake and refugee shelters. Closely comparable to humantektur's disaster-resilient and post-crisis reconstruction focus.
• Architekten über Grenzen: German non-profit architecture organization providing sustainable building support in development cooperation. Co-operator of the NaBEK-Netzwerk with humantektur since 2016; most direct comparable peer given shared mission, model, and explicit partnership.
• Architecture Sans Frontières: International network of architects providing pro-bono and subsidized architectural services for development and humanitarian projects. Directly comparable mission and operational model to humantektur, particularly the development cooperation focus.
• Engineers Without Borders Germany (ingenieure ohne grenzen): German non-profit providing engineering services for development cooperation. Directly comparable in mission (technical assistance for development), German base, and non-profit consulting model — though focused on engineering rather than architecture.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Large global non-profit building housing in development and disaster contexts. Much larger and broader in scope than humantektur, but addresses the same underlying need for sustainable, affordable construction in the Global South.

Emerging players

• Atelier Dreiseitl: Design practice focused on sustainable urban planning, water-sensitive design, and climate-resilient landscapes. Comparable to humantektur's sustainability and climate-adaptive design orientation, though with a different end-product focus (urban landscape vs. buildings in development contexts).

Others

• Deutsche Welthungerhilfe: Major German development NGO implementing reconstruction, WASH, and food security projects in fragile contexts. Often a potential client/co-funder for humantektur's sustainable building projects rather than a direct competitor; relevant for understanding the donor ecosystem.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal enterprise for international development cooperation. Listed as a strategic major partner of humantektur (with multiple joint projects in Morocco, Oman, etc.); not a direct competitor but a key commissioning institution in the same market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humantektur

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 Humantektur