diefabrik
DIEfabrik GmbH is a German architecture firm founded in 2020 in Oldenburg that delivers HOAI-compliant architectural planning across residential, commercial, industrial, government, and cultural segments, distinguished by proprietary generative design software (SPB), an eCO2 sustainability tool, BIM workflows, and in-house digital fabrication capabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersOldenburg, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What diefabrik does
DIEfabrik GmbH is a privately held architecture firm founded in 2020 and headquartered in Oldenburg, Germany. The firm delivers architectural planning services across the full German HOAI Leistungsphasen (service phases 1-9), covering new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse, interior design, urban planning concepts, and competition entries for residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, government, hospitality, educational, and cultural clients across Germany. Revenue is generated through professional services fees on individual project commissions under HOAI fee structures, supplemented by competition-based client acquisition.
The firm's core technical differentiator is its integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflows with proprietary software tools and digital fabrication. SPB (Systemisches Planen & Bauen) is an internally developed parametric system using evolutionary algorithms to generate optimized residential building layouts and BIM-ready models from target parameters. eCO2 is a sustainability decision-support tool jointly developed with Störmer Murphy and Partners and Jim Bögershausen, enabling comparison of construction costs and CO2 footprints of alternative methods in early design phases. The firm also operates digital fabrication capabilities (CNC, 3D printing, robotics) and VR/AR visualization, and participates in the "einfach BIM" open BIM cooperation network alongside HZDR, WPW Leipzig, and HTWK Leipzig.
The firm is led by managing directors Nils Klatte and Jakob Melchert, both M.A. Architekten and co-founding members of the predecessor entity architekturfabrik (2015). Operations follow a network-based collaborative model combining architects, designers, technicians, and computer scientists, with project teams assembled per engagement. Geographic footprint spans Oldenburg, Berlin, Bremen, Hannover, Emden, Detmold, Schönefeld, and Bernau bei Berlin, with no disclosed international operations. No external funding rounds have been disclosed; the firm operates as an independent GmbH under German law.
diefabrik firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- diefabrik
- Legal name
- DIEfabrik GmbH
- Website
- https://diefab.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- DIEfabrik GmbH is a German architecture firm founded in 2020 in Oldenburg that delivers HOAI-compliant architectural planning across residential, commercial, industrial, government, and cultural segments, distinguished by proprietary generative design software (SPB), an eCO2 sustainability tool, BIM workflows, and in-house digital fabrication capabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
diefabrik industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Drafting Services (541340), Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where diefabrik is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oldenburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
diefabrik business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architecture Design Services: Project-based architectural design services covering the full spectrum of German HOAI (Honorary Order of German Architects) Leistungsphasen (service phases 1-9). Services include new construction, renovation/adaptive reuse, interior design, urban planning concepts, and competition entries. Revenue is generated through professional services fees on individual client commissions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
diefabrik product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DIEfabrik provides architectural planning and design services across residential, commercial, healthcare, public, educational, and hospitality sectors in Germany. The firm combines traditional architecture (covering HOAI service phases 1-9) with proprietary digital tools including the SPB generative design software, the eCO2 sustainability assessment tool, BIM-based workflows, VR/AR visualization, and digital fabrication (CNC, 3D printing, robotics) for architectural models and components.
Product overview
DIEfabrik GmbH is an architecture firm founded in 2020 in Oldenburg, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of architectural services and digital planning technologies. The core offering combines traditional architecture planning (residential, commercial, cultural buildings) with advanced digital tools. Key products include SPB (Systemisches Planen & Bauen) - a parametric building design software using evolutionary algorithms, eCO2 - a sustainability assessment tool for CO2 and cost comparison, einfach BIM - an open BIM methodology network, and digital fabrication capabilities including robotics, 3D printing, and VR/AR visualization. The company positions technology as a tool to support daily work, with planning and visualization conducted primarily in 3D models.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Architekturplanung (Architecture Planning) Comprehensive architectural services including new construction, renovation and adaptive reuse, interior design, urban planning concepts, and competition entries for residential, commercial, industrial, cultural, educational, and government clients across Germany.
- SPB (Systemisches Planen & Bauen) Proprietary parametric software that optimizes residential building design using evolutionary algorithms, generating 3D architecture models from target parameters (building dimensions, apartment mix) with BIM-ready outputs including DIN 276 cost estimates, area calculations, and automatic component lists.
- eCO2 Sustainability assessment tool that compares construction costs and CO2 footprints of alternative construction methods and materials in early design phases (competition through LP 3), integrating existing software solutions without disrupting established workflows.
- Robotik (Robotics) Digital manufacturing service using CNC, 3D printing, and robotics combined with traditional model-making to create architectural representations from small-scale city models to detailed architectural models and 1:1 objects, including complex spherical and non-Euclidean geometries.
- 3D-Druck (3D Printing) Additive manufacturing technology for creating physical architectural models and representations of building designs, supporting client communication and design verification.
- einfach BIM Open BIM-based working methodology and interdisciplinary cooperation network developing general-purpose, practice-oriented open BIM workflows across the entire building lifecycle, including procurement of planning and construction services, digital modelling guidelines, and BIM2Field integration.
Quantifiable outcome
- SPB generates optimized building layout variants in 2-3 minutes, enabling rapid iteration and comparison of design alternatives
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use diefabrik
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
diefabrik technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
diefabrik partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Störmer Murphy and PartnerscoreJoint development of the eCO2 tool for comparing construction costs and CO2 footprints of alternative construction methods in early design phases. The tool integrates existing software solutions to enable architects and project developers to make data-driven sustainability decisions from competition phase through LP 3.
- Jim BögershausencoreCo-developer of the eCO2 tool, specializing in digitization in construction. Contributed digitalization expertise to the development of the sustainability decision-support tool.
- einfach BIM Cooperation NetworkcoreInterdisciplinary open BIM cooperation network initiated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and WPW Leipzig GmbH. DIEfabrik participates as a member developing general-purpose open BIM workflows across the building lifecycle. Scientific accompaniment by HTWK Leipzig.
- BRAUNLOCHER ARCHITEKTENminorJoint participation in the BGD competition for Big Dutchman, winning 1st place for the design of a new reception and administration building.
- GSP ArchitektenminorCooperation with GSP Architekten on the HZA project for the Hauptzollamt Oldenburg in Emden. DIEfabrik produced the execution planning (Leistungsphase 5) for the project, working from a 3D building model.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
diefabrik competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Barkow Leibinger: Berlin/New York architecture firm that explicitly combines computational design, robotics, and fabrication in project work. Comparable to DIEfabrik for its interdisciplinary practice merging architecture with computer science and digital manufacturing.
- Werner Sobek: Stuttgart-based engineering, architecture, and design firm known for technology-driven, sustainability-focused building design. Directly comparable to DIEfabrik for its integration of parametric design, digital fabrication, and CO2-conscious early-phase design tools into architectural practice.
- Störmer Murphy and Partners: Hamburg-based architecture and urban design firm with explicit focus on sustainability and digital planning tools. Most directly comparable peer — already partnered with DIEfabrik on the eCO2 tool — and serves the same northern German client base with comparable BIM and CO2-assessment capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- COOP HIMMELB(L)AU: Vienna-based architecture firm recognized for technology-forward, experimental design and complex geometry. Comparable for its emphasis on digital design methods and competition-driven project acquisition, though at significantly greater scale.
- Heinle, Wischer und Partner: Established German architecture firm with strong public-sector and developer relationships, particularly in northern and eastern Germany where DIEfabrik also operates. Comparable as a scaled competitor in the same regional market.
- gmp Architekten: One of Germany's largest architectural practices, active across public infrastructure, transport, cultural, and commercial buildings. Comparable as the type of large incumbent DIEfabrik must compete against in major German competitions.
- HPP Architekten: Large, established German architecture firm operating across residential, public, healthcare, and commercial segments. Comparable as a much larger incumbent competing for the same German client segments and public tenders, but without DIEfabrik's proprietary tooling focus.
- KSP Architekten: Major German architectural practice with broad coverage of public, commercial, and residential building types. Comparable as a competing domestic incumbent for German public-sector and developer commissions.
Emerging players
- Snøhetta: Norway-headquartered interdisciplinary design practice combining architecture, landscape, and digital tools. Comparable as a peer that uses technology and computational design as a core differentiator in architecture, though at global scale.
- UNStudio: Amsterdam-based network-style architecture firm with proprietary parametric design tooling (e.g., UNSense). Comparable to DIEfabrik for the combination of network working, technology investment, and sustainability focus, though with broader geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
diefabrik social profiles
Digital presencediefabrik financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
diefabrik leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
diefabrik funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
diefabrik M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about diefabrik
What does diefabrik do?
DIEfabrik provides architectural planning and design services across residential, commercial, healthcare, public, educational, and hospitality sectors in Germany. The firm combines traditional architecture (covering HOAI service phases 1-9) with proprietary digital tools including the SPB generative design software, the eCO2 sustainability assessment tool, BIM-based workflows, VR/AR visualization, and digital fabrication (CNC, 3D printing, robotics) for architectural models and components.
Is diefabrik a public or private company?
diefabrik is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was diefabrik founded?
diefabrik was founded in 2020.
Where is diefabrik based?
diefabrik is headquartered in Oldenburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does diefabrik make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture Design Services.
Who are diefabrik's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Barkow Leibinger, Werner Sobek and Störmer Murphy and Partners. Broad incumbents are COOP HIMMELB(L)AU, Heinle, Wischer und Partner, gmp Architekten, HPP Architekten and KSP Architekten. Emerging players are Snøhetta and UNStudio.
Does diefabrik have an API?
No public API is recorded for diefabrik.
What industry is diefabrik in?
diefabrik's product category is Architectural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAK, Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 7373.