25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany

The spirit of the Bauhaus lives on in Germany's contemporary architecture, and these masters continue to build on the legacy of their forebears. The post 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany appeared first on Journal.

25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany

These annual rankings were last updated on April 5th, 2024. Want to see your firm on next year’s list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studio’s ranking.

The German architectural landscape is both closely attuned to its European counterparts and characteristically individual. Traversing the nation, one will encounter a similar historic program to other European capitals — Romanesque churches, Renaissance monuments, and more — blended with functionalist and modernist structures.

Early twenty-first-century Germany brought forth the booming Bauhaus. Founded by Walter Gropius, this school introduced brand-new architectural thinking, an ideology rooted in function, clarity and mass production. Materials like concrete and glass were favored, socially progressive housing blocks were built, and a new-found appreciation for modernism was conceived. The spirit of the great Bauhaus teachers — Mies van der Rohe, for example — vigorously lives on and inspires contemporary designers today. The Bauhaus also influenced the nation’s interest and appreciation for technology and mass production. Modern industrial architecture took off post-war and has played a prominent role in the nation’s economic growth, continuing to do so today.

The architectural devastation from WWII resulted in mass reconstruction efforts. The post-war restoration and rebuilding embraced a functional attitude, which continued the legacy of the Bauhaus movement despite its closing over a decade prior. And today’s German architecture continues to champion the nation’s modernist brilliance through innovative designs that push technological boundaries and celebrate culture.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Germany based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

  • The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2024)
  • The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2024)
  • The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2024)
  • The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2024)
  • The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2024)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Germany architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 25 best architecture firms in Germany:


25. Sehw Architektur

© Helin Bereket

© Helin Bereket

“Sehw stands for meaningfulness, emotion, attitude and change.” Our mission: building architecture sustainably, thinking innovatively and creating social added value.

“Sehw stands for an aesthetic of sustainability in architecture.” We are not just planning for today but for the generation of tomorrow and beyond.

For us, sustainable architecture means forward-looking planning and the development of future-proof utilization concepts. In times of rapid climate change, we are committed to resource-conserving construction methods and the use of renewable energies. Recyclable building materials and circular economy are the basis for a long life cycle and corresponding sustainability certifications of our buildings. We value and protect existing structures and materials.

Some of Sehw Architektur’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Sehw Architektur achieve 25th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 13

24. PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp

© PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN  Anna Philipp

© PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp

a passion for houses
There’s nothing more significant to describe what our architect’office is about: houses — simple, yet complex. The archetype of all construction is our passion. That’s what we stand for. On this we work holistically with a team of architects and engineers.

Center of our designing is the human being. We understand architecture as a second skin, which must be tailored. At the same time it’s essential to reflect the unique character of the location. The goal is a harmonious triad of mankind, nature and architecture. The focus and specialisation on houses and villas is faced by a wide diversification in the range of services offered.

Some of PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped PHILIPPARCHITEKTEN Anna Philipp achieve 24th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 16

23. KRESINGS

© Roman Mensing

© Roman Mensing

KRESINGS is a studio for architecture, interior design, urban planning and product design with offices in Munster and Dusseldorf. Since its founding by Rainer Maria Kresing in 1985 four further partners joined the management: Kilian Kresing, Christian Kawe, Matthias Povel and André Perret.
More than 60 employees — architects, designers, planners and engineers — guarantee a broad range of creative and qualified services. Experience meets creative ease.

The studio has been awarded with national awards like those of the BDA (Bund Deutscher Architekten) and the DAM (Deutsches Architektur Museum). KRESINGS: Experts and team players in areas of office and industrial buildings, facilities for research, education and culture as well as individual designs for residential buildings.

Some of KRESINGS’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped KRESINGS achieve 23rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 33

22. Christoph Hesse Architects

© Christoph Hesse Architects

© Christoph Hesse Architects

Christoph Hesse Architects was founded in 2010 by Christoph Hesse, has offices in Korbach and, since 2018, in Berlin. The architectural practice currently employs an international team of 15 people and has won numerous awards

Some of Christoph Hesse Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Christoph Hesse Architects achieve 22nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 2
Featured Projects 2
Total Projects 4

21. Zeller & Moye

© Zeller & Moye

© Zeller & Moye

Zeller & Moye is a design studio based in Mexico City and Berlin that works at the intersection of architecture, arts, design and latest technology through an experimental, multidisciplinary and collaborative working culture.

Some of Zeller & Moye’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Zeller & Moye achieve 21st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 12

20. LAVA – Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

© LAVA - Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

© LAVA - Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

LAVA (The Laboratory for Visionary Architecture) seeks to continually define new boundaries in the creation of architectural visions and city space. LAVA’s research and design focus allows the evolution of architectural and urban design outcomes inaccessible through traditional methodologies. Our process continually evolves; responding to global and market forces to deliver high quality, technologically advanced and sustainable projects that inspire a new generation.

LAVA Sydney and Stuttgart already have become hotspots and breeding grounds for a new generation of  architectural talent.LAVA works as a network practice, providing Visionary Architectural and Urban design services worldwide. The LAVA network provides clients with access to an extensive team of leading design consultants and offers a comprehensive list of Architectural Design, Urban Design, Development Feasibility, Marketing and Master planning services.

Some of LAVA – Laboratory for Visionary Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped LAVA - Laboratory for Visionary Architecture achieve 20th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 26

19. Plastique Fantastique

© Plastique Fantastique

© Plastique Fantastique

Plastique Fantastique is a collective for temporary architecture that samples the performative possibilities of urban environments. Established in Berlin in 1999, Plastique Fantastique has been influenced by the unique circumstances that made the city a laboratory for temporary spaces.Plastique Fantastique’s synthetic structures affect surrounding spaces like a soap bubble does: Similar to a foreign body, it occupies and mutates urban space.

Their interventions change the way we perceive and interact in urban environments. By mixing different landscape types, an osmotic passage between private and public space is generating new hybrid environments.Regardless the way people view a bubble, walk around its exterior or move inside it, the pneumatic structure is a medium to experience the same physical setting in a temporary extraordinary situation.

Some of Plastique Fantastique’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Plastique Fantastique achieve 19th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 7
Total Projects 5

18. Ecker Architekten

© Ecker Architekten

© Ecker Architekten

Ecker Architekten is an Architecture / Design Firm based in Germany. Ecker Architekten’s design portfolio includes a variety of architectural projects, such as Cultural, Commercial, Government + Health, Educational, and more.

Some of Ecker Architekten’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Ecker Architekten achieve 18th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 7
Total Projects 8

17. schneider+schumacher

© schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt - Vienna - Tianjin

© schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt - Vienna - Tianjin

Our architectural approach is characterized by the enjoyment we have in finding solutions to the complex demands of today’s buildings. We adapt our buildings to fit into their surroundings, yet we also create landmarks. Pragmatic poetry, nurtured not only by design clarity and a conscientious attitude towards the task in hand, but also by a delight in fine details.

This design process is constantly informed by the dialogue that takes place on a daily basis between the various professional disciplines in all our specialized divisions – architecture, construction and project management, design, a.o. — and international offices. schneider+schumacher is headquartered in Frankfurt (GE), and has two branches in Vienna (AU) and Tianjin (CN).

Some of schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt – Vienna – Tianjin’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt - Vienna - Tianjin achieve 17th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 12

16. ingenhoven associates

© ingenhoven associates

© ingenhoven associates

In 1985, Christoph Ingenhoven founded ingenhoven architects, a practice that is one of the pioneers of sustainable architecture. The team consists of about 100 members of staff of different disciplines and aims to create architecture that responds to each respective location in a specific way and, at the same time, tries to find architectural answers to urgent questions of the present and near future. ingenhoven architects has won numerous competitions and awards. Using the term supergreen®, the practice pursues a comprehensive sustainability concept.

Some of ingenhoven associates’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ingenhoven associates achieve 16th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 7
Total Projects 24

15. HENN

© HENN

© HENN

HENN is an international architecture practice with offices in Berlin, Munich, Beijing and Shanghai with more than 75 years of expertise in the fields of office, science, health, industry and culture. It is an interdisciplinary team of architects and engineers able to draw upon a wealth of knowledge collected over decades of building experience in addition to a worldwide network of partners and experts.

HENN was founded in 1947 by Walter Henn in Dresden. His son, Gunter Henn, opened HENN’s Munich office in 1979. Today, Martin Henn and a team of partners lead the practice. The three generations are linked through common values of openness and curiosity, which form the foundation for HENN’s ambition to rethink typologies and push forward sustainable construction.

Some of HENN’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped HENN achieve 15th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 2
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 3
Total Projects 25

14. 4a Architekten GmbH

© 4a Architekten GmbH

© 4a Architekten GmbH

Shaping atmosphere, lending identity, creating quality of space — these are the values that characterize the buildings of 4a Architekten. The starting point and guiding principle of our work is the concept of architecture as living space. Our buildings come into being through intensive team work shaped by interdisciplinary thinking and action.

What characterizes a location in terms of its culture and history? What are the client’s expectations and objectives? What is viable within the budget and what are the benefits for users? These questions and this approach bring us to solutions with an individual character – and they apply just as much to the planning of buildings as to the design of interior spaces.

Some of 4a Architekten GmbH’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped 4a Architekten GmbH achieve 14th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 15

13. wulf architekten

© Brigida González for wulf architekten

© Brigida González for wulf architekten

wulf architekten emerged from the architecture practice established 1987 in Stuttgart by Tobias Wulf. Currently the office is managed by Tobias Wulf, Jan-Michael Kallfaß, Ingmar Menzer and Steffen Vogt. From 1996 to 2018, Kai Bierich and Alexander Vohl were partners of Tobias Wulf at wulf architekten. Currently, the company has about 140 employees, nine of them being senior architects. With three office locations — Stuttgart, Berlin and Basel (CH) – wulf architekten is also working on projects abroad.

Some of wulf architekten’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped wulf architekten achieve 13th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 18

12. kadawittfeldarchitektur

© kadawittfeldarchitektur

© kadawittfeldarchitektur

We are kadawittfeldarchitektur. Originally founded in Aachen in 1999, we today stand for more than just architectural design. The interdisciplinary approach of our work, linking architecture, interior and product design on the one hand and at the interface of town planning and urban projects on the other hand, reflects the full range of our creative output.

kadawittfeldarchitektur develops added value space. In a team of more than 170 persons, we create architecture with added value space for living, communication and work environments. In the way we deal with volumes, materials, structures and functions, we strive to integrate our schemes into their surroundings with the objective of creating contemporary and sustainable architecture and meeting the needs of both the users and the general public.

Some of kadawittfeldarchitektur’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped kadawittfeldarchitektur achieve 12th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 31

11. Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

© Zooey Braun

© Zooey Braun

ippolito fleitz group is a multidisciplinary, internationally operating design studio based in Stuttgart.We are identity architects. We work in unison with our clients to develop architecture, products and communication that are part of a whole and yet distinctive in their own right. This is how we define identity.With meticulous analysis before we begin.With animated examination in the conceptional phase.

With a clarity of argument in the act of persuasion.With a love of accuracy in the realization. With a serious goal and a lot of fun along the way.Working together with our clients.As architects of identity, we conceive and construct buildings, interiors and landscapes; we develop products and communication measures.

Some of Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Ippolito Fleitz Group - Identity Architects achieve 11th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 8
Total Projects 26

10. Auer Weber

© Aldo Amoretti Photography

© Aldo Amoretti Photography

The architectural office Auer Weber, with offices in Munich and Stuttgart, was founded in 1980. The company, at present, employs 140 people.
The focus of our work is the conception and design of new buildings and the redesign and renovation for public institutions and corporate clients.
Currently, international projects are being developed and constructed, predominantly in France and China.

Auer Weber provides expertise through all design stages on a broad range of projects including the sectors of education and research; administration and culture; hotels, residential buildings and sports facilities; as well as transportation terminals, urban development and master plans. The distinctive common denominator of Auer Weber projects is the architectural integration of design with the environment.

Some of Auer Weber’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Auer Weber achieve 10th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 2
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 15

9. GRAFT

© GRAFT

© GRAFT

What is graft? The English word ‘graft’ provokes a variety of meanings and multiple readings. It stands for transplants in the field of medicine, for cheating, but also for hard work.  In the terminology of botany, grafting is described as the addition of one shoot onto a genetically different host.

Some of GRAFT’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped GRAFT achieve 9th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 17

8. 3deluxe

© 3deluxe

© 3deluxe

The interdisciplinary design collective 3deluxe, consisting of about 30 individuals centered around Dieter Brell, Peter Seipp and Andreas and Stephan Lauhoff, has been creating groundbreaking impulses in the fields of architecture and interior design, graphic and media design.

In creative synergy hybrid forms of two and three dimensional design are created: graphic works develop a spatial impact, while architectural drafts are based on communication principles. In this way, complex collages are contrived, so called ‚multilayered atmospheres‘, that foster multiple sensory experiences and allow for a multitude of potential interpretations. Paramount is the broadening of an absolute understanding of space and image towards a dynamic, processual approach.

Some of 3deluxe’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped 3deluxe achieve 8th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 20

7. Peter Ruge Architekten GmbH

© Janina Heppner

© Janina Heppner

Peter Ruge Architekten is a locally and internationally active planning office based in Berlin. Our mission is simple: to develop and build sustainable architecture of the future. The agenda of the team along with three partners Peter Ruge, Kayoko Uchiyama and Matthias Matschewski includes new buildings, optimisation of existing properties and urban planning designs. Identity+Sustainability=Architecture

The projects are holistic, i.e. adapted to the climate, culture and needs of the users, and have received numerous awards and certifications. Our detailed understanding of sustainable design processes supports the decisions of our clients. In education field, Prof. Ruge shares our knowledge with a global design community at DIA, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Dessau, Shenyang Jianzhu University in China and Kyoto Seika University in Japan.

Some of Peter Ruge Architekten GmbH’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Peter Ruge Architekten GmbH achieve 7th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 11
Total Projects 18

6. HPP Architects

© Christa Lachenmaier Photography

© Christa Lachenmaier Photography

HPP Architects is one of Europe’s leading architectural partnerships with a full range of architectural and master planning services. Since its foundation by Professor Hentrich, the 4th generation of HPP partnership today includes a global team of more than 25 nationalities and 480 architects, engineers, urban designers and specialists. Today it comprises 13 offices including 8 regional offices in Germany and 5 international branches in Turkey, China and Netherlands.

HPP Architects’ headquarter is located in the Düsseldorf Media Harbor, further offices are located in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Istanbul, Leipzig, Munich, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Stuttgart. HPP completed more than 1200 buildings worldwide and aspires to create architectural quality of lasting value beyond the here and now: timeless and yet clearly part of their time, innovative and equally grounded in history.

Some of HPP Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped HPP Architects achieve 6th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 3
Featured Projects 13
Total Projects 25

5. TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH

© TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH

© TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH

TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten design, plan and build for national and international clients in the public and private sectors. With over 180 highly qualified, interdisciplinary employees and many years of experience, the company, with its offices in Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden, offers architecturally and functionally sustainable solutions for a wide variety of building tasks in Germany and abroad.

In addition to residential and commercial buildings, the firm’s focus includes the planning of hotels, commercial centres, office complexes and industrial facilities, leisure, educational and social facilities, as well as conversions and revitalisations in listed buildings.

Some of TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten GmbH achieve 5th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 6
Featured Projects 12
Total Projects 26

4. Behnisch Architekten

© Behnisch Architekten

© Behnisch Architekten

The Stuttgart-based practice known today as Behnisch Architekten was founded in 1989 under the leadership of Stefan Behnisch in Stuttgart. Originally established as a branch office of Günter Behnisch’s practice Behnisch & Partner, it became independent in 1991 and has subsequently developed into an international practice with offices in Stuttgart, Munich, Los Angeles/California (1999 – 2011), and Boston/Massachusetts.

These offices are directed by Stefan Behnisch and his partners in varying combinations. The Partners are Robert Hösle, Robert Matthew Noblett and Stefan Rappold. Stefan Behnisch is involved in all three offices. From the outset, the social dimension of architecture has been a fundamental aspect of the firm’s design philosophy.

Some of Behnisch Architekten’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Behnisch Architekten achieve 4th place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Finalist 9
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 24

3. Barkow Leibinger

© Barkow Leibinger

© Barkow Leibinger

The scope of Barkow Leibinger’s work spans from cultural projects to industrial ones. Their focus on industrial architecture includes master planning and building representational and functional buildings for production, logistical and office spaces.

Some of Barkow Leibinger’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Barkow Leibinger achieve 3rd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 15
Total Projects 17

2. gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner

© HG Esch Photography

© HG Esch Photography

The architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) are an architectural practice that was founded in Hamburg and has branches worldwide. With our generalist approach and more than 50 years of experience, we complete projects in dialogue with our clients and the participating planning disciplines, at all scales and cultural contexts, covering all design phases and working on all continents.

The range of our projects extends from family residences to high-rise buildings, from stadiums to concert halls, from office buildings to bridges, and from door hardware to urban planning. With holistic sustainability in mind, we aim to create new and refurbished architecture that is long-lasting and goes beyond temporary fashions, taking into account the global challenges and issues of urbanization, digitalization, and mobility.

Some of gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped gmp · Architects von Gerkan, Marg und Partner achieve 2nd place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

Featured Projects 20
Total Projects 35

1. J.MAYER.H

© J.MAYER.H

© J.MAYER.H

J. MAYER H’s studio, focuses on works at the intersection of architecture, communication and new technology. From urban planning schemes and buildings to installation work and objects with new materials, the relationship between the human body, technology and nature form the background for a new production of space.

Some of J.MAYER.H’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped J.MAYER.H achieve 1st place in the 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany:

A+Awards Winner 5
A+Awards Finalist 3
Featured Projects 21
Total Projects 29

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

  • Project completed within the last 3 years
  • A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
  • Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
  • High quality, in focus photographs
  • At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
  • Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
  • Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

 


 

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

The post 25 Best Architecture Firms in Germany appeared first on Journal.

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