We are - studiocaspar

We are

caspar. is an architecture studio with a team of around 100 professionals across our Cologne and Hamburg offices. Originally founded as meyerschmitzmorkamer in 2004, Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer reimagined the office under the name caspar. in 2019. We manage all aspects of construction, guiding clients through every phase of service. At caspar., we specialize in the big picture. Our core expertise in office construction and renovations serves as a springboard for a wide range of projects, including district development, working with and within existing structures, or urban revitalization.

caspar’s work has been recognized many times, e.g. with a double award for the Michaelsberg Abbey at the renowned MIPIM Awards. Other important projects include “Deiker Höfe” (one of Düsseldorf’s most important current urban development projects), “Hauptwache 1” in Frankfurt (the new flagship building of Frankfurter Sparkasse), “Ballindamm 33-34” (closing the gap directly on the Binnenalster) and “Hohe Strasse 134-136” in Cologne (a pioneering project for eco-social inner city transformation).

Recognizing the profound social impact of the construction industry, we are dedicated to more than just creating exeptional architecture. We also focus on sharing knowledge, advancing theoretical discourse, and contextualizing architecture within a broader framework. One way we do that is by sticking to our maxim “Scale:Human” (“Massstab Mensch”) in the design process. Yet another is by the research, communication, and publishing activities of our in-house think tank, caspar.esearch. It helps create books such as Retail in Transition and Der Nachhalt – Prolog or discussion formats such as the podcast “Massstab Mensch”, named after our maxim, or the public panel series Innen.Stadt.Leben. (at the AEDES Architecture Forum in Berlin, 2021-22).

Our History

Double anniversary: twenty and five
20 years of independent practice and five years of caspar.

Management team grows to include Sonja Gallo (CAO) and Marco Ossmann (CCO)

Developing an attitude rather than having an attitude.
“Der Nachhalt #1: Prolog – Prologue” (in German & English) by Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer is published by Wasmuth & Zohlen Verlag, Berlin

We join the BIM Alliance as a board member and continue to deepen our digital planning expertise.

We become a founding member (“Kennedy”) of Madaster, the material registry for a circular economy in the construction industry

Kick-off of the 4-part series “Innen.Stadt.Leben.” on the future of urban living, in cooperation with Aedes Network Campus Berlin (ANCB).

Updated and expanded edition of our study “Retail in Transition – Verkaufswelten im Umbruch,” published by JOVIS Verlag, Berlin.

Our new office space opens in the Katharinenviertel in Hamburg.

Management Board grows to include Michael Kuhn (CBDO).

Our team grows to 100 employees.

Management Board grows to include Holm Bethge (Director Acquisitions),
Sonja Gallo (Director Architectural Design), and Guido Roth (Director Office Hamburg)

Our debut study, “Retail in Transition” dives deep into urban transformation; published by Kettler Verlag, Bönen.

We complete Kaiser Hof in Cologne – and move into our new headquarters there.

Founding of caspar. by Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer.
Holger Meyer and Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer part amicably and go their separate ways.

Two MIPIM Awards for Michaelsberg Abbey in Siegburg.

Launch of caspar.esearch – our interdisciplinary in-house think tank.

Management grows to include Christoph Wolf and Martin Schapfeld.

Management grows to include Gregor Gutscher.

Hamburg office opens.

meyer schmitz-morkramer (msm) founded
by architects Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer and Holger Meyer with their first joint project:
revitalization of the Capitol building in Cologne.