Franken Architekten, established in 2002 and headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is an architecture and general planning firm with a team of about 20 employees. Led by founder and director Bernhard Franken, the firm also maintains an office in Hanoi. Franken Architekten is known for approaching architecture as a combination of spatial design and narrative, often integrating digital processes and detailed contextual analyses into their projects.
The scope of work includes the design and realization of office buildings, retail spaces, hotels, restaurants, residential projects, as well as corporate architecture, brand spaces, urban planning, and exhibitions. They provide comprehensive services from initial concept development through implementation and site supervision.
Notable recent projects include the Kleine Rittergasse 11 residence and studio in Frankfurt's Alt-Sachsenhausen, where the firm replaced a structurally unsound traditional building with a new structure that carefully maintained the scale and visual memory of its predecessor. The facade features a digitally milled “afterimage” pattern that evokes the original timber framing. Another example is the renovation of the "Libertine Lindenberg", a 19th-century building transformed into a contemporary guesthouse, bringing together history and modern living through design.
Franken Architekten has also worked internationally, most notably through their Hanoi office. Within Germany, their portfolio encompasses new constructions and refurbishments, and their projects are recognized for experimental approaches without losing sight of function and local context. The firm has received numerous awards and is frequently featured in professional exhibitions and publications.