Finding commissions as an architect: the guide for Switzerland (2026)
Public competitions, private clients, network and platforms: where architecture practices in Switzerland find commissions, how small practices can compete, and what makes a good profile and a good submission.
For an architecture practice, almost everything depends on the order book. In Switzerland, small, young and independent practices have a hard time of it. The big competitions often go to established names, and the private market is hard to see from the outside. This guide shows the four channels through which commissions arise and how to use them realistically. At the end it covers two things you control yourself: your profile and your submission.
The four channels for architecture commissions
1. Public procurement and competitions
The Confederation, cantons, municipalities and public developers put their projects out to tender under procurement law (the federal PPA and the intercantonal IAPP), usually openly on simap.ch or as an architectural competition under SIA 142/143. The procedures are transparent and clearly regulated. In return, the effort is high, the requirements for suitability and references are strict, and competition is intense. For a small practice without a long list of references, getting in is difficult. Terms such as prequalification or award are explained in our procurement glossary.
2. Private clients and investors
Most of the construction volume is private. Property developers, companies, foundations and private clients award their commissions freely, often directly or through an invited competition. This is where most opportunities lie. From the outside, however, this market is hard to see; it runs mainly through existing contacts.
3. Network and recommendations
Recommendations from satisfied clients and a well-maintained network remain the most reliable source of follow-up commissions. A network grows slowly, though, and for a young practice it is naturally small. If you rely on it alone, you depend on chance and time.
4. Digital tendering platforms
Specialised platforms bring private tenders together and make this market visible. Instead of building contacts over years, you see current tenders in one place and apply in a targeted way. This lowers acquisition costs considerably. Make sure the platform vets both clients and practices; otherwise many dubious requests will land with you. How such tenders work is explained in the article tenders for architecture practices. What AI changes in tendering is covered in AI and architecture tenders.
The challenge for independent and small practices
Anyone working alone or as a pair knows the dilemma. Large public competitions call for references and capacity you lack, and you have no access to the private market. On top of that comes price pressure: if you only win commissions with the lowest fee, you soon work below your worth. How to derive a fee properly is explained in the article calculating architects’ fees in Switzerland. Small practices need a channel that gives them access to serious private projects on equal terms and where nobody is publicly undercut.
How Architektonik opens up private commissions
Architektonik is the Swiss tendering platform for architecture and real estate development. Clients tender their projects, and vetted architecture practices apply with a sealed fee bid. Only the client sees the bids. The practices see neither the other bids nor how many have come in. The client chooses on fee, suitability, approach and schedule, so the lowest bid does not win automatically. The auction calendar shows what is currently running. How the procedure works in detail is explained in the article sealed fee auction.
- —Every project and every practice is reviewed before going live; the decision comes within 24 hours.
- —Fee bids are sealed. Nobody undercuts in public, and the amounts stay confidential.
- —The client remains anonymous until the award.
- —Small and large practices compete under the same rules.
- —You enter a single auction for CHF 39.90 or take out the Atelier subscription for CHF 149.90 per month, each excl. VAT. Details on the pricing page.
What makes a strong profile
Every vetted practice has a public profile in the directory of architects. The client opens it when comparing applications and uses it, among other things, to rate your suitability.
- —Choose fitting references. Without a subscription you show three references, with the Atelier subscription eight. Pick the projects that match the tenders you want to bid on.
- —A stance in one sentence. Start your profile text with a sentence about how you work. Clients also choose the people behind the fee.
- —Good images. Each reference shows exactly one image. Use the strongest photo you have of the project and add the location, year and a short description.
- —State your specialisation and size honestly. The client can filter the applications received by specialisation, practice size and canton. With accurate details you appear for the projects that match your capacity.
- —Keep it up to date. Add the new reference after every completed project.
What belongs in a good submission
On Architektonik you apply with a form in four parts. This lets the client lay all submissions side by side and rate suitability and approach from 1 to 5. The client decides how much weight fee, suitability, approach and schedule carry.
1. Approach
How you understand and tackle the task. Two to three paragraphs, specific to this project, convince more than generic boilerplate. The client rates this part directly.
2. Scope of services and start
The client defines the scope of services as sub-phases under SIA 112. You state when you can start. In the remarks you note what is not included and which assumptions your bid is based on.
3. Project lead
Who leads the project at your practice. Together with your references, this is the basis on which the client rates your suitability. Name the person and their experience with comparable buildings.
4. Fee
Your estimate of the fee for the tendered scope of services, excl. VAT. It counts as a non-binding indicative quote. How to derive the fee is explained in the article architects’ fees in Switzerland.
Five tips for winning awards faster
- —Sharpen your profile: a clear specialisation and references that match it.
- —Respond quickly. Whoever submits a well-considered bid early stays in the client’s mind.
- —Set a realistic fee. In the long run, the coherent bid wins more often than the lowest one.
- —Show your stance. A short, precise take on the task works better than boilerplate.
- —Keep at it. Acquisition lives on rhythm: take part regularly, even if not every submission leads to an award.
Commissions today arise through several channels at once. If you combine public competitions, your network and a vetted platform, you depend less on chance and can reach serious building projects even as a small practice. You can register your practice under Join.