An architecture firm or engineering office in Dakar 2026 has very precise clients: real-estate developers, high-end individuals (Almadies/Ngor/Saly villa), returning diaspora, institutionals (schools, health centers). Each of these audiences decides on visual evidence — not speech. A poorly built site sends them to the competitor on first visit.
TL;DR
- An architect's Dakar site converts on 3 critical pages: portfolio by typology, construction process, structured quote form.
- 72% of Dakar developers consult at least 3 architect sites before first contact. Weak portfolio = immediate elimination.
- Full architect website budget: 1.2 to 2.2 million FCFA. One won project = 3-15% fees on 50-500M FCFA budget.
What a Dakar developer really looks at
Mr Ndour, Plateau real-estate developer, project for a 24-unit residence in Ouakam. Tuesday morning he searches "residence architect Dakar Ouakam". He clicks 5 sites. In 2 min per site he looks for:
- How many similar residences have they delivered? (Portfolio filtered by typology.)
- How do they manage phases? (Clear process: program, sketch, building permit, construction.)
- What typical fees? (Range for a project his size.)
- Who have they worked with? (Known developer references.)
If he can't find these 4 infos in 2 min, he closes the tab. Your firm is eliminated without appeal.
5 modules for a converting architect site
1. Portfolio filterable by typology
Standard typologies: individual residential (villas), collective residential (apartments), tertiary (offices, retail), public facilities (schools, health, sports), rehabilitation. Each project: 5-12 HD photos (exterior, interior, details), floor plan, area, delivery date, budget (if client-authorized), locality.
Visual filter lets the developer see YOUR collective residences in 3 clicks, without browsing villas.
2. Clarified construction process
Dedicated page showing stages: program (program studies, 2-3 weeks), sketch (2-4 weeks), APS-APD (4-6 weeks), DCE + building permit (6-8 weeks), contractor consultation (4 weeks), site supervision (project duration). Each with deliverables + client involvement. This pedagogy reassures non-expert clients.
3. Structured quote form
Not a vague "contact us". A form asking: project typology, approximate area, approximate budget, land (owned/in negotiation/being identified), desired delivery timeline, project location, available documents (upload title deed, topographic survey, geotech study if applicable). This form filters 90% of prospects — you receive already-qualified requests.
4. Team + credentials page
DPLG architects, DE architects, engineers, construction economists. Diplomas (Dakar Architecture School, Paris-La Villette, EPFL, Louvain...), years of experience, specializations (bioclimatic, HQE, BIM, fire safety). Senegalese Architects' Order registration mandatory.
5. Technical educational blog
Articles like "Dakar building permit: how long, how many documents, how many kickbacks", "Why your geotech study costs 400,000 FCFA and why that's normal", "How to properly budget utilities on an Almadies villa". These articles demonstrate expertise without advertising.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Budget — firm with 3 architects + 2 drafters
- 8 pages + 20-project portfolio: 1,080,000 FCFA
- Structured quote module + document upload: 240,000 FCFA
- 3G-optimized HD photo gallery: 180,000 FCFA
- Local SEO Dakar + ProfessionalService schema.org: 200,000 FCFA
- 6-month maintenance + 3 projects/month added: 80,000 × 6 = 480,000 FCFA
Total: 2,180,000 FCFA. One developer project won via site = 5-15M FCFA fees. Payback on first project.
3 mistakes that kill the firm
- No numbers in the portfolio — area, budget (anonymized), construction duration: these numbers reassure. Without them, the developer doubts.
- Only luxury villas — gives the impression you ONLY do luxury. Even if 80% of your revenue is villas, also show 2-3 "standard" projects to open the funnel.
- Dead or missing blog — firms with active blogs capture 40-60% more organic traffic. 1 article/month suffices if technical and educational.
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You run an architect firm or engineering office in Dakar and want to capture developers who Google before contacting you?
Kolonell ships architect sites in 7-10 weeks with portfolio + quote + blog. Free audit at kolonell.com/en/audit-gratuit or WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
FAQ
What format for delivered-project photos?
WebP/JPG 1920×1280 minimum, optimized to 300-500 KB (not 3 MB). Site must load under 3s on 3G. Pro photographer recommended (300-600K FCFA investment to shoot 10 projects).
Can I display client budgets?
Only with written client authorization. Many developers authorize it (strengthens firm credibility). For private villas: anonymize ("Villa R+2, Almadies, 320 m², 2024 — construction budget ~180M FCFA").
Do I need a connected client portal with downloadable plans?
For firms working on multiple parallel projects for the same developer: yes. 600K-1M FCFA additional module, best as phase 2.
How long before the site brings in a first developer lead?
3-6 months post-launch + SEO. First leads typically come from niche searches ("rehabilitation architect Dakar", "clinic architect Senegal").
Mohamed Ba
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
