The verdict in three sentences
In Lugano, an architecture firm website built by a Ticino agency costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 6 000 and 25 000 CHF, with native Italian copy usually part of the package. Kolonell builds the portfolio, project pages and studio profile in English or French for a fixed price of 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks on Starter and Growth, while the Italian version is supplied by the studio or quoted separately. For a studio whose clients are mostly local and Italian-speaking, a Ticino agency often makes more sense; for a studio that wins international and cross-border clients and wants a sharp English site at a known price, the 3-year total cost usually favours Kolonell.
What do Ticino agencies, freelancers and Kolonell charge?
These ranges are prudent ballparks, not official figures. They draw on public rate cards of agencies in Ticino and Lombardy, minimum project sizes shown on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates commonly published by Swiss Italian agencies (often 100 to 160 CHF per hour) and rates visible on Malt, Upwork and Fiverr. Freelancers across the border in Como or Milan sometimes quote in euros below Swiss rates, which pushes the low end down.
| Criterion | Lugano agency | Local or cross-border freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build cost, 2026 ballpark | 6 000 to 25 000 CHF and up | 2 500 to 8 000 CHF | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 CHF, fixed |
| Native Italian copy | Usually included | Often included | Supplied by the studio or quoted separately |
| Changes outside scope | Often 100 to 160 CHF per hour | Often 60 to 110 CHF per hour | Quoted before any work |
| Usual timeline | 6 to 12 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Photos of built work | Can be coordinated locally | Rarely | Not included: your images or a local photographer |
| Support after launch | Separate maintenance contract | Case by case | 3 months, 6 on Premium |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
Be clear on one point: a cross-border freelancer can come in cheaper than Kolonell's Starter. What Kolonell adds is native English or French copy written for the project pages, a written fixed scope, a project manager who holds the schedule and full handover of access. Payment is by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % to start and 50 % at delivery. Calls happen on Google Meet at a time that suits the studio, with a written update every week; the team is based in Senegal (GMT), one to two hours behind Lugano depending on the season. Details are on our international website offer.
Which 3-year total cost should you compare?
The table compares a mid-range Ticino agency with Kolonell Growth plus a translator for Italian. Maintenance after the support period is quoted on request at Kolonell, so the table uses the same maintenance assumption on both sides.
| Item over 36 months | Lugano agency (mid range) | Kolonell Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Website build | 13 000 CHF | 4 500 CHF |
| Italian version | Included | Professional translator, 1 500 CHF |
| Maintenance (same assumption) | 110 CHF per month over 33 months, 3 630 CHF | 3 630 CHF, maintenance quoted on request |
| Photo licences for the web | 1 800 CHF | 1 800 CHF |
| Layout changes over 3 years | 6 hours at 130 CHF, 780 CHF | Quoted beforehand, assumption 600 CHF |
| Indicative total | 19 210 CHF | 12 030 CHF |
The gap is real but narrower than in Geneva or Zurich, because Ticino rates are lower and Italian has to be paid for separately with Kolonell. Ask every supplier to fill in this same table.
What does each Kolonell tier include for a Lugano studio?
| Item | Starter 2 700 CHF | Growth 4 500 CHF | Premium 8 200 CHF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Up to 8 projects | Portfolio filtered by type (villas, residential, hospitality, transformation) | Full portfolio with drawings, sections, materials |
| Language | English or French | English or French, Italian slot ready for your translation | Bilingual FR/EN included, Italian supplied or quoted |
| Studio and team | Studio page | One profile per partner with exact registrations | Full profiles, press, awards |
| Enquiry form | Simple form | Form sorted by project type and location | Journey per project type |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
| Support after launch | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
A private area for sharing drawings with clients is a custom application, quoted on request, as is ongoing search work.
What does a Lugano architecture studio website need?
Ticino studios work on lakeside villas around Lugano and Ceresio, hillside renovations in the Malcantone, hotel refurbishments and residential schemes for clients from Lombardy, German-speaking Switzerland and further afield. The architecture school in Mendrisio (part of USI) keeps the regional design culture visible internationally, and prospective clients compare studios on image quality first. The site should:
- Speak to several audiences: Italian for local clients and authorities, English for international owners, sometimes German for clients from the north of the Alps.
- Show projects with context: location, programme, year, status, photographer credit.
- State registrations precisely: Ticino regulates the practice of architecture through cantonal law, which ties it to registration with OTIA (Ordine degli ingegneri e architetti del Cantone Ticino). Show REG level and SIA membership only if they apply, and check the exact wording with OTIA.
- Clear photo licences: a magazine shoot is rarely licensed for unlimited web use.
- Load fast on phones for clients browsing from abroad.
Contact forms and analytics fall under the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023; clients from Italy or elsewhere in the EU may also bring GDPR expectations. WCAG 2.1 AA is a sound technical reference for accessibility. This is not legal advice.
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Which red flags should you watch for in quotes?
- Italian copy promised but not budgeted: ask who writes it and who proofreads it.
- No written list of pages and projects included in the price.
- A domain or hosting account in the supplier's name.
- Heavy video headers that slow the site to a crawl on a phone.
- Photos used without licence checks, a classic issue with architecture images.
- A maintenance contract you cannot exit without losing the site.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Marco B., partner in a four-person Lugano studio specialising in lakeside villa renovations, wants to reach owners from Zurich and abroad. A Ticino agency quotes 14 000 CHF for an Italian and English site. Kolonell proposes Growth at 4 500 CHF in English, with Italian translated by a professional for 1 200 CHF. Both options include 800 CHF of extended photo licences.
Build, Italian and photos: 14 800 CHF with the agency versus 6 500 CHF with Kolonell, an 8 300 CHF gap. Adding the same maintenance assumption of 110 CHF per month over 33 months (3 630 CHF each), the 3-year total is 18 430 CHF versus 10 130 CHF. Marco goes with Kolonell; a studio working only for Ticino clients might reasonably choose the local agency.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Lugano in 2026?
With a Ticino agency, expect a ballpark of 6 000 to 25 000 CHF, and 2 500 to 8 000 CHF with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 CHF.
Does Kolonell write in Italian?
No. Kolonell writes natively in English and French; Italian is supplied by the studio or quoted separately. A professional translation for a 10 to 15 page site often costs around 1 000 to 2 000 CHF.
Can Kolonell photograph our projects?
No, there is no on-site shoot. The studio uses its existing images or books a Ticino architectural photographer, often 1 000 to 2 200 CHF per day based on published rates.
How long does the project take?
Starter and Growth are delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Premium starts with a written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
What support do we get after launch?
Three months on Starter and Growth, six months on Premium. After that, maintenance is quoted on request.
Let's scope your project. Send us your project list, your target clients and the languages you need, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
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.
