The verdict in three sentences
A website redesign for a Geneva architecture firm costs roughly CHF 25,000 to 70,000 at a local agency in 2026, against CHF 4,500 (Growth) or CHF 8,200 (Premium, the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) with Kolonell. The tricky part is the portfolio: dozens of image-heavy project pages, already indexed, which need a URL inventory, 301 redirects and serious image compression. A project extranet or client portal is priced separately, on quote.
How do you know a redesign is due?
In Eaux-Vives, Plainpalais or Carouge, many firms run a website built five to eight years ago and fed project by project. If you run an English-speaking practice in Geneva, the usual signals are:
- project pages weighing 10 to 20 MB, with uncompressed photos;
- a portfolio without filters (housing, renovation, public buildings, projects for international organisations);
- missing photo credits and projects published without the client's written consent;
- an English version that is partial or machine translated, while part of your clients work in international Geneva;
- a careers page untouched for years;
- the architect title used on profiles that do not hold it.
On that last point, be careful: the title only appears where the firm or the person actually holds it, for instance through registration with REG or the cantonal authorisation as a qualified professional (MPQ). Check the exact wording with your professional body.
What budget, line by line?
2026 ballpark based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages.
| Line | Geneva agency | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop, site structure, design | CHF 8,000 to 20,000 | CHF 2,000 to 6,000 | Included in the tier |
| Build and CMS | CHF 10,000 to 30,000 | CHF 3,000 to 9,000 | Included in the tier |
| Migrating 30 to 60 projects | CHF 4,000 to 12,000 | CHF 1,000 to 4,000 | Volume set in the quote |
| Second language version | CHF 3,000 to 8,000 | CHF 1,000 to 3,000 | Premium, the multilingual tier |
| Project extranet, BIM, client portal | On quote | Rarely offered | On quote |
| Total excluding extranet | CHF 25,000 to 70,000 | CHF 7,000 to 22,000 | CHF 2,700, 4,500 or 8,200 |
The CHF 2,700 Starter tier covers 5 pages; a firm with a portfolio of more than 20 projects fits Growth at CHF 4,500. Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. Tiers are detailed on the international offer page.
What is a realistic timeline?
| Step | Duration | Firm's side | Provider's side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content preparation | 2 to 4 weeks | Project selection, client consents, photo credits | List of expected content |
| Audit and inventory | 3 to 5 days | Search Console access | URL list, pages that bring traffic |
| Design and build | 2 to 3 weeks | Mock-up approval | Project templates, filters, second language |
| Migration and QA | 3 to 5 days | Project page proofreading | 301 redirects, WebP or AVIF compression |
| Go-live and monitoring | 1 day, then 4 weeks | Google listing updated | Sitemap, 404 monitoring |
The build takes 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready. Preparation on the firm's side remains the longest step: getting each client's consent can take several weeks.
Which risks should you watch?
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- Lost rankings on project pages. A page about a building renovation in Plainpalais may have been bringing enquiries for years. Keep its URL or 301 it to the new project page, never to the home page.
- Image weight. WebP or AVIF formats, lazy loading, mobile-sized images; aim for under 2 MB per project page.
- Rights and permissions. A credit for every photographer, written client consent, caution on ongoing projects: building permit procedures are described in general terms, without confidential detail.
- Awards and competitions. Only real competitions and prizes, supplied by the firm with their reference, appear on the site.
- Personal data. The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nLPD/revFADP), in force since 1 September 2023 and supervised by the FDPIC, applies to the contact form and job applications; the GDPR may also apply to visitors from the EU, cross-border commuters included. This is not legal advice.
- Downtime. DNS switch in the evening, old site kept for two weeks.
When is a Geneva agency preferable?
If you want a site progress extranet connected to your BIM tools, an art direction built in in-person workshops or support on competition entries, a local agency specialised in architecture is justified. Ask each provider: who compresses and migrates the images? Who writes the redirect map? How are credits and consents handled? Is the second language translated or written natively? What does support cover?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Atelier Rive-Sud, six people in Carouge, led by Claire Morand. Its website has 48 project pages and about 600 images averaging 2.5 MB, close to 1.5 GB in total.
- After conversion to WebP at about 250 KB per image, the volume drops to about 150 MB, ten times less.
- The audit keeps 36 projects, merges 12 into summary pages and creates 12 301 redirects.
- Local agency quote: CHF 48,000. Kolonell option: Premium CHF 8,200 for French and English, plus a local photographer for 4 recent projects (third-party cost) about CHF 2,400, total CHF 10,600.
- Gap: 48,000 minus 10,600, so CHF 37,400, with the client extranet on quote in both cases.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website redesign cost in Geneva? About CHF 25,000 to 70,000 at a local agency in 2026. With Kolonell, CHF 4,500 for Growth or CHF 8,200 for Premium, extranet on quote.
How long does the redesign take? 3 to 4 weeks of build once content is ready. Including the collection of consents and credits, plan 6 to 8 weeks overall.
Should we keep every project page? No. Out of 48 projects, merging 10 to 15 is common, as long as every old URL 301s to the closest page.
Can we show the architect title for all partners? Only for those who hold it, for instance through REG or the MPQ authorisation. A 10-minute check per profile avoids a public mistake.
Will the site be fast on mobile despite the photos? Yes, with WebP or AVIF and lazy loading. The target is a project page under 2 MB.
Let's scope your project. A portfolio redesign with project migration, optimised images and a second language, on a fixed budget of CHF 4,500 to 8,200 delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.
