The verdict in three sentences
Redesigning the website of an architecture firm in Oslo costs EUR 8,500 to 26,000 with a local agency in 2026 (about NOK 100,000 to 300,000), against EUR 2,700, 4,500 or 8,200 on Kolonell's fixed grid. On an architecture site, the most underestimated risk is image weight: a 15 MB project page wrecks mobile speed, Core Web Vitals and accessibility. Once content is ready, allow 3 to 4 weeks of production, provided every URL is inventoried and 301 redirects are planned.
Why are so many Oslo practice websites slow?
Oslo practices publish highly visual work: waterfront redevelopment, housing, timber buildings and low-carbon projects. Photos arrive from the photographer at 20 to 40 MB, get uploaded as they are, and the theme resizes them in the browser. The usual result: an LCP above 4 seconds on 4G and a gallery that cannot be browsed by keyboard.
The table below gives the targets to write into the redesign brief.
| Metric | Common situation before redesign | Target after redesign | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project page weight | 8 to 20 MB | under 2 MB on first view | WebP/AVIF, responsive sizes, lazy loading |
| Mobile LCP | 4 to 7 s | under 2.5 s | Prioritised hero image, compression |
| CLS | 0.2 to 0.4 | under 0.1 | Reserved dimensions for every image |
| INP | 300 to 600 ms | under 200 ms | Lightweight gallery, fewer third-party scripts |
| Photo alt text | missing on 80 to 100% of images | 100% of informative images | Alt written project by project |
| Contrast and keyboard | light grey captions, mouse-only gallery | WCAG 2.2 AA | 4.5:1 contrast, visible focus, keyboard navigation |
On the rules: Norway applies universal design requirements that also cover private businesses' websites, based on WCAG 2.1 AA, with Digdir as the supervisory body. Aiming for WCAG 2.2 AA covers that baseline. The GDPR applies through the EEA, supervised by Datatilsynet. This is not legal advice.
What does the redesign cost by scope?
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages; NOK converted approximately into EUR.
| Scope | Oslo freelancer | Local agency | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 site, under 20 projects, one language | NOK 40,000 to 90,000 (approx. EUR 3,500 to 7,800) | NOK 100,000 to 160,000 (approx. EUR 8,500 to 14,000) | Starter EUR 2,700 |
| 1 site, 20 to 60 projects, filterable portfolio | NOK 70,000 to 120,000 (approx. EUR 6,000 to 10,500) | NOK 150,000 to 230,000 (approx. EUR 13,000 to 20,000) | Growth EUR 4,500 |
| Merging 2 sites, Norwegian and English | rarely offered alone | NOK 200,000 to 300,000 (approx. EUR 17,500 to 26,000) | Premium EUR 8,200 (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) |
| Project extranet, BIM viewer, client portal | no | on quote | on quote, linked or embedded |
| Tender document room, CRM | no | on quote | on quote |
Every Kolonell 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. Norwegian proofreading by an independent translator is a third-party cost. SEO beyond the migration is on quote. Details on the international offer.
What risks are specific to an architecture redesign?
- Lost rankings: ranking project and service pages change URL. Mitigation: full inventory, page-by-page 301 map, Search Console monitoring for 6 weeks.
- Duplicates after a merger: two sites showing the same project, each with its own URL. Mitigation: one canonical page per project, the other redirected.
- Image rights: a missing photo credit or a client who never approved publication. Mitigation: a sign-off sheet, one credit and one approval per project, private houses without addresses.
- Titles and affiliations: MNAL only appears if the firm's architects are members of the National Association of Norwegian Architects; sentral godkjenning is only cited if the firm holds it.
- Unchecked content: awards, distinctions and sustainability certifications only if real and supplied by the firm, with a compliance review before go-live.
- Forms: name, contact, project type, location area, rough budget. Drawings go through a separate secure channel, on quote. Building applications with the municipality are described generally.
- Recruitment: a careers page for architects and technologists, in English for international candidates.
When is a local agency the better option?
An Oslo agency is the better choice if the merger involves a new brand identity, in-person workshops with two partner teams, or a rebuilt extranet. Questions to ask any provider: what maximum weight per project page do you guarantee? Who writes the alt text? Do you deliver an accessibility report? Who builds the 301 map for both old domains?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Fjordlinje Arkitekter, 14 people, was formed by merging two studios that each kept their own site: 35 and 28 project pages, 12 of them duplicates.
Calculation: 35 + 28 − 12 = 51 projects to migrate, and 63 old project URLs to redirect. Premium tier EUR 8,200 (Norwegian and English, languages set in the quote) + Norwegian proofreading by an independent translator, about NOK 12,000, or approx. EUR 1,000 (third-party cost) = EUR 9,200. Compressing images from 18 MB to 1.6 MB per page brings a 51-project gallery from about 920 MB to 82 MB of media. Schedule: 1 week of inventory and redirects, 2 weeks of production, 1 week of accessibility testing and cutover.
FAQ
Is WCAG mandatory for a private practice in Oslo?
Norway's universal design rules also cover private businesses' websites, based on WCAG 2.1 AA. A redesign aiming for 2.2 AA covers that baseline.
How long does merging two sites take?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell once content is ready, including about 1 week for the inventory and 301 map. With a local agency, 10 to 18 weeks is common.
What weight should a project page target?
Under 2 MB on first view, with an LCP below 2.5 seconds on mobile. Further images load on scroll.
Is the client portal included in the EUR 8,200?
No. Extranet, BIM viewer, client portal and CRM stay on quote, linked or embedded in the site.
What happens to the old domain after the merger?
Keep it live for at least 12 months with page-by-page 301 redirects, and monitor it for 6 weeks in Search Console.
Let's scope your project. Send us your list of project pages and your languages, and we will price the migration, the tier between EUR 2,700 and 8,200 and a 3 to 4 week schedule. 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.
