The verdict in three sentences
For an 8-person architecture studio in Dublin, a premium portfolio at EUR 10,000 to 20,000 is judged on one thing: convincing a developer or competition panel in under two minutes. That requires 4K images in AVIF loading in under 2 seconds, factual project pages (area, budget, client, completion) and a selection of 30 to 50 projects rather than 200. Plan for 8 weeks, two of which go into selecting and processing visuals.
What a developer or panel looks for
A development director in Dublin compares three or four studios before a tender. They want evidence, not intentions.
| Element | What they check | Recommended format |
|---|---|---|
| Project page | Area, construction budget, client, year | Data block at top of page |
| Typologies | Residential, commercial, public buildings, retrofit | Filters by typology and status |
| Environmental performance | NZEB, BER rating, bio-based materials | Icons and key figures |
| Visuals | Completed photos, renders, plans | 4K AVIF full-screen gallery |
| Immersive tour | Flagship completed projects | Matterport on 3 to 6 projects |
| Team | Partners, RIAI registration, skills | Short page with portraits |
| Awards and competitions | RIAI awards, OPW and local authority competitions | Dated list |
Load time is decisive: 53 % of mobile visitors leave a page that takes more than 3 seconds to display. A gallery of heavy, unoptimised JPEGs drives away exactly the busy decision makers you want.
Three portfolio levels and 2026 prices
| Item | Essential | Premium | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | EUR 10,000 | EUR 14,500 | EUR 20,000 |
| Projects included | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| AVIF and WebP image processing | Automatic | Automatic with cropping | Image art direction |
| Structured project pages | Yes | Yes, with plans | Yes, with plans and NZEB figures |
| Filters (typology, status, county) | 2 filters | 4 filters | 4 filters and map |
| Matterport tours | Optional | 3 included | 6 included |
| Irish language page | No | Optional | Yes |
| Timeline | 6 weeks | 8 weeks | 10 weeks |
A Matterport tour costs about EUR 300 per project (capture and integration). It only makes sense for completed, visitable buildings that represent what the studio wants to sell.
Technical performance: figures to demand
| Indicator | Average studio site | Contractual target |
|---|---|---|
| Full-screen photo weight | 1.5 to 4 MB (JPEG) | 250 to 450 KB (AVIF) |
| Largest Contentful Paint | 4 to 6 s on mobile | Under 2 s |
| Lighthouse performance score | 40 to 60 | 90 and above |
| Total project page weight | 15 to 30 MB | Under 3 MB on first load |
| Lazy-loaded images | No | Yes |
| Hosting | Shared | European CDN |
Write these targets into the quote. A serious provider accepts them and measures them at delivery.
Mini case study
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Aoife Byrne, managing architect of an 8-person studio in Dublin 8, answers 6 developer tenders a year and wins one, with average fees of EUR 180,000. She picks the Premium level at EUR 14,500 with 3 Matterport tours and EUR 120 a month of maintenance. Over 3 years the total cost is EUR 18,820. If the new portfolio lifts her win rate from 1 in 6 to 1.5 in 6, that is one extra commission every two years, worth EUR 270,000 of fees over 3 years. Even at a 10 % net margin, the site returns EUR 27,000, well above its cost.
FAQ
How much does an architecture portfolio website cost in 2026?
Between EUR 10,000 and 20,000 in Dublin for 30 to 50 projects, depending on image processing, immersive tours and languages. Maintenance runs EUR 80 to 160 per month.
Should we show every project?
No. 30 to 50 well-documented projects convince better than 200 thumbnails. Keep archives on a secondary page and highlight what you want to win in the next 5 years.
Is AVIF supported by all browsers?
Over 93 % of browsers read it in 2026. The site automatically serves WebP or JPEG to the rest, with no work for the studio.
Can we display project budgets?
Yes, with client consent. A range such as EUR 4 to 6 million of construction is enough and reassures developers about your ability to hold a cost target.
Do Matterport tours slow the site down?
Not if they load on click rather than on page open. Visitors first see a 200 KB still image, then launch the tour if they want.
Let's scope your project. Send us the number of projects, your targets (developers, public competitions, private clients) and your deadline, and we will price a portfolio between EUR 10,000 and 20,000. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.
