The verdict in three sentences
For a two-partner architecture atelier in Aarhus, the real choice is between three options: a local freelancer, a Danish agency and a remote studio. If your clients are Danish homeowners who want every page in their language, native Danish copy is non-negotiable and the local option takes the lead; if you also target international clients living in Aarhus and competitions, a fixed-price remote studio is often the best value. The trap specific to small practices: a site whose domain or hosting sits in the name of a provider who disappears.
Checklist: which option do you lean towards?
Answer yes or no. Three or more yes answers pointing the same way give a clear trend.
| Question | If yes, it leans towards |
|---|---|
| Over 70 percent of your clients are Danish homeowners | Local agency or freelancer |
| You want meetings in your atelier to approve mock-ups | Local agency or freelancer |
| You target international clients, researchers or expat managers | Remote studio |
| You already have 10 to 15 photographed projects | Remote studio |
| You want a fixed price known before signing | Remote studio |
| Nobody on your side can update the site | Local agency on retainer |
| Your build budget is under EUR 5,000 | Freelancer or studio, Starter plan |
The time difference with our team is 1 to 2 hours depending on the season: the working day is almost fully shared.
When the local option is clearly best
To be honest: an atelier designing house extensions, summer houses in Djursland or farmhouse renovations for Danish clients will gain from working with someone who writes natively in Danish, knows the clients' vocabulary and can drop by to see the models. The native copywriting included in our offer covers English or French; Danish goes through a translator, on quote, which is fine for a portfolio site but less fluid than a local writer adjusting every text with you.
A remote studio makes sense when English matters as much as Danish, your photos exist and you want a polished site delivered fast, without a monthly retainer. Our international website offer 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.
Three options, 3-year cost
Local ranges come from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages, converted to euros: a freelancer charges around DKK 20,000 to 50,000, or EUR 2,700 to 6,700, an agency DKK 60,000 to 200,000, or about EUR 8,000 to 26,800. A 2026 ballpark; for an atelier site of this size, the table uses EUR 8,000 to 20,000 for the agency.
| Item | Local freelancer | Aarhus agency | Remote studio, Starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | EUR 2,700 to 6,700 | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 | EUR 2,700 |
| Danish version | Included | Included | EUR 600 to 1,200 (on quote) |
| Project photography | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 | EUR 1,000 to 3,000 |
| Hosting and maintenance, 36 months (market, EUR 30 to 100 a month) | EUR 1,080 to 3,600 | EUR 1,080 to 3,600 | EUR 1,080 to 3,600 |
| Continuity risk | High (one person) | Low | Low |
| 3-year total | EUR 4,780 to 13,300 | EUR 10,080 to 26,600 | EUR 5,380 to 10,500 |
The freelancer can be the cheapest option: if so, check who holds the access credentials if they stop trading. The Growth plan at EUR 4,500 adds room for a richer portfolio and a project journal.
What a small atelier's site must include
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- A filterable portfolio by type (new house, extension, renovation, summer house, competition) and status.
- Quality photography in natural light, and drone views for coastal plots; flights follow EU drone rules and Danish rules, so use a local operator. Require a written licence covering the site, press and competitions.
- An about page showing both partners, their method and their awards.
- A press and competitions page, even a short one.
- Lightweight images: AVIF or WebP, lazy loading, under 2.5 seconds to show the first image on mobile.
- A simple CMS: a partner must be able to add a project in 20 minutes on a Sunday evening.
- A qualifying enquiry form: project type, plot or existing building, budget, timeline.
Local frame: your forms fall under the GDPR and the Danish Data Protection Act, supervised by Datatilsynet: privacy notice, consent for non-essential cookies, retention period for enquiries. For professional titles and memberships shown on the site (MAA, for example), check with your professional organisation what you may write. Aim for WCAG 2.2 level AA. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask all three options: are the domain and hosting in our name? Who covers if the provider is unavailable? Is the code handed over? What does a layout change cost after delivery? Who writes in Danish?
Mini case study
*Illustrative example.* Mette Holm and Anders Lund run a two-partner atelier in Aarhus: house extensions and summer houses. About 40 percent of their enquiries now come from international clients.
- Quotes received: freelancer EUR 5,000, agency EUR 12,000.
- Option chosen: remote studio Growth EUR 4,500 + Danish version EUR 900 + photographer EUR 1,800 = EUR 7,200.
- Benchmark: a single extension with fees of around EUR 20,000 represents nearly 3 times that budget.
They ruled out the freelancer because of continuity risk and the agency because of price, and kept an Aarhus photographer under direct contract.
FAQ
Does a remote studio understand the Danish market? It knows the web and architecture portfolios, less the local cultural nuances. That is why the Danish version, a ballpark EUR 600 to 1,200, should be reviewed by you before launch.
Is Starter enough for two partners? For 8 to 12 projects and 5 main pages, yes, at EUR 2,700. Beyond 15 projects or with a journal, the Growth plan at EUR 4,500 fits better.
What does a house photo shoot cost? As a 2026 ballpark, EUR 600 to 1,500 per project with a local architectural photographer, web rights included.
How soon is the site live? 3 to 4 weeks with a remote studio if texts and photos are ready. Local agencies often quote 6 to 10 weeks.
What happens after the 3 months of support? You carry on alone through the CMS or take a maintenance plan priced on quote. Ask for a free quote that spells this out from the start.
Let's scope your project. An atelier portfolio in English or French, with an optional Danish version, EUR 2,700 to 4,500 before photography, live 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.