The verdict in three sentences
For an architecture firm in Antwerp, the website is first a portfolio: photo quality, fast loading of heavy images and the ease of adding a project matter more than page count. An Antwerp design studio is the right call if you want a bespoke visual identity built in workshops, or an experimental site conceived as a piece of design in its own right. If your identity and photography already exist, a remote studio at a fixed price (EUR 2,700 to 8,200 at Kolonell) delivers a fast, multilingual, self-managed portfolio in 3 to 4 weeks.
Which criteria really matter for an architecture firm?
Weight each criterion for your practice. Example for an office of 6 to 15 people entering public competitions and working for private Flemish and international clients.
| Criterion | Weight | Local Antwerp agency | Remote studio (e.g. Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-site identity workshops | High if rebranding | Strength | Video calls, existing identity reused |
| Time-zone overlap | Medium | Full | Shared European working day, project manager in your time zone |
| Languages (Dutch, French, English) | High | Native Dutch, French varies | Native English and French, Dutch via a local writer |
| Architectural photography | High | Local photographer network | You supply photos or a briefed photographer |
| Heavy image optimisation | High | Varies | Included: modern formats, progressive loading |
| CMS to add projects | High | Often billed per addition | Self-service additions included |
| Ownership of domain and code | High | Check the contract | In the client's name, written into the contract |
| Price | Medium | Quote-based, often day rates | Fixed grid EUR 2,700 / 4,500 / 8,200 |
What budgets should you expect in 2026, and over three years?
Ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on public rate pages and typical quotes from Antwerp and Flemish studios and agencies. Award-winning design studios often bill by the day, between EUR 600 and 1,000.
| Option | Build | Typical yearly upkeep | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance web designer | EUR 2,500 to 6,000 | EUR 500 to 1,200 | EUR 4,000 to 9,600 |
| Antwerp web studio | EUR 8,000 to 18,000 | EUR 1,200 to 3,000 | EUR 11,600 to 27,000 |
| Award-winning design studio (identity and site) | EUR 20,000 to 40,000 | EUR 2,500 to 5,000 | EUR 27,500 to 55,000 |
| Kolonell Starter | EUR 2,700 | 3 months included, then on quote | EUR 2,700 plus maintenance on quote |
| Kolonell Growth | EUR 4,500 | 3 months included, then on quote | EUR 4,500 plus maintenance on quote |
| Kolonell Premium | EUR 8,200 | 3 months included, then on quote | EUR 8,200 plus maintenance on quote |
For 20 to 40 projects with typology filters, Growth is usually enough; Premium makes sense for a trilingual site, detailed competition pages and animation. Details are on the international offer page.
When is the Antwerp studio the better choice?
To be honest, the local agency or studio wins if:
- you are redoing your visual identity at the same time and want workshops at the office, models on the table;
- the site must itself be an award-worthy design piece with experimental interactions;
- you want the studio to organise and direct shoots on your Flemish sites;
- your communication is Dutch first and you want one team for copy, site and press kits.
A remote studio is enough if your identity exists, your architectural photography is ready, and you mainly want a fast portfolio that is easy to update and well indexed in English and French.
What should the site include, and which frame applies?
Project pages with a fact sheet (location, floor area, client, status, credited photographer), typology filters, competition and award pages, team and careers page, news. Image weight is the critical technical point:
| Asset | Typical original | After optimisation | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-screen photo | 4 to 8 MB (JPEG) | 250 to 450 KB (AVIF or WebP) | Project page loads in under 2.5 s |
| Project thumbnail | 1 to 2 MB | 40 to 80 KB | Smooth grid of 30 projects on mobile |
| Plan or section | 5 to 15 MB PDF | Vector image or slimmed PDF | Readable without a heavy download |
| Site video | 200 to 500 MB | Adaptive streaming | No blocking on open |
| 15-photo gallery | 60 to 100 MB | 4 to 6 MB, progressive loading | Less mobile data used |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
The frame, kept general: Belgian architects fall under the Order of Architects (Orde van Architecten, Ordre des Architectes), whose code of conduct governs communication; stay factual and credit co-authors. GDPR applies to contact and job application forms, supervised by the Belgian Data Protection Authority. Check photo rights too: the photographer should assign web usage rights in writing. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA (image alt text, contrast). This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask both providers: can I add a project myself in 15 minutes? What is the average weight of a project page? Who holds the domain? How are the three languages handled?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Lotte Peeters is a partner in a 9-person office on the Eilandje. Her current studio bills EUR 250 for every project added, about EUR 2,500 a year for 10 projects. Local quote for a new site: EUR 15,000. Chosen option: Kolonell Growth at EUR 4,500 with a self-service CMS, plus EUR 1,000 of Dutch copywriting, for EUR 5,500. Saving at build: EUR 9,500, plus EUR 2,500 a year of project additions avoided. Over 3 years the gap exceeds EUR 17,000 before maintenance, which is quoted separately.
FAQ
Will the site be in Dutch, French and English?
Yes, the trilingual structure is available from the Growth plan at EUR 4,500. Kolonell writes native French and English; budget EUR 800 to 1,500 for a Dutch writer.
Will my high-resolution photos slow the site down?
Not if they are converted to AVIF or WebP: a 6 MB photo drops to about 300 KB with no visible loss. The target is a project page displayed in under 2.5 seconds on mobile.
Can I publish my competition entries?
Yes, subject to each competition's rules, which sometimes set an anonymity period. One competition page per project, with jury and result, builds credibility with public clients.
How long does it take?
3 to 4 weeks at Kolonell once photos and copy are delivered, versus 8 to 16 weeks for a local studio that also builds the identity.
What happens after launch?
Three months of support are included. Maintenance after that is quoted, and you remain owner of the domain, code and content.
Let's scope your project. A fast trilingual portfolio for your Antwerp architecture firm, from EUR 2,700 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.