The verdict in three sentences
For an architecture firm in Brussels, the website is first and foremost a portfolio: the quality of the project photography, the loading speed of heavy images and the clarity of the competition and awards pages matter more than anything else. A Brussels agency earns its fee if it also runs on-site photo shoots, visual identity and relations with the architecture press. If your images already exist and you want a fast, polished trilingual site, a remote studio with a project manager reachable on Brussels time delivers in 3 to 4 weeks for €2,700 to €8,200.
Which criteria separate a local agency from a remote studio?
An architect judges a website the way they judge a plan: proportions, rhythm, materials. The provider must understand editorial layout, image grids and file weight. Here are the criteria to compare.
| Criterion | Local agency in Brussels | Remote studio (Kolonell type) |
|---|---|---|
| Time-zone overlap | Full, Brussels time | Project manager reachable on your hours, scheduled meetings |
| Studio meetings | Possible, mock-up reviews on a large screen | Video calls with screen sharing |
| Languages | French and Dutch, often English | Native French and English copywriting, Dutch via a translator |
| Project photography | Coordinates shoots on site | Local architecture photographer to book, brief and formats provided |
| 2026 ballpark | €8,000 to €30,000 | €2,700 to €8,200, fixed grid |
| Timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Domain and code ownership | Varies, check the contract | In the client's name, written into the contract |
| Included support | Varies | 3 months |
These local ranges are a 2026 ballpark based on typical quotes and public rate pages of Brussels agencies. A freelancer often lands between €2,500 and €7,000, with results that depend heavily on their design sensibility.
When a Brussels agency is the better choice
To be frank: some situations call for a local agency.
- You are redoing your visual identity at the same time and want a single art direction for the logo, competition boards and website.
- You need photo and video coverage of several sites in Brussels and Wallonia, coordinated by the same team.
- Your partners want to review every mock-up in the studio, printed and pinned to the wall.
- You are preparing a book or an exhibition and want a provider who can also handle the publishing.
In those cases, €20,000 to €30,000 can be justified. If you already have professional photos of your built work, your identity is stable and the goal is a fast, well-structured portfolio that public and private clients can read easily, a remote studio is enough. The plans are detailed on the international website offer.
What an architecture firm's site must do, and the Belgian framework
| Site need | Concrete requirement | Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Project pages | Program, floor area, client, year, photo credits | Starter |
| High-definition images | WebP or AVIF, lazy loading, under 300 KB per displayed image | Starter |
| Portfolio filters | By type: housing, public buildings, offices, renovation | Growth |
| Competitions and awards | Dedicated page, boards and jury, outcome | Growth |
| Trilingual site | French, Dutch, English for international clients | Premium |
| Team and careers pages | Bios, internship and job openings | Growth |
| Long-form project stories | Editorial layout, zoomable plans and sections | Premium |
On the local framework, stay factual. Contact and job application forms fall under the GDPR, overseen in Belgium by the Data Protection Authority: privacy notice, prior consent for non-essential cookies, retention period for CVs. Architects' communication is governed by the ethics rules of the Order of Architects (Ordre des Architectes / Orde van Architecten): keep it sober and factual, and check the credits on projects delivered in partnership. Also mind photo credits and the usage rights granted by photographers. Target WCAG 2.1 AA for accessibility, which notably requires alt text describing every key image. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask both types of provider
- Will the domain, hosting and code be in our name from handover?
- How do you guarantee fast loading with 40 projects and 400 images?
- Can we add a project page ourselves, and how long does it take?
- Who manages the Dutch version and keeps it up to date?
- Do the photographers' licenses cover web and social media use?
- What does maintenance cost after the support period?
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. Sophie, a partner at a nine-person architecture practice in Ixelles, already has 35 photographed projects. A local agency quotes €22,000 and €220 per month for maintenance, so 22,000 + 36 × 220 = €29,920 over three years. She picks a remote studio's Premium plan at €8,200, adds €1,500 for Dutch translation and €140 per month after the three included months: 8,200 + 1,500 + 33 × 140 = €14,320. The €15,600 gap could pay, for example, for two full photo shoots of her next sites and the preparation of a competition entry.
FAQ
Can a remote studio handle a portfolio of several hundred images?
Yes, provided there is an automatic compression pipeline and lazy loading. A realistic target is a project page loading in under 2 seconds on mobile, with images under 300 KB each.
Does the site need to be in Dutch in Brussels?
It is not a general obligation for a private firm, but part of the Brussels and Flemish clients work in Dutch. Professional translation costs roughly €0.10 to €0.18 per word.
How much does architectural photography cost in Brussels?
Expect roughly €600 to €1,800 per project depending on size and number of shots, with or without web rights. Always check the scope of the license before publishing.
How long does it take to launch the site?
With a remote studio, 3 to 4 weeks if the project pages and images are ready. Writing 20 project descriptions often adds 1 to 2 weeks on the firm's side.
Can we publish our competition boards?
Yes, subject to the competition rules and the agreement of your partner firms. Plan one dedicated page per competition with 4 to 8 optimized boards.
Let's scope your project. A fast, polished trilingual architecture portfolio, from €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.