The verdict in three sentences
For an architecture firm website in Dublin, a local agency is worth its price if you want it to coordinate architectural photographers, migrate a large project archive and meet you in person at every stage. A remote studio like Kolonell fits when your photos already exist and you want a clean portfolio, clear service pages and an effective first-contact form, at a fixed price (2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR) in 3 to 4 weeks. The time zone will not get in the way: the team works on GMT, the same hour as Dublin in winter.
Which criteria should you compare between a Dublin agency and a remote studio?
| Criterion | Dublin agency | Remote studio (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical presence | Meetings at the practice, site visits | No in-person meetings, Google Meet calls at your hour |
| Architectural photography | Sometimes coordinated by the agency | Not included: your licensed photos or your photographer |
| Time zone | Same | GMT, 0 to 1 hour apart, written update every week |
| Build price, 2026 ballpark | 6 000 to 30 000 EUR and up | 2 700 / 4 500 / 8 200 EUR, fixed |
| Timeline | Usually 8 to 14 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium usually 4 to 6 |
| Ownership | Check the contract | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
| Support | Monthly contract or block of hours | 3 months after launch, 6 on Premium, then maintenance quoted on request |
| Project write-ups | Often billed separately | Native English or French included |
These prices are prudent ballparks, drawn from public rate cards of Dublin agencies, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co profiles, hourly rates published by Irish studios (often 75 to 130 EUR per hour) and freelance rates on Upwork and Malt, often 2 000 to 7 000 EUR for an architect's portfolio.
When is the Dublin agency the better choice?
To be frank, it wins in several cases.
- You do not yet have professional photos of your work and want one supplier to organise shoots on every completed project.
- Your archive holds more than a hundred projects with advanced filters, downloads and a press area: a migration of that size is quoted on request at Kolonell, and a local agency can absorb it more easily.
- You are preparing a competition or award submission and want a full visual identity, film included, built in workshops.
- You want an Irish-language version written by a local supplier: at Kolonell, it is supplied by you or quoted separately.
- Your management board wants to meet the supplier in person at every milestone.
When does a remote studio like Kolonell fit?
- Your photos already exist and you have checked they can be used on the web.
- Your portfolio holds 10 to 40 projects to present clearly by type: extensions, retrofit, housing, public buildings, interiors.
- You want a fixed price paid by bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff, 50 % at delivery, and a domain in your name.
- You want a bilingual FR/EN site for international clients: that is the Premium tier at 8 200 EUR.
Full tier details are on our international website offer.
What does each tier include for an architecture firm?
| Item | Starter 2 700 EUR | Growth 4 500 EUR | Premium 8 200 EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | Up to about ten flagship projects | Page per project with text, photo credits, scope of work | Full portfolio filterable by type and location |
| Service pages | Services page | One page per type of work (extension, retrofit, conservation, multi-unit housing) | Pages by client: homeowners, developers, public bodies |
| Team and qualifications | Practice page | Partner profiles with exact registration | Detailed profiles, publications, teaching |
| First contact | Simple form | Qualified form: project type, address, indicative budget, timing | Journey per client type |
| Bilingual FR/EN site | No | No | Included |
| Timeline | 3 to 4 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Written schedule, usually 4 to 6 weeks |
What does a Dublin architecture practice need, and which rules apply?
In Dublin, a large share of inquiries concerns extensions and energy retrofits of houses in Rathmines, Ranelagh, Clontarf or Drumcondra, work on protected structures in Georgian Dublin, multi-unit housing and office fit-outs around the Docklands. Homeowners want to know how a planning application with the local authority works, how long a project takes and whether the practice can support a home energy upgrade grant application. Developers and public bodies look mainly at references and team capacity.
On compliance, the facts only. In Ireland, the title of architect is protected under the Building Control Act 2007, with the register held by the RIAI: the site presents each person's qualifications exactly, without giving the title to anyone not registered. Architectural photos usually belong to the photographer: check that the licence covers web and press use. Form data falls under the GDPR, supervised by the Data Protection Commission. WCAG 2.1 AA serves as the accessibility reference. This is not legal advice.
Which questions should you ask before signing?
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
- Who organises and pays for photos, and does the licence cover the web?
- How many projects are included in the price, and what does an extra one cost?
- Will the site be easy for your team to update after each completion?
- Who owns the domain and hosting?
- How are qualifications checked before publication?
Mini case study
Illustrative example. Ciarán D., co-director of a six-person practice in Dublin 8 focused on extensions and energy retrofits of terraced houses, compares two offers. A Dublin agency proposes 18 500 EUR, photography coordinated, in 12 weeks. Kolonell proposes Growth at 4 500 EUR for 24 projects, with a web licence extension negotiated with the practice's usual photographer for 900 EUR.
Kolonell route: 4 500 + 900 = 5 400 EUR, live in 4 weeks. Gap with the agency: 13 100 EUR. Ciarán chooses the remote studio and keeps the local agency in mind for the full identity he is considering for a future competition.
FAQ
How much does an architecture firm website cost in Dublin in 2026?
With a local agency, expect a ballpark of 6 000 to 30 000 EUR, and 2 000 to 7 000 EUR with a freelancer. Kolonell charges a fixed 2 700, 4 500 or 8 200 EUR.
Can Kolonell photograph our completed projects?
No, Kolonell does no on-site photography. A Dublin architectural photographer often charges 600 to 1 500 EUR per project based on published rates.
How many projects can we show?
Growth at 4 500 EUR covers one page per project for a typical portfolio. An archive of more than a hundred projects is quoted on request.
Does the time difference complicate the project?
No, the team works on GMT, 0 to 1 hour apart. You get a written update every week.
How does payment work?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, which means two payments of 2 250 EUR on Growth.
Let's scope your project. Send us your project list, the state of your photos and your types of work, and we come back with a fixed-price tier and a 3 to 4 week timeline. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
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.
