The verdict in three sentences
For a Neuchâtel architecture firm specialising in heritage restoration and conservation, the website has to tell long, well-documented stories: surveys, investigations, archive images, before and after comparisons. That editorial work can be done remotely very well if your files are digitised, at CHF 2,700 to 8,200 with delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. A local agency makes sense when multi-phase site photography has to be produced on the spot or image rights negotiated with regional archives and owners.
What each option really brings to a heritage architect
Neuchâtel is distinctive ground: an old town built in Hauterive yellow stone, patrician houses, watchmaking industrial buildings and, in the Neuchâtel mountains, the watchmaking town planning of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009. For an English-speaking practice owner here, clients are municipalities, foundations, private owners and public bodies who judge your rigour first.
| Criterion | Neuchâtel agency | Remote studio | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site photography by phase | Local photographer available within 48 h | Photographer hired separately | Plan 3 to 5 visits per project |
| Archive images and old plans | Useful regional contacts | Integrates what you provide | Reproduction rights in writing |
| Technical copy | Good, often generalist | Native English or French, reviewed with you | Validate conservation vocabulary |
| In-person workshops | 2 to 3 meetings included | Video calls, 4 to 5 sessions of 45 min | Low stakes for a small firm |
| Build price | CHF 10,000 to 35,000 | CHF 2,700 to 8,200 | Compare like for like |
| Lead time | 8 to 14 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks | Archive digitisation often takes longer |
| Domain and code ownership | Check | Check | Require registration in the firm's name |
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public rate pages of local agencies. The time difference with a studio whose team works on GMT is 1 to 2 hours depending on the season, with no real effect on a project of this kind.
What budget over three years for a small heritage practice?
| Item over 36 months | Neuchâtel agency | Local freelancer | Remote studio (Growth CHF 4,500) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website build | CHF 10,000 to 35,000 | CHF 5,000 to 12,000 | CHF 4,500 |
| Before and after photos of 6 projects | CHF 3,000 to 7,000 | CHF 3,000 to 7,000 | CHF 3,000 to 7,000 |
| Archive digitisation and rights | CHF 500 to 2,000 | CHF 500 to 2,000 | CHF 500 to 2,000 |
| Hosting and maintenance | CHF 5,400 to 14,400 | CHF 2,200 to 5,400 | CHF 3,300 to 8,300 (assumes CHF 100 to 250 a month after 3 included months) |
| Indicative total | CHF 18,900 to 58,400 | CHF 10,700 to 26,400 | CHF 11,300 to 21,800 |
Studio maintenance after the 3 included months of support is quoted separately: the line is a comparison assumption. At Kolonell the grid is fixed: Starter CHF 2,700, Growth CHF 4,500, Premium CHF 8,200, with a project manager reachable in your hours and native English or French copywriting. See the international website offer.
When is the Neuchâtel agency the better choice?
It clearly wins if you want photo coverage of a site over several years (a facade restoration can run 18 to 36 months), if your archive files are not digitised and someone has to handle them on site, or if your website supports an exhibition, a publication or heritage open days with local video production. It also has the edge when your partners insist on physical working sessions.
The remote studio is enough if your images are ready, a single partner leads the project and the main goal is a clear, fast portfolio that ranks well with municipalities and foundations.
Essential content and the Swiss frame
A heritage architect's site benefits from a portfolio filterable by building period, type of intervention (restoration, conversion, compliance upgrade, historical study), protection status and municipality; project pages with a timeline and a before and after slider; a methods page (surveys, investigations, traditional materials); a publications and talks page; and a form that qualifies the enquiry: address, known protection status, nature of works, budget, deadline. High-definition photos should be served as AVIF or WebP with lazy loading, for a mobile LCP under 2.5 seconds.
The revised Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP), in force since 1 September 2023, requires a privacy notice and information on collected data. Archive plans and photos may carry reproduction rights: get written permission and credit the source. For a private building, the owner's consent is needed before publication. Drone flights over old towns follow Swiss civil aviation rules, under the pilot's responsibility. The REG register exists and some cantons regulate the practice of the profession: check the Neuchâtel rules before displaying titles and qualifications. Aim for WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA, expected by many public clients. This is not legal advice.
Decision checklist: are your archives digitised? How many shoots a year? Can the provider build a lightweight before and after slider? Will the domain be in your name? Who adds a project to the CMS, and how fast?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Mathieu Perrenoud, partner in a 4-person Neuchâtel firm restoring mansions and former watch factories. Local agency quote: CHF 22,000 plus CHF 250 a month, so 22,000 + 9,000 = CHF 31,000 over three years. Studio option: Growth CHF 4,500 + maintenance assumed at CHF 130 a month for 33 months (CHF 4,290) = CHF 8,790, with identical photo costs in both cases. He puts part of the CHF 22,210 difference into digitising 15 years of site archives.
FAQ
Can we publish cantonal archive plans on our site?
Only with permission from the institution holding them, which sometimes charges a fee of a few tens to a few hundred francs per document. Always credit the source.
Does a before and after slider slow the site down?
Not if it is well built: two WebP images of 200 to 300 KB each are enough. LCP can stay under 2.5 seconds.
Do we need a German version in Neuchâtel?
Rarely for a local clientele. It makes sense if 20% or more of your commissions come from German-speaking Switzerland, and is quoted separately.
How long until launch?
3 to 4 weeks with a studio if photos and core copy are ready. Archive digitisation can add 2 to 6 weeks.
Who should own the domain name?
The firm, always. Require it in writing in the contract, whichever provider you choose, to avoid a difficult transfer after 3 years.
For an estimate based on your actual portfolio, use the free quote form.
Let's scope your project. A heritage portfolio with before and after, archives and a qualifying form, from CHF 2,700 to 8,200, 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.