Web design for architects in the UK means building a website that showcases your portfolio of built projects, ranks for local and sector-specific searches ("architect [city]", "residential architect near me", "commercial architect Birmingham"), and converts visitors into initial consultations. The portfolio IS the pitch - high-quality project photography is the primary conversion driver. Cost: £80-£200/month on subscription, or £1,500-£5,000 as a one-off build.
An architect's portfolio is their most persuasive business development tool. The quality of your built work, shown through professional photography, tells a prospective client more about your capability than any written description. Your website is where that portfolio lives online - and where prospective clients find and evaluate you before making contact.
A poorly presented architecture website loses commissions. Professional projects shown through blurry photographs or a disorganised gallery fail to communicate the quality of the work. An architecture practice without any meaningful web presence is invisible to the majority of the residential and commercial clients who begin their search on Google.
What prospective clients look for before commissioning an architect
Architecture commissions are significant financial decisions. Before approaching a practice, most clients - residential and commercial - evaluate: does this architect have relevant experience, does their aesthetic align with what I want, and what is the experience of working with them?
Portfolio quality and relevance. The most important element of any architecture website. High-resolution photography of completed projects, organised by project type, with information about scale, location, programme, and brief. Clients commissioning a residential extension will look specifically for extension projects - a portfolio heavy with commercial or institutional work may not convert them, however impressive the individual projects.
ARB and RIBA credentials. ARB (Architects Registration Board) registration is a legal requirement to practice as an architect in the UK. RIBA membership signals professional standards, CPD commitment, and access to professional resources. Both should be visible on your website - they are the primary professional trust signals for clients who may not otherwise know how to evaluate an architect's credentials.
Project descriptions and context. A beautiful photo with no context tells a prospective client little. A project card that includes brief, the site challenge, the design response, the scale, and the outcome tells them you understand how to solve problems, not just produce attractive buildings.
Client testimonials. Architecture clients who have had a positive experience are often enthusiastic advocates. Named testimonials from clients on completed projects - "the practice turned a complex planning situation into a home we love" from Mr and Mrs J., Birmingham - carry significant weight for prospective clients in a similar situation.
A defined process. Many residential clients have never worked with an architect before. A clear explanation of how you work - initial consultation, concept design, planning application, technical design, contractor procurement, contract administration - reduces anxiety about what commissioning an architect actually involves.
Portfolio organisation for architecture websites
The structure of your portfolio directly affects both user experience and SEO.
By project type. The most practical for most architectural practices. Residential extensions, new build houses, loft conversions, commercial projects, planning permission projects - each category targets a distinct client type and a distinct set of search terms.
By scale. If your practice works across significantly different scales (small residential to large commercial), organising by scale alongside project type helps prospective clients self-select.
Featured vs full portfolio. A selection of 6-8 hero projects in full depth (multiple photos, detailed description, client testimonial) converts better than 40 projects shown as thumbnail images with no context. Quality of presentation matters more than quantity.
Project case study format. For your best projects, a full case study format - brief description, challenge, design approach, process, outcome, project photography, client quote - performs well both as a conversion tool and as SEO content targeting specific project type searches.
Service pages for architectural practices
Individual service pages targeting specific project types outperform a single "Services" page for SEO.
Residential extensions. The highest-volume residential architecture search. "Architect for house extension [city]", "architect rear extension [area]", "kitchen extension architect near me" - homeowners planning extensions want to see relevant experience and understand the process and cost. A comprehensive page targeting these searches converts well.
New build residential. "New build architect [city]", "self-build architect near me" - clients planning new builds from scratch. The design process and regulatory requirements differ significantly from extensions; a separate page addresses this distinct client type.
Loft conversions. Often project-managed by builders rather than architects, but many homeowners search for "architect for loft conversion" when they want a designed result rather than a standard conversion. A dedicated page targeting this search captures clients seeking architectural quality in a common project type.
Listed buildings and heritage projects. Specialist expertise in listed building consent and conservation areas is valuable and searchable. "Architect for listed building [area]", "heritage architect [city]" - a distinct client type requiring specific expertise.
Commercial and mixed-use. If your practice serves commercial clients, individual pages for office design, retail architecture, hospitality design, or mixed-use development target the relevant commercial searches.
Planning permission and pre-planning advice. Many prospective clients search "architect for planning permission [city]" or "planning permission advice [area]" before they are ready to commission. A page explaining your role in the planning process, your track record with local planning authorities, and how you approach pre-application discussions captures this search intent.
Local SEO for architects
Google Business Profile. Complete every field. Categories should include "Architect" and any relevant specialist categories. Upload project photos regularly - Google rewards active profiles with more visibility. Respond to every review.
Location-specific practice pages. "Architect Birmingham", "architect Manchester", "RIBA architect London" - combining your professional designation with location targets the searches prospective clients use. Each location page needs genuine content about your work in that area, not just a postcode swap.
Planning authority experience. If you have a strong track record with specific local planning authorities (Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough), mentioning this in content and in your GBP description signals relevant local expertise to prospective clients.
RIBA Find an Architect. The RIBA directory is a valuable citation source and a referral channel in its own right. A complete, up-to-date RIBA profile with project images links authority from the professional body to your website.
Photography for architecture websites
Architecture photography is a specialist discipline. The same building, photographed by an architectural photographer vs. photographed on a phone, presents fundamentally differently. The investment in professional photography is the highest-return spend for any architecture practice's web presence.
What to photograph:
- Completed projects in optimal light (usually early morning or late afternoon for external shots)
- Interior spaces with attention to light quality and spatial character
- Architectural details that communicate craft and quality
- People in spaces where appropriate (not staged but genuine use)
- Before-and-after comparisons for extension or renovation projects
Drone photography. For site-specific projects where context matters, aerial photography communicates site location and relationship to surroundings in a way ground-level photography cannot.
How we build websites for UK architectural practices
At Octelis, we build websites for UK architectural practices that showcase portfolio quality and rank for local commission searches.
Our process:
- Discovery - understand your practice size, project types, geographic focus, and the commissions you want more of
- Keyword research - identify the searches prospective clients use to find architects for your project types in your area
- Build - custom website with portfolio organisation, project case studies, ARB/RIBA display, and local SEO
- Launch and rank - search visibility for your target project types from day one
Subscription from £80/month, no setup fee, first design draft within 48 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What must an architect's website include for ARB compliance?
ARB does not have specific website requirements, but registered architects must use the title "Architect" only if ARB-registered. Displaying your ARB registration number and RIBA membership is best practice and builds client confidence. Avoid making false claims about qualifications or experience.
How do UK architects attract residential clients through Google?
Through individual pages targeting project-type searches ("architect for house extension [city]", "loft conversion architect [area]"), a fully optimised Google Business Profile, professional project photography, and content explaining the planning and build process that clients search before enquiring.
Should an architect publish fees on their website?
Indicative fee guidance helps pre-qualify enquiries. Publishing that residential projects are typically charged at 10-15% of construction cost (or a fixed fee range for specific project types) filters in clients with appropriate budgets and filters out those whose expectations are incompatible.
How do I get more planning permission commissions through my website?
Create content targeting "planning permission architect [city]" and "pre-application planning advice [area]", and detail your local planning authority track record. Homeowners often search for planning advice as a starting point before commissioning a full architectural service.
Ready to win more commissions through your portfolio online? Talk to Octelis - we build websites for UK architectural practices that present work professionally and rank in local search.
Related reading:
- Web Design for Interior Designers UK - portfolio presentation for visual design disciplines
- Web Design for Professional Services UK - the professional services approach applied across disciplines
- Local SEO Guide for UK Small Businesses - the full local SEO playbook for professional practices
