They say that the First impression is the last impression, and in the digital age, a good architecture website is a sure way to make a compelling first impression as a design studio. While template-based website designs are on the rise, most of the websites we found were built from the ground up expressing the unique philosophy behind the firm. A good website must include an interaction of composition, proportion, typography, text and image content, colors, and a user-experience that brings everything together as a compelling whole.
Let’s not forget that the most important function of the website is to display the portfolio of works, and an organized, easy-to-navigate website is far better than a maze that leaves a visitor hanging.
That said, here is our countdown of the best studio/ architecture websites of 2020:
15. MMBB
MMBB was established in 1991 in Sao Paolo by three directors, Fernando de Mello Franco, Marta Moreira, and Milton Braga.
MMBB’s website opens not with an artistic landing page, but with an extensive array of projects immediately laid out before the viewer, accompanied by a series of filters to narrow down your search.
14. Nick Leith Smith
Founded in 2000, their portfolio spans luxury retail design, the arts, hospitality, and high-end residential work, working in close collaboration with internationally renowned brands, property developers, and private clients.
Nick Leith Smith’s architecture firm’s website is a good example with only 4 links on the menu. The website shows the works with a smooth transition in between. Moving further while opening the website, we get to discover their portfolio which is even more visually attractive and impressive than the homepage.
13. EFFEKT, Denmark
EFFEKT is an architectural collaborative based in Copenhagen, Denmark, established in 2007 operating in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and research. Currently employs 40 full-time staff under the creative direction of the two founders Tue Foged and Sinus Lynge.
The website is well structured and follows a clean grid with three options- news, work, and office, enough to present the company. Their website also manages to catch attention immediately by featuring some projects on the homepage.
12. Snøhetta
Snøhetta began as a collaborative architectural and landscape workshop and has remained true to its trans-disciplinary way of thinking since its inception. Their work strives to enhance our sense of place, identity, and relationship to others and the physical spaces we inhabit, whether feral or human-made. Museums, markets, reindeer observatories, landscapes, and dollhouses get the same care and attention to purpose.
The use of background as a white canvas with projects appearing on the way as you scroll down the page is a great use of whitespace on the website, giving the photos room to breathe.
11. John Pawson
John Pawson has spent over thirty years making rigorously simple architecture that speaks of the fundamentals but is also modest in character. Well, known for ”minimalism and purity” in their projects, their website reflects their work as architects. “Less is more.”
10. Olson Kundig
Olson Kundig is led by five owners—Jim Olson, Tom Kundig, Kirsten R. Murray, Alan Maskin, and Kevin Kudo-King. The firm opened a workspace in New York in 2014 to better serve its expanding roster of East Coast and international clients. The in-house interiors studio, founded in 2000, provides a full range of services, including material selection, custom furniture design, and purchasing capabilities.
The main landing page of the website displays videos of some specific projects giving a live impression of what it’s like to be there.
9. OMA
OMA is an international practice operating within the traditional boundaries of architecture and urbanism. AMO, a research and design studio, applies architectural thinking to domains beyond. Its website consists of a very particular amount of information throughout, which is easy to understand. They display their work using the location’s geotag through Instagram images. One should always think of creating a stunning website like this, and updating sites via secure ftp is anyways an option from anywhere.
8. UKI Arkkitehdit
The history of UKI Arkkitehdit goes back to the year 1958. In almost six decades, they have contributed to hundreds of interesting and demanding projects. Over 40 professionals design in our modern, multi-talented, and international expert organization. During three generations, this office has produced architectural designs already for ca. 3,000 projects.
A flash-based site, starting with a sketching video drives to the feel of the studio along with its elegant, full-screen design with easy transitions.
7. Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron is a partnership led by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron with Senior Partners Christine Binswanger, Ascan Mergenthaler, and Stefan Marbach.
Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron established their office in Basel in 1978. An international team of six Partners, about 40 Associates, and 380 collaborators work on projects across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Herzog & de Meuron decided to keep their website design old-school that clearly references the early-1990s digital technology. The stark, text-based browsing system and succession of pop-up windows make it unique and interesting.
6. Off Box Architecture
Off box Architecture was founded by Lorik Rexhaj. The studio is based out of Kosovo, a country in southeastern Europe. The use of programming to reflect the architectural ideology of parametric design in the website is a unique quality of this website. Also, Use of white and black space as the background creates a simple yet attractive background.
