For an architectural firm, the way you communicate through your own website has great value. Even if not wanted, the visitors will perceive something more about us watching any architects websites. It will make its own idea (still superficial of course), from the visual design to the contents.
Everyone is now aware of the importance of a website. For architects and designers, this importance is even more marked in some ways. It is not just a matter of showing one’s reliability and persuading the potential customer or visitor of our professionalism, but also intangible factors such as aesthetic taste, visual consistency, expressiveness of visual choices, contents etc., come into play.
Even if we do not want it, visitors will perceive something more about us by observing our website – starting from the visual design and then from the contents. There is no way to avoid this first phase of judgment. Or maybe yes. It could be the “Japanese way”. I.e. create empty websites!
With this awareness, we can say that the appearance of a website should offer the visitor something that is as close as possible to our ideals, values and philosophies. To experience the best WordPress themes for architects or designers click here.
This research on the “most important” architects’ websites in the world aims to find out how they use this powerful digital communications tool. If you are interested in the most authoritative sites information architecture, then visit this page.
We will not speak about the “corporate” websites of multinational firms such as Gensler, Aecom, Jacobs etc, because they all look a bit ‘ “corporate” … That is precisely clarity, simplicity and efficiency first. Excellent quality certainly, but now – more than anything – we are looking for the differences, the uniqueness.
Below, we will investigate several sites divided into categories identified by ourselves. Ie without any scientific basis. We hope this will be useful or at least entertaining.
The most original Architects websites
Even if we are in the “category” of original websites, do not expect paranormal experiences. Thank goodness the time of animations or similar things ended many years ago. Today, first of all, a website must work immediately and be uncomplicated to navigate. At least intuitive. Virtually all of the names on this list comprehend this very well, and you should understand that too.
So not necessarily these first sites will be weird or unique; in some cases, they are original merely for the navigation system.
Architecture for London
BIG
OMA.EU
SNØHETTA
HERZOG&DEMEURON
ZAHA-HADID
STEVEN HOLL
RICHARD ROGERS
Other studies that are absolutely worth adding to this first selection of original websites are: Studioninedots (for the colour combinations and interactivity of the pages) – fcjz (click and you’ll understand)
Minimal Websites
Minimal websites are the ones that have been gaining popularity in recent years. So it is not difficult to come across this type of website. There are many examples to mention, but in order not to dwell too much here, I have collected only three. They distinguish themselves differently to interpret the concept of light and minimal website.
The website of the Selgas Cano studio is as simple as it is brilliant. A single page, a single sentence (the name of the studio) and a single link – which refers to the google search “Selgas Cano” in which the excellent search engine collects all the best online content that tells the designers.
John Pawson is an even more minimal study than the previous one, which, however, retains a high dose of charm. Of course, there’s a lot of space left blank on the page, but this website is undoubtedly very successful in its being minimal.
Another fairly minimal study, with a conventional navigation structure and a standard projects presentation layout, is Lemoal Lemoal. A good example.
Japanese Architects’ websites
“Perhaps they know something we do not know yet ..”
cit. Claudio
Maybe in the next 10 years even our sites will be like these. Or maybe in Japan there is a completely different aesthetics and user experience of the web … the fact is that we fail to appreciate these sites all the way.
TOYO ITO
SANAA
Other websites of famous Japanese architects (not worth visiting from a web design point of view) are: TADAO ANDO – KENGO KUMA – SHIGERU BAN – FUHIMIKO MAKI – KENZO TANGE – junya.ishigami+associates – Atelier Bow-Wow
Those who just don’t care to have a website
As we said in the introduction, your own website always communicates something. Perhaps it is for this reason that some architects choose not to have it. They prefer to be discussed through the more traditional channels perhaps.
The fact is that they can afford this way to communicate, but a young architect or a young firm instead needs to look out and be found on the web.
Few examples: ALVARO SIZA – Eduardo Souto de Moura – FRANK GHERY – Peter Zumthor – Paulo Mendes da Rocha.
The classical ones
This category is for the websites that we consider more “normal”. That is a classic home with a classic menu that allows you to navigate the project pages, contacts etc. Maintaining a setting to which we are accustomed.
Normality does not mean banality. These websites are easy, immediate and can satisfy all the purposes for which they are designed.
RPBW
Other sites that belong to this category: DANIEL LIBESKIND – MOSHE SAFDIE – CESAR PELLI – JEAN NOUVEL – SANTIAGO CALATRAVA – ALEJANDRO ARAVENA – FOSTER + PARTNERS – DAVID CHIPPERFIELD – BERNARD TSCHUMI – RICHARD MEIER.
Italian Architects’ websites
“They still have some work to do to improve, in my opinion, but they look very good. Nobody stands out for originality, but it is still true that Italian web design never betrays. “
I introduced this category to the first draft of this article more than five years ago with these words. Now (2022), I can say that the websites of Italian architects have evolved a lot in recent years – keeping up to date with the best trends and even contributing with originality to this fascinating web design landscape.
Here are some references worth discovering:
PARK ASSOCIATI
Other websites of some of the main Italian architects that are worth a visit: ONE WORKS – LOMBARDINI22 – MICHELE DE LUCCHI – MARIO CUCINELLA – CITTERIO & VIEL – MARIO BELLINI – FUKSAS – LISSONI & PARTNERS
Here instead some other references of firms slightly smaller than the previous ones, but which still offer extremely successful navigation experiences: OPENFABRIC – CASATI BUONSANTE ARCHITECTS – A2BC – GOSPLAN – BDR BUREAU – STUDIO OSSIDIANA – STUDIO WOK
Now you have a clear idea of the panorama of architecture websites. Starting from this page, you can get an idea of the best way to present your work as a designer.
If, on the other hand, you want to stay updated and find out what our sources of architecture and design are, then read this post: “The best Architecture websites“
