Architecture portfolio examples
An architecture portfolio has to show how you think as well as what got built. The best ones pair a few strong images per project with the drawings and the facts that explain them.
Architecture portfolios, 4 ways.
Layouts made for architecture, each shown with a full portfolio of work. Open one and click around; every one is a live site.
-
For architecture
Projects laid out like drawings.
-
For architecture, interiors
One project per screen.
-
Sidebar
For designers, multidisciplinary
Every project listed on the left, the work scrolling on the right.
-
Corners
For architecture, fine art photography
Navigation in the four corners, one image in the middle.
How to make a good architecture portfolio.
Five things the best ones have in common, whichever platform you build on. More on our architecture portfolio website builder.
(01) Fewer projects, shown in depth
Four to eight projects are enough. For each, lead with one defining image, then plans, sections and details that show the idea behind it.
(02) Put the facts next to the images
Location, year, client, size, your role and collaborators. Clients and employers scan for these before anything else.
(03) Show drawings, not only renders
Plans, sections, sketches and models show how you work. Keep line weights readable on a phone; export drawings large enough to zoom.
(04) Separate built work from competitions and studies
Collections make the difference clear, so visitors know what they're looking at.
(05) Students, lead with your best studio project
Admissions and first employers see many portfolios. Open with the project that shows your process best, and keep a PDF version for applications that ask for one.
Free for up to 12 works. Every theme included.
About architecture portfolios
What should I put in my architecture portfolio?
Four to eight projects, each with a defining image, plans and sections, and the facts that matter to employers and clients - location, year, size, your role and collaborators. Separate built work from competitions and university projects.
How long should an architecture portfolio be?
For job applications, usually 15 to 30 pages or screens. It's better to show fewer projects in depth than many projects briefly. Online, each project should fit comfortably on one page that someone can scroll through in a minute.
Do you need a portfolio for architecture school?
Most programmes ask for one. They want to see how you observe and think in space - drawings, models, photographs and design work - rather than finished buildings. Check each school's requirements for format and length.
What does a good architecture portfolio look like?
Calm and consistent, with plenty of space around the images, a clear grid and legible drawings. The layout should feel like a well-set drawing sheet, so the projects stand out and the design of the portfolio doesn't compete with them.
Should my architecture portfolio be a website or a PDF?
Both. A website is easy to share, can be found in search and can be updated as projects are built. Many practices and schools also ask for a PDF with applications; Semirare makes one from the same projects, in the order you choose.