Inspiration: Architecture website Archiblox

In this blog post series I look at well, designed sites from creative agencies, as well as different companies and organisations that have caught my eye. As I'm currently located in Perth, Australia, I focus mainly on Australian based businesses, but might throw in the occasional overseas site every now and then. Not all sites I introduce here were built in Webflow (most of them probably weren't), but that's alright. You can still find some inspiration and learn new stuff that you can then implement using Webflow. Haven't used Webflow before? Don't worry, you can check it out here via this link. And yes, this is an affiliate link for sure. Anyway, let's get started!

‍

Architectural website with a difference

Today's site is that of home builder Archiblox. The company (which I'm not affiliated with in any way), builds, delivers and installs compact modular homes in Victoria, Australia. Yes, I love the concept and how their homes look, but that's not why I want to highlight their website here. The site is built by Aussie creative agency SouthSouthWest who are known for working with well known clients and doing an amazing job - they're based in Australia as well, so check them out when you get a chance.

‍

Subtle animations

One of the main items that stood out to me on Archiblox site are the subtle animations and transitions used. While some websites nowadays go to great efforts using full blown animations and video content, Archiblox really limits animations to where they're useful and add value. The main navigation menu with its drop down menu uses yellow highlight lines on hover, making it easy for the user to see which menu they're about to access. Other examples include text that moves into place when the user scrolls downwards on a page. "Read more" links on their blog feature a little animated arrow icon that moves as soon as the user hovers over it and the blog post thumbnails zoom in/out on hover as well. Some designers might argue hover animations aren't a good choice for communicating a link is clickable - since they don't work on mobile. I'd say that as long as hover animations are only used as a supporting element or feature, but they are a great way to improve the experience for the user on desktop devices. And this is what Archiblox have done here throughout their site.

‍

Showing real life examples

The website puts an emphasis on great visuals to really communicate the value of their homes. Most homes on their site are show via "real life" photography. These are not display homes, but projects that have already been completed for previous clients. These photos - together with a brief description of each project - mean that potential customers get a much better feel for what outcome they can expect when working with Archiblox. For each individual project page the company also provides downloadable files like a floor plan and inclusions fact sheet. Nice!

‍

Laser focus

The website design features one major call to action (CTA) which is to get potential clients to make an inquiry and get in touch. This is done via a form at the bottom of most pages on the site, as well as a prominent link in the main navigation menu "Make an inquiry". Having the present at all times makes it easy for visitors to get in touch no matter where they're browsing on the site. Visitors clicking the link are then directed to Archiblox contact page where they're presented with different ways to contact the company. This gives the user a choice of how they want to communicate - fill out a form, send an email, make a phone call or connect via social media.

‍

Content strategy

This is one of those websites that actually has an active, up to date and well done blog. Many companies simply just publish press releases on their blog or in their news section, but Archiblox does things differently. Their blog features content that's actually of value for people looking at building a modular home in Australia. Some posts are in-depth case studies of projects that have been completed previously (including the client's brief, the outcome, as well as customer testimonials). Other content however includes hands-on advice and features topics such as "Archiblox FAQs – Modular Home Roof Styles & Ceiling Heights" or "8 Outdoor Features to Add Value & Comfort to Your Home this Summer". These topics are paired with articles that loosely correspond with Archiblox approach and philosophy and are very likely also going to appeal to their (potential) clients (e.g. "Blue Spaces: Why Time Spent Near Water is the Secret of Happiness or "Sustainable Design: Lessons We Can Learn From Vernacular Housing"). What can we learn from this? Create content that is tailored to your audience! What are they interested in, what do they want to learn about - and what kind of value can you provide. Archiblox could have easily just written short and generic 400-word articles about the completion of a new home. Instead they opted for publishing content that brings real value to site visitors.

Hope this brief review of Archiblox's site helped you to gather some additional ideas for your next client project - or even for your own (portfolio) site. You can find the website here: https://www.archiblox.com.au/

‍