What is Architect?
Build custom content layouts your theme or page builder can't.
Architect is a multi-purpose, all-in-one content layout plugin for making dynamic, content driven layouts like sliders, galleries, grids, carousels, tabular, accordions, tabbed, masonry and more.
Architect is a power tool for power users.
In developer speak, it essentially gives you a flexible and powerful front-end to the WordPress loop that is compatible with all WordPress themes and page builders.
Much of the content on this page is laid out using Architect. But for a comprehensive demonstration, be sure to check out the demo site.
Architect lets you build unlimited content layouts
Architect is a unique plugin for any theme providing, from its six basic layouts, almost unlimited layout options for your content.
Furthermore, you can switch themes and still keep your layouts yet inherit your theme’s styling. And it works great with theme frameworks too.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/architect-extends-layout-options-for-your-theme/
Architect saves you time and money
Architect, by providing so many layout possibilities in one plugin, such as sliders, grids, tabbed, accordions, single posts, galleries, lists and so on, means you only have to pay for one plugin instead of many.
And you save time not having to trawl through and evaluate the 3000+ plugins that appear when you search those layouts.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/cost/
Freedom of Unlimited Possibilities
What
How
Features
Create almost any layout
Architect can display content in almost any layout, such as grids, galleries, tabbed, sliders, full content, masonry.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/flexible-layout/
Change the theme. Keep the layout
Whether it’s changing the look of your current theme or changing themes altogether, Architect keeps up.
Or in Blox, delete the block without losing all your settings.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/change-theme-keep-layout/
Custom, custom, custom
Architect fully supports custom post types, custom taxonomies, custom fields and custom meta field text.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/custom-custom-custom/
Extensive ACF support
Architect includes extensive support for display content in Advanced Custom Fields.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/extensive-acf-support/
Beaver friendly
Architect includes additional Beaver modules: Adaptive Sidebar; Maps Extended; Any Fields
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/beaver-friendly/
Device adaptive
Design and display Blueprints on specific device types (desktop, tablet, phone).
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/devices-adaptive/
Animation
Content elements can be animated for eye catching designs
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/animation/
Filler images
If your a post doesn’t have an image, Architect can display a random filler image from LoremPixel
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/filler-images/
Inbuilt preset designs
Architect comes with at least one preset design (Blueprint) in each of its six layout types.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/inbuilt-preset-designs/
Touch-enabled sliders
The sliders layout method in Architect is fully touch-enabled.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/touch-enabled-sliders/
Display in the content or in the page layout
The methods of displaying Architect Blueprints means you can show them within your post/page content with shortcodes; or in the page layout with the other methods.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/display-in-the-content-or-in-the-page-layout/
Extensive help
Architect has six methods of help built in. These are: Page guides, tooltips, descriptions, notes, help pages, and popup videos
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/extensive-help/
Compatible
Architect is compatible with WP multisite, any theme and most plugins, including popular ones such WooCommerce, WPML, NextGen, Advanced Custom Fields, Types.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/compatible/
Extensible
Architect allows developers to code plug-ins for specific content types that can’t be represented by the built-in types.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/extensible/
Featured Video
Like Featured Images, Architect adds a field for easily adding a Featured Video
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/featured-video/
Responsive design
Responsive breakpoint a can be set and used for featured images, videos and content font size.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/responsive-design/
Flexible styling
Style with Architect’s built-in style editing; use your own CSS; inherit your theme’s styling or use Blox’s Design Mode
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/flexible-styling/
Advanced content filtering
Content can be filtered by Categories, Tags, Author and any custom taxonomy
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/advanced-content-filtering/
Built-in dummy content
As well as support for all content types, Architect has the option to use dummy content that it automatically generates. Fantastic for sites in development still waiting for content from the client.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/dummy-content-built-in/
Automatic retina images
The double sized images required on retina screen devices are optionally automatically created for you.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/automatic-retina-images/
Standard WP
If you’re familiar with WP you’re familiar with Architect. No new interface to learn.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/standard-wp/
Image Focal Point
Architect uses focal point management to ensure no more poorly aligned thumbnails and “chopped off” heads.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/image-focal-point/
Snippets
Snippets are an extra post type in Architect for using when posts or pages don’t fit. You might use them for features, testimonials, FAQs, contact info. Anything. Much of the content on this page is using them.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/snippets/
Layout examples
Excerpts Grid
Image Gallery
Slideshow
Tabbed – vertical
Full Content
Features Slider
Masonry Posts
Masonry Gallery
Magazine Grid
Paginated
List – Numbered
List – Thumbed
Tabular
Accordion
Tabbed – horizontal
Display methods
Shortcodes
Using the Architect shortcode, you can place Blueprints anywhere within your content or on your page.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/shortcode/
Action Hooks
Architect Blueprints can be placed on your page using WordPress action hooks built into your theme. This scan be done via code in your functions.php, or using Architect’s own Actions Editor.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/action-hooks/
Widgets
Probably the easiest way to get a Blueprint on the page is the Architect widget. Place it in your widgets area and select from the dropdown list of your Blueprints.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/widgets/
Blox Blocks
For those using the Blox Theme Framework, placing Blueprints is especially easy. Draw a block on your page layout, select the Architect Block, then from its options, select the Blueprint, save, and done.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/blox-blocks/
Template Tags
If you are happy coding your own WordPress page templates, Architect makes it heaps easier. Instead of writing a loop and all its code, just place the Architect template tag and your Blueprint will do the rest.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/template-tag/
Beaver Builder
Architect includes a Beaver Builder module. If Beaver doesn’t have the module you need, make it in Architect!
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/beaver-builder-coming-soon/
Padma Blocks
For those using the Padma Theme Framework, placing Blueprints is especially easy. Draw a block on your page layout, select the Architect Block, then from its options, select the Blueprint, save, and done.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/padma-blocks/
Gutenberg Blocks
For those using WordPress’ Gutenberg block editor, placing Blueprints is especially easy. Select the Architect Block from the Layout group, then from its options, select the Blueprint, save, and done.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/gutenberg-blocks/
FAQs
Is Architect compatible with all themes?
Architect should work with any theme but some will take more effort than others, especially in terms of the look and layout. To that end, Architect provide the means to match CSS classes and create your own panel definitions.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/is-architect-compatible-with-all-themes/
Is Architect compatible with all plugins
The short answer is “Unlikely”. No plugin can hope to be compatible with all other plugins (there are more than 36,000 of them!) but we do aim to be compatible with the more popular ones. We will endeavour to rectify any incompatibilities found; however, it’s also not uncommon for the root cause to be the conflicting plugin
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/is-architect-compatible-with-all-plugins/
Do I need to know CSS to use Architect?
Although you can do much styling in Architect without touching CSS, there is still much more you can do that you will need to write CSS. It all depends on how far you want to go.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/do-i-need-to-know-css-to-use-architect/
Is Architect easy to use?
Once you learn it, yes. It continually surprises even me how powerful, flexible and easy it is.
However, there is a learning curve. Architect is a design and development tool. It’s certainly recommended you have a good understanding of WordPress and its design concepts before using Architect.
Being all-in-one, it has a lot of settings, but that’s what makes it so flexible and powerful. To get familiar with Architect, you will most likely have to read the built-in help, and check out some of the tutorials.
And if you think Architect can be improved, please let us know.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/is-architect-easy-to-use/
Do I need to know how to code to use Architect?
No. Architect Blueprints can be displayed using widgets, shortcodes or blocks (if you use Blox Theme) or with a Beaver Builder module.
If you are adept at coding, it also provides template tags and a plethora of hooks.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/do-i-need-to-know-how-to-code-to-use-architect/
Will all features of the pizazzwp Plus plugins be in Architect?
In the short term, some features from the Plus plugins may not yet be included in Architect, but the goal is everything.
Currently, probably 90% of features are covered.
However, some features may not work or display exactly the same. For example, in Architect, the thumbnail slider navigation is different to that in GalleryPlus and SliderPlus.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/will-all-features-of-plus-blocks-be-in-architect/
Is Architect a “page builder”?
No. Architect is primarily a “content layout builder”. You then add those layouts to your page with one of the methods listed above. In developer speak, Architect replaces “the WP loop”.
Page builders are awesome. But can still be limited. Architect is your content layouts, almost any way you want. That way might be widgets, shortcodes, action hooks, template tags, Blox blocks, Beaver blocks.
So, essentially, Architect lets you build custom blocks for builders like Beaver and Elementor.
Any page builders that support shortcodes and/or widgets can be used to display Architect layouts. And a Beaver Builder (aff) module is included.
This document can be viewed online at: https://architect4wp.com/pz_snippets/is-architect-a-page-builder/
Testimonials
Best Plugin Ever!
I'm thrilled with this plugin! It's literally transformed the way my theme looks and it was super easy to use. It's one of the best plugins I've ever owned.
A great tool for flexible layouts
I love Architect because it gives me lots of ways to present information from posts, snippets or even image galleries.
Constant improvements
Chris and co. are constantly improving. In fact, when I migrated my sites from Headway to Beaver Builder, there was one plugin that came with me, Architect!
Love Architect!
LOVE Architect!!!
Architect is brilliant
One of my *always install* plugins for client projects. I always find a need for this plugin... minimizes the amount of work required for building out site pages. Ties in very well with other WordPress tools that I use regularly! Highly recommend.
Architect is amazing
Architect gives me the freedom to design my sites with amazing precision and styling for my clients. It allows me to display their content in any way I can imagine, it truly does give me the ability to be the architect of my design.
