diff --git a/docs/alternative-architectures.md b/docs/alternative-architectures.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a469e422
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/alternative-architectures.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Alternative architectures
+As stated in the [Prerequisites](prerequisites.md), currently only x86_64 is supported. However, it is possible to set the target architecture, and some tools can be built on the host or other measures can be used.
+
+To that end add the following variable to your `vars.yaml` file:
+```
+matrix_architecture = <your-matrix-server-architecture>
+```
+Currently supported architectures are the following:
+- `amd64` (the default)
+- `arm64`
+- `arm32`
+
+On most roles self-building is used if the architecture is not `amd64`. Special cases:
+- matrix-bridge-mautrix-facebook: there is built docker image for arm64 as well,
+- matrix-bridge-mautrix-hangouts: there is built docker image for arm64 as well,
+- matrix-nginx-proxy: Certbot has docker image for both arm32 and arm64, however tagging is used, which requires special handling.
diff --git a/group_vars/matrix_servers b/group_vars/matrix_servers
index e80d55c3..524c11cd 100755
--- a/group_vars/matrix_servers
+++ b/group_vars/matrix_servers
@@ -26,6 +26,20 @@ matrix_riot_jitsi_preferredDomain: "{{ matrix_server_fqn_jitsi if matrix_jitsi_e
 #
 ######################################################################
 
+######################################################################
+#
+# matrix-architecture
+#
+######################################################################
+
+matrix_architecture: "amd64"
+
+######################################################################
+#
+# /matrix-architecture
+#
+######################################################################
+
 
 ######################################################################
 #
@@ -174,7 +188,7 @@ matrix_appservice_irc_homeserver_token: "{{ matrix_synapse_macaroon_secret_key |
 # We don't enable bridges by default.
 matrix_mautrix_facebook_enabled: false
 
-matrix_mautrix_facebook_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_mautrix_facebook_container_image_self_build: "{{ (matrix_architecture != 'amd64') and (matrix_architecture != 'arm64') }}"
 
 matrix_mautrix_facebook_systemd_required_services_list: |
   {{
@@ -205,7 +219,7 @@ matrix_mautrix_facebook_login_shared_secret: "{{ matrix_synapse_ext_password_pro
 # We don't enable bridges by default.
 matrix_mautrix_hangouts_enabled: false
 
-matrix_mautrix_hangouts_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_mautrix_hangouts_container_image_self_build: "{{ (matrix_architecture != 'amd64') and (matrix_architecture != 'arm64') }}"
 
 matrix_mautrix_hangouts_systemd_required_services_list: |
   {{
@@ -301,7 +315,7 @@ matrix_mautrix_whatsapp_login_shared_secret: "{{ matrix_synapse_ext_password_pro
 # We don't enable bridges by default.
 matrix_mx_puppet_skype_enabled: false
 
-matrix_mx_puppet_skype_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_mx_puppet_skype_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_architecture != 'amd64'}}"
 
 matrix_mx_puppet_skype_systemd_required_services_list: |
   {{
@@ -366,7 +380,7 @@ matrix_corporal_matrix_registration_shared_secret: "{{ matrix_synapse_registrati
 
 matrix_coturn_enabled: true
 
-matrix_coturn_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_coturn_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_architecture != 'amd64'}}"
 
 matrix_coturn_turn_external_ip_address: "{{ ansible_host }}"
 
@@ -489,7 +503,7 @@ matrix_mailer_enabled: true
 # If you wish to use the public identity servers (matrix.org, vector.im) instead of your own you may wish to disable this.
 matrix_ma1sd_enabled: true
 
-matrix_ma1sd_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_ma1sd_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_architecture != 'amd64'}}"
 
 # Normally, matrix-nginx-proxy is enabled and nginx can reach ma1sd over the container network.
 # If matrix-nginx-proxy is not enabled, or you otherwise have a need for it, you can expose
@@ -599,6 +613,8 @@ matrix_ssl_domains_to_obtain_certificates_for: |
     ([matrix_domain] if matrix_nginx_proxy_base_domain_serving_enabled else [])
   }}
 
+matrix_ssl_architecture: "{{ matrix_architecture }}"
+
 ######################################################################
 #
 # /matrix-nginx-proxy
@@ -638,7 +654,7 @@ matrix_postgres_db_name: "homeserver"
 # If you wish to connect to your Matrix server by other means, you may wish to disable this.
 matrix_riot_web_enabled: true
 
-matrix_riot_web_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_riot_web_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_architecture != 'amd64'}}"
 
 # Normally, matrix-nginx-proxy is enabled and nginx can reach riot-web over the container network.
 # If matrix-nginx-proxy is not enabled, or you otherwise have a need for it, you can expose
@@ -683,7 +699,7 @@ matrix_riot_web_jitsi_preferredDomain: "{{ matrix_server_fqn_jitsi if matrix_jit
 #
 ######################################################################
 
-matrix_synapse_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_container_images_self_build }}"
+matrix_synapse_container_image_self_build: "{{ matrix_architecture != 'amd64'}}"
 
 # When ma1sd is enabled, we can use it instead of the default public Identity servers.
 matrix_synapse_trusted_third_party_id_servers: "{{ [matrix_server_fqn_matrix] if matrix_ma1sd_enabled else matrix_synapse_id_servers_public }}"
diff --git a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
index 12d314f5..35c6adfc 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
@@ -213,12 +213,14 @@ matrix_nginx_proxy_self_check_well_known_matrix_client_follow_redirects: none
 # plain HTTP traffic only (usually, on the loopback interface only) and you'd be terminating SSL using another reverse-proxy.
 matrix_ssl_retrieval_method: "lets-encrypt"
 
+matrix_ssl_architecture: "amd64"
+
 # The list of domains that this role will obtain certificates for.
 matrix_ssl_domains_to_obtain_certificates_for: []
 
 # Controls whether to obtain production or staging certificates from Let's Encrypt.
 matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_staging: false
-matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_certbot_docker_image: "certbot/certbot:v1.3.0"
+matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_certbot_docker_image: "certbot/certbot:{{ matrix_ssl_architecture }}-v1.3.0"
 matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_certbot_docker_image_force_pull: "{{ matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_certbot_docker_image.endswith(':latest') }}"
 matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_certbot_standalone_http_port: 2402
 matrix_ssl_lets_encrypt_support_email: ~