The verdict in three sentences
In Gibraltar, a workplace architecture firm has three options rather than two: an agency on the Rock, an agency on the Costa del Sol across the border, or a remote studio. A remote studio is the rational choice when the site is English-first and the audience is property heads at online gaming operators, insurers or fintech firms. If Spanish matters as much as English in your enquiries, a nearby bilingual agency keeps a real edge.
Three supplier pools: which one fits a Gibraltar practice?
Gibraltar runs on Central European Time (CET, CEST in summer), one hour ahead of London. The local web agency market is small, and many firms on the Rock already work with Marbella, Málaga or the UK. For a practice designing office floors, trading rooms or client suites for regulated companies, the website's main job is to reassure institutional buyers: references, method, fit-out timelines, discretion.
| Criterion | Gibraltar agency | Costa del Sol agency | Remote studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-zone overlap | Full | Full | Full if the PM works on CET |
| Face-to-face meetings | Easy | Border crossing, 30 to 60 min | Video, visit on quote |
| Native English copywriting | Varies | Often weak | Included (Kolonell) |
| Native Spanish copywriting | Varies | Strong | Translation on quote |
| On-site photo coordination | Yes | Yes | Local photographer hired by you |
| Indicative build price | £6,000 to £15,000 | £3,400 to £10,300 | £2,300 to £6,900 |
| Domain and code ownership | Check it | Check it, contract often under Spanish law | Check it, written contract |
Andalusian agencies invoice in euros: the figures above are converted to pounds and rounded, with the Gibraltar pound at par with sterling. Watch the governing law: a contract under Spanish law is not a problem in itself, but you need to know which court would settle a dispute over code ownership.
What will you spend over three years?
2026 ballpark, based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in Gibraltar, Andalusia and the UK, for a 12 to 15 page site with a filterable portfolio.
| 3-year cost line | Gibraltar agency | Costa del Sol agency | Remote studio (Premium) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site build | £6,000 to £15,000 | £3,400 to £10,300 | £6,900 |
| Spanish version | £800 to £2,000 | Often included | £900 to £1,500 (translator) |
| Interiors photographer, 2 days | £1,400 to £2,600 | £1,400 to £2,600 | £1,400 to £2,600 |
| Hosting and maintenance | £2,500 to £5,400 | £1,800 to £4,300 | £1,300 to £4,000 (quoted) |
| Travel and meetings | Negligible | £300 to £800 | £0 to £1,000 if a visit |
| Indicative total | £10,700 to £25,000 | £6,900 to £18,000 | £10,500 to £16,000 |
The table shows that a remote studio is not automatically the cheapest once you add a proper Spanish version and an on-site visit. Its value lies in the quality of the English copy and a fixed scope at a fixed price. Package details are on the international offer page.
When should you stay with a Rock or Costa del Sol agency?
A nearby agency is the better choice if at least two of these apply: more than 40% of your enquiries come in Spanish, your clients expect to meet the web supplier at kickoff, your site has to connect to locally hosted project management software, or nobody in-house can sign off designs within 48 hours.
A remote studio works when your clients are English-speaking, you already have professional photos of delivered floors and you want a short schedule, 3 to 4 weeks, ahead of an award entry or a trade event.
Five questions to ask every provider:
- Will the .gi or .com domain be registered in our name?
- Which law governs the contract, and is the code assigned to us on delivery?
- Who writes the English, who writes the Spanish, and who checks technical terms?
- How do you handle confidentiality for client projects that cannot be published?
- What response time do you commit to, and in which time zone?
What a workplace practice site must do, and the rules around it
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Clients of a workplace practice are often bound by discretion: some ban photos outright, others allow images without names. Plan project pages that can be anonymised (sector, floor area, timeline, number of desks) and a method page. The portfolio should filter by space type (offices, reception, meeting rooms), floor area and client sector. Optimise images hard (AVIF or WebP, lazy loading) because interior shots are very detailed.
The enquiry form should qualify: floor area in square metres, target move-in date, budget per desk, lease signed or not. On personal data, Gibraltar has its own version of the GDPR and a data protection act, with the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority as supervisor: a privacy notice, cookie consent and limited retention of enquiries are expected. Aim for WCAG 2.2 AA. For the title 'architect' and professional advertising, check the rules that apply to each partner according to where they are registered, Gibraltar or the UK. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Daniel runs a 12-person practice in Gibraltar fitting out offices for online gaming and insurance companies. About 25% of his enquiries come in Spanish. Local quote: £12,000 including a Spanish version. Remote option: Premium package at £6,900, plus £1,200 of Spanish translation, so £8,100. Saving on the build: £3,900. A single 600 square metre fit-out brings him roughly £35,000 in fees: if a stronger English method page wins one extra commission in 3 years, the site pays for itself more than 4 times over, whoever builds it.
FAQ
Does a Gibraltar practice need a .gi domain?
It is not mandatory, but it signals local roots. Budget a few tens of pounds a year, and make sure it is registered in the firm's name.
Can a remote studio deliver in English and Spanish?
Yes, with native English included and Spanish handled by a translator, for about £900 to £1,500 across 12 to 15 pages.
How do we show confidential projects?
With anonymised project pages: sector, floor area, timeline, 2 or 3 photos without logos. Get the client's written consent for every published image.
How long does a remote build take?
3 to 4 weeks of production with Kolonell, plus 1 week for the Spanish version if it is translated after the English is signed off.
Does the one-hour gap with London matter?
A little, if your provider is UK-based: ask for a project manager reachable on Gibraltar time, which gives at least 7 hours of overlap a day.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual site for a workplace practice, anonymisable portfolio included, from £3,900 and delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.