Architecture in Andorra
Andorra is mountains, slopes and snow. Designing here means solving the topography, the cold and the valley light, within a legal framework of its own, different from the Catalan and the Spanish ones.
Designing in the mountains
In Andorra the plot rules more than anywhere else. The slope decides where the house goes, how much retaining wall is needed and where you enter. The orientation decides whether the living room gets winter sun. The snow decides the roof. A well-planned house here makes use of the difference in level instead of fighting it.
We work in Andorra from our studio in Barcelona, with visits to the plot and the site as often as each phase requires.
What we do in Andorra
- New-build detached houses, shaped by the slope, the mountain climate and the views of the valley.
- Full renovations of apartments and houses.
- Project management and site supervision, for owners who do not live in Andorra or cannot follow the construction closely.
- Advice before you buy: a planning reading of the plot and an estimate of what fits and what it will cost.
A legal framework of its own
Andorra does not apply Catalan or Spanish planning rules. Three things worth knowing from the start:
- The permit is granted by the Comú. Each of the seven parishes has its own planning scheme and bylaws. What a plot allows depends on the parish.
- The architect must be registered in Andorra. The law regulating the profession requires anyone practising as an architect in Andorra to be registered with the Col·legi Oficial d'Arquitectes d'Andorra.
- Foreign investment has limits. Since Law 5/2025, a non-resident needs prior authorisation from the Government and can only own one plot or one detached house, or up to two apartments. That investment also pays the foreign real-estate investment tax.
Andorran rules have changed a great deal in the last two years. Before signing anything, check the current wording with your advisor or with the Government itself; we help you with the planning and design side. We explain it in more detail in building a house in Andorra.
Mountain climate, mountain architecture
Generous insulation, high-performance windows, roofs designed for snow loads, waterproofing on the buried walls and a layout that puts the day rooms where the sun comes in. Stone and timber are not a question of style here: they are the materials the climate and the landscape ask for.
How we start
The first visit is free. We come to see the plot or the home, check what the parish plan allows and tell you what is possible.
Our work in the area
We do not yet publish work in this area. Ask us about ongoing projects.
Questions about Andorra
Who can sign an architecture project in Andorra?
The Andorran law regulating the profession requires architects practising in Andorra to be registered with the Col·legi Oficial d'Arquitectes d'Andorra. At the first visit we explain how your project is signed and filed.
Can a non-resident buy a plot to build a house?
Yes, with prior authorisation from the Government, but with limits. Law 5/2025 states that a non-resident foreign investor can only own one plot or one detached house, or up to two apartments. Foreign real-estate investment also pays a specific tax.
Who grants the building permit in Andorra?
The Comú of each parish, according to its parish planning scheme. Each parish has its own bylaws, so what can be built on a plot in Ordino is not the same as in Escaldes-Engordany.
What should I check before buying a sloping plot?
The zoning in the parish plan, the buildable area, the access, the orientation, the geotechnics and the cost of the retaining walls. In Andorra the slope can take up a large part of the budget.
Worth reading before you start
Project management and site supervision
Site supervision and project management: what each one does, how they differ and when it makes sense to hire them for your home.
The phases of a full renovation with an architect
The seven phases of a full renovation with an architect: first visit, preliminary study, design, permits, hiring the builder, site supervision and handover.
Building a house in Andorra
How to build a house in Andorra: foreign investment authorisation, limits for non-residents, a registered architect and the Comú building permit.
How we work
- 01
First visitFree
We come to your home or your plot. We listen, measure and tell you honestly what can be done.
- 02
Preliminary study
Options on paper, an indicative budget and a realistic timeline before you decide anything.
- 03
Project
Basic and construction design, permits, materials and details. Everything needed to build well.
- 04
Construction
Site supervision and cost control until handover. We are on site, not just in the office.
Phases and scope are confirmed during the first visit, depending on the type of project.
Let’s start with a visit.
Free and with no strings attached. We tell you honestly what can be done with your home.