A Guide to Andorra Architecture
Updated: Aug 19
Despite Andorra being a very old country, in existence since the 9th century, it is, in many ways, a very new country in terms of its buildings. Architecture is one of the clearest markers of Andorra's transition into the globalised world we know today. Read on for the influences behind the Andorra architecture you see now, and the materials used both historically and in modern construction.
The Story Behind Historical Andorra architecture
There was a short-lived flurry of interesting granite-stone architecture in Andorra from around the 1930s to the 1950s, driven mainly by French and Swiss involvement. Both saw Andorra's potential and were keen to help develop the country. A handful of buildings from this era still stand today, including Casa Felipó on Avinguda Meritxell and La Torre dels Russos in Santa Coloma.
It all began with the FHASA hydroelectric power station in Escaldes-Engordany (now known as FEDA) in the 1930s, alongside improvements to the road network — retaining walls, bridges and tunnels. Swiss and German engineers introduced their construction knowledge at the time, which went on to influence local builders and future projects. As migration to Andorra increased, stonemasons arrived too, many from the Spanish regions of Galicia and Andalusia, both known for their granite-carving expertise.
This granite-stone building period was short-lived, however, and within a couple of decades many of these structures were demolished. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, most were pulled down to make way for "modern" architecture and to widen roads for growing traffic. At the time, the Andorran population saw new building techniques as a sign of progress — having built in stone, mud and wood for centuries, older properties were associated with harsher times, and were discarded rather than preserved.
The 1980s and 90s saw a brief revival of more traditional-looking, locally known as "rustic," architecture. Developments like La Pleta d'Ordino and the Bordes d'Arinsal reinterpreted traditional style, initially aimed at Spanish buyers seeking mountain holiday homes, or at the new wave of expats arriving at the time. Unfortunately, most of these pastiche constructions overlooked the fundamentals of traditional architecture, resulting in dark interiors with limited natural light.
To this day, historic architectural details and techniques are largely overlooked in favour of a blander, more contemporary style. It doesn't help that traditional stonemasons willing to build in the old style are increasingly hard to find, and expensive to hire.
Genuinely historic architecture remains scarce in Andorra for a few additional reasons:
Andorra was isolated for many centuries and relied mainly on agriculture and livestock, working against infertile soil and harsh winters. Living conditions were difficult, and few households could afford anything beyond the essentials.
The population stayed very small for a long time — in the 1940s, Andorra had just 5,000 inhabitants.
Although Andorra is a co-principality, there has been very little aristocratic or bourgeois presence historically. This means there are no grand mansions or castles to be found — to the disappointment of visitors expecting a Pyrenean version of Liechtenstein.
The Story Behind Modern Andorra Architecture
Modern Andorra architecture, by contrast, has been shaped heavily by Spain. From the late 1960s onwards, most of the construction workforce came from southern Spain, bringing techniques like brick walls and tiled floors — ideal for southern climates, but far less comfortable in Andorra's mountain winters. Insulation was virtually non-existent, leaving properties from this era notably draughty and cold.
Since the 1980s, most properties in Andorra have been built around a concrete base structure — pillars, floors and roofs. Some builders and owners still opt for wooden roof beams to retain a touch of traditional charm, and this approach is becoming more common again in 2026–2027. That said, concrete remains the dominant material in Andorran construction by a wide margin.
Nearly all building materials in Andorra today are imported, adding significantly to project costs. Stone cladding and roof slates come mainly from northern Spain, since Andorra has no stone quarries of its own. Using stone from mountain scree was permitted in the 1980s and 90s, but is no longer allowed. Even the timber used for beams and general construction is imported, despite the abundance of pine growing naturally across the country.
Over the last 15 years, Andorrans have gained access to a much wider range of materials for finishing touches — flooring, appliances and the like — though import costs and tight control of the local market by a handful of suppliers keep prices higher than in neighbouring countries. Anything "out of the ordinary" typically needs to be specially imported, or may be near-impossible to source at all.
Architectural Design in Andorra
Andorra has never placed much emphasis on architectural design as a discipline in its own right. You might expect, as in the Alps, that long winters would have encouraged a strong craft tradition — but here, design was governed almost entirely by practicality. Historic villages were built in the sunniest, safest spots available, maximising natural heat and minimising the risk of avalanches or rockfall.
Today, Andorra architecture is heavily influenced by Spain, as most practising architects are either Spanish or trained in Spain. As a result, most new builds lean toward the same contemporary style popular across Spain — open-plan layouts, large openings to the outdoors, plenty of natural light, and clean, angular design. Nordic-style wooden builds (also known as passive houses) are only just gaining traction in Andorra, with the first projects breaking ground in 2023 and continuing into 2027.
While some more daring foreign architects occasionally leave their mark, the majority of current building projects favour classic, economical, concrete-based modern design. We're not currently aware of any active projects using traditional stonemasonry, largely due to cost and regulatory restrictions.
For more on building your own property in Andorra, please read our blog post How to buy land and build a house in Andorra?
Materials Used in Historical Construction in Andorra
Traditional Andorran homes and barns were built on the same core principles, using a small range of locally sourced materials. Most followed a square or rectangular floor plan with stone walls 60–80cm thick. Some old barns still retain their original mortar — a mixture of mud, hay and manure that has proven surprisingly durable. You can spot it by its warm tones and texture, not unlike the consistency of powder makeup.
Roofs and window frames were built from pine logs, though sourcing good timber was harder than it might sound. Felling a tree on a steep hillside — as most Andorran trees grow — often left the wood bent from the stress of growing at an angle, making it unsuitable for straight roof beams.
Roof slates were simply pieces of local slate stone, split into sheets ranging from 1.5cm to as much as 4cm thick. Andorra still requires all new buildings to be finished with a slate roof, preserving this piece of tradition — though it's a shame the same consistency isn't required for walls, meaning this visual symmetry is really only appreciated from above, looking down over the rooftops of the country.
