Andorra Architecture Awards Announce Eight Finalists for Inaugural Edition

The Andorra Architecture Awards have reached the final stage, with the jury selecting eight finalist projects from 21 submissions across 15 entries for the inaugural edition organised by the Col·legi Oficial d’Arquitectes d’Andorra (COAA).

Winners, chosen through a combination of Instagram public votes and jury assessments, will be revealed on 4 June at 18:30 at Ràdio Andorra. Jury member Pere Aixàs praised the "quite high" quality of the entries, noting diverse themes and the need for additional materials such as plans, graphics, and in-person meetings with teams to assess design decisions, site integration, and local context. He highlighted that the two international jurors—a French architect, Yann Legouis, and a Spanish architect, Marta Peris—visited the sites in person.

In the new builds category, finalists are Ordino’s Sports Training Centre by Marc Monegal, Encamp’s Ossa Park by Lluís Ginjaume and Gerard Veciana (shifted from the landscape category), and Coll de la Botella by Xavier Orteu. Rehabilitation and reform finalists include Casa Xarré (also listed as Casa Xarret) by Xavier Orteu, Enclar’s Bell Tower at Sant Vicenç church by Lluís Ginjaume, and Ràdio Andorra by Enric Dilmé. The landscape category, with the fewest entries, features Encamp avenue remodelling (from Rosaleda to Plaça Sant Miquel) by Miquel Mercé, and Plaça del Poble by Marta Ruiz and Mario Blanco.

COAA dean Laura Sánchez expressed satisfaction with the debut turnout, attributing some caution among professionals to its novelty but anticipating growth. Prepared over four to five months with support from the competitions commission and sponsors, the awards initially focused on Andorran projects to spotlight local talent. Sánchez outlined plans to broaden future editions—potentially annually or biennially—to include international competition and global promotion of Principat works.

Projects will soon appear at a professional forum stand in Barcelona this July, marking an early step toward wider visibility. Sánchez reiterated that Andorran architecture deserves recognition, with the jury's involvement helping establish the awards as a key platform.