In Andorra, traditional architecture is more than just a picturesque backdrop — it is an active part of the landscape, a physical testament to the relationship between human activity and a demanding natural environment. Within this context, Casa Xarret, though not unique, represents a meaningful fragment of Andorra’s built heritage. Its rehabilitation goes beyond preservation: it is an act of interpretation and revival, seeking to restore the building’s essence, origins, and identity.
From the beginning, both the client and Orteu Riba Arquitectes shared a clear objective — to approach the project with respect and sensitivity, without falling into imitation. The intervention embraces the fundamental principles of vernacular architecture: the intrinsic link between form and function, the use of local materials, and a strong connection with the surrounding territory.
Casa Xarret comprises two 18th-century volumes: a manor house and an adjacent barn. Each served distinct purposes — domestic life and productive activity — and, despite transformations over time, both preserved their authenticity. However, this separation no longer aligned with the needs of contemporary living. The architectural challenge was to unify the two buildings without compromising their integrity. The solution was a covered courtyard, not merely a connector but the conceptual and spatial hinge of the entire project.
This new intermediate space addresses differences in floor levels through a fluid architectural promenade. It articulates movement, light, and materiality, while resolving the programmatic hierarchy: private spaces remain in the manor house; open, collective spaces are located in the barn. The articulation responds to the original logic of the buildings while adapting them to new uses.
Throughout the project, pre-existing materials were reused whenever possible. Stone from collapsed walls was integrated into new features, while original timber elements were restored or repurposed. The intervention also tackled essential structural and energy-efficiency challenges — improving waterproofing, insulation, and integrating renewable energy systems like aerothermal heating.
Far from mimicking the past, the project reinterprets vernacular principles to suit contemporary life. It simplifies overly fragmented interior layouts, improves thermal comfort, and introduces a new spatial logic that respects the building’s origins while embracing modern needs.
Casa Xarret is not a nostalgic reconstruction, but a celebration of resilience — of a built form that evolves without losing its soul. It brings back to life a building once abandoned, and in doing so, reaffirms the value of Andorra’s architectural landscape as something that must be lived, not just preserved.
