# Dezeen Awards-Shortlisted Housing Project Damaged in Andorra Fire A major fire has impacted all seven buildings of the uninhabited La Querola development. - **Source:** [Dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/c4394ecc-f0be-4a0c-9a7a-1d595b1e2e04 ## Fire Damages Residential Project A significant fire broke out at the La Querola housing development in Andorra, impacting all seven buildings within the complex. Local police were alerted to the incident at 01:45 on 22 September. The fire affected approximately 10,000 square metres of residential space, though the specific cause of the blaze remains currently unknown. ## Project Status and Timeline The La Querola development was officially completed in October 2025 but had not yet been occupied by residents at the time of the fire. Because the site was uninhabited, there were no reported injuries. Officials have not provided an official estimate regarding the financial damage or a timeline for potential reconstruction efforts. ## Award Recognition and Context The project is currently shortlisted in the housing category for this year's Dezeen Awards. It recently achieved further recognition by winning the public vote segment of the competition. Designed by French studio Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Spanish firm Ribas Ribas Arquitectos, the development is situated within the scenic Ordino valley landscape. ## Architectural Design Philosophy The architects designed the housing to mimic the natural environment, specifically aiming for an appearance that evokes stratified, eroded rock. The seven irregularly shaped blocks are embedded directly into the sloping valley. The exterior is clad in locally sourced slate, intended to create a dialogue with the protected mountain environment surrounding the site. ## Innovative Structural Features The design features recessed windows and openings that function as habitable extensions of the building's body. These deep incisions house domestic fixtures like fireplaces and bathtubs, allowing the geography to penetrate the interior. Wood lining was used throughout the duplex and triplex apartments to provide a sense of warmth within the rocky structure. ## Geological Integration Strategy Ribas Ribas Arquitectos described the built volume as a fragmented, stratified mass. By avoiding generic gestures, the design reads as eroded geology rather than a conventional building. Voids and cavities pierce the volume, effectively structuring the relationship between the built mass and the open territory of the Andorran valley landscape. ## Broader Awards Competition The Dezeen Awards 2026 architecture shortlist features a diverse range of international projects alongside La Querola. Other notable entries include an off-grid home in Japan topped with a large metal roof and a renovated Japanese house featuring walls streaked with clay, soil, and metal powders, showcasing varied global approaches to residential architecture. ## Future Implications for Development The fire represents a setback for a project that was highly regarded for its integration into the natural landscape. With no reconstruction date announced and the cause still under investigation, the future of the development remains uncertain. Stakeholders are now waiting for official reports to determine the extent of the structural damage. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dezeen.com/2026/11/10/la-querola-andorra-jean-nouvel-ribas-ribas-arquitectos-fire/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._