![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2a74/e58e/ce70/b600/01ad/medium_jpg/PORTADA_2.jpg?1449011804)
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Architects: KF arquitectes
- Area: 1540 m²
- Year: 2015
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Photographs:Adrià Goula
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2941/e58e/ce70/b600/01a7/medium_jpg/1.jpg?1449011497)
Text description provided by the architects. Els Arcs ('The Arches') is a multipurpose building is in La Massana, Andorra, at an altitude of 1250m.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Image 16 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2aca/e58e/ce20/b400/01b7/medium_jpg/elevation.jpg?1449011896)
The local council, the Comú de la Massana, commissioned the building from the winners of the ideas competition.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Windows, Brick, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/29e7/e58e/ce70/b600/01aa/medium_jpg/8.jpg?1449011666)
The plot is trapezoidal in form and defined by the alignment of two streets with a difference in level of 12m.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Image 14 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2a53/e58e/ce20/b400/01b6/newsletter/4_floor.jpg?1449011783)
The vertical communications core linking the two access levels, on the ground and fourth floors, provides a space where people can interact.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Image 17 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2ab4/e58e/ce70/b600/01af/medium_jpg/drawing.jpg?1449011874)
The brief combines a variety of uses:
-Children's play area
-Youth club
-Business incubator
-Call center for Andorra Telecom
-Multimedia center
-Local health center
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Facade, Column](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2963/e58e/ce70/b600/01a8/medium_jpg/4.jpg?1449011528)
The project seeks to give a homogeneous urban image to this diverse mix of public and private uses.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Image 18 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2ada/e58e/ce70/b600/01b0/newsletter/section.jpg?1449011919)
The openings that configure the façade are light boxes set on different planes, bringing natural light into the interior while optimizing energy efficiency.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Image 2 of 18](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/2a19/e58e/ce20/b400/01b4/newsletter/10.jpg?1449011719)
The arches on the ground floor — stipulated in the ideas competition — provide a podium on which the stone volume stands.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/29c6/e58e/ce70/b600/01a9/medium_jpg/7.jpg?1449011632)
The top floor with its multipurpose space has a large east-facing opening, affording fine views of the nearby mountains.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Windows, Facade, Column, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/297f/e58e/ce20/b400/01b2/medium_jpg/5.jpg?1449011558)
The geometry of the concrete roof is reflected in the interior by plaster ribs which invoke the slopes of the mountains, improve the acoustics and conceal the lighting and other services.
![Els Arcs / KF arquitectes - Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/565e/29a5/e58e/ce20/b400/01b3/medium_jpg/6.jpg?1449011599)
The use of stone and slate and the pitched roofs are clear references to traditional Pyrenees architecture.