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Arca
Arca is a Barcelona-based architecture practice specialising in adaptive reuse — the conversion of existing structures rather than new builds. Their work ranges from a converted textile factory in the Poblenou district to a decommissioned water tower in rural Catalonia. They came to us with a portfolio of exceptional work and a website that looked like it had been built in an afternoon.
Challenge
Architecture studios tend toward two bad defaults: the austere all-white portfolio site that treats every project like a MOMA wall card, or the heavy black site with oversized full-bleed images that prioritises drama over information. Arca's philosophy — that the most interesting architecture begins with what already exists — needed a brand that embodied the same restraint and attention.
Approach
The identity is built around the idea of layers. Arca works with what is already there; the brand does the same. The wordmark is set in a roman with a slightly worn quality — not distressed, just honest. The supporting palette borrows from the materials the practice works with most: raw concrete, aged terracotta, bleached timber.
The website is structured as a project archive first, studio second. The homepage shows nothing but a slowly updating grid of project images — no hero statement, no manifesto. The about page is a single long-scroll with the studio's position on adaptive reuse stated plainly, in full, without bullet points.
We built the site in Framer with a custom CMS structure that lets the team update projects without touching the design system.
Outcome
Site traffic from international referrals increased 48% in the six months after launch. Arca was invited to submit work for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 following coverage in Dezeen that linked to the new site. Two new client enquiries came directly from the projects page in the first month.
Key results
+48% international referral traffic
Venice Biennale 2025 submission
Featured in Dezeen, Arquitectura Viva
Built in Framer, 6-week delivery
