Hospital de la Santa Creu i Santa Pau- a city hospital with a Modernist touch

Though often overlooked, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Santa Pau, commonly known as the Hospital Sant Pau, is one of the most spectacular modernist buildings in Barcelona. It is located in the neighborhood of El Guinardó and was built between 1901 and 1930. It was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a Catalan Modernist architect and was a fully functioning hospital until 2009. The hospital is currently being restored with the objective of eventually being used as a museum and cultural center.

Hospital de Sant Pau y Santa Creu

The history of the hospital dates back to 1401 when 6 medieval hospitals merged to form one large hospital, which was located in the neighborhood of Raval. By the 20th century it was too small for the city´s growing population and had to be relocated. Pau Gil, a wealthy banker, decided to sponsor the renovation of the hospital and commissioned the architect Lluís Domènech for the job.

When Gil died he left a donation for the hospital with the stipulation that it bear his name, which is why “Sant Pau” was added to the name. At that time, new theories of hygiene and its effect on public health were being promoted by the doctor Pere Felip Monlau and engineers Ildefons Cerdà and Pere García Faria (who designed the underground sewage network of Barcelona) and Domènech took their ideas very seriously when designing the building, which made the building ahead of its time in both aesthetics and functional structure.

Lluís Domènech i Montaner was born in Barcelona on December 21, 1850. In addition to his work as an architect he was also a politician and played an important role in the Catalan autonomist movement, although he abandoned politics in 1904 to fully devote himself to his work as an architect.

 He also worked as a professor and held a 45-year tenure as both a professor and director at the Escola d’Arquitectura, Barcelona´s school of architecture. He designed many building in Barcelona but his most famous are the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Palau de la Música Catalana, both of which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although his style is often compared to Gaudí, Domènech favored more open structures and lighter materials.

Inside the Hospital de Sant Pau

The hospital is designed as if it were its own small village, with streets, buildings, and gardens. It is 14.5 hectares, the equivalent of nine blocks of the Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona. The entrance and the 10 pavilions that surround it were built under the direction of Domènech, while most of the remaining pavilions were the work of his son, Pere Domènech i Roura. The central feature of the exterior of the building is its exposed brickwork decorated with mosaics, ceramic tiles and sculptures, man of which are the work of Pau Gargallo and Eusebi Arnau, two famous Modernista sculptors.

Domènech´s goal was to design a hospital that was not only beautiful to the public but that also provided the best possible environment for the patients. The pavilions are connected through a network of underground passages which made it easier to transport patients from one ward to another.

In addition to being a firm believer in the therapeutic properties of form and color, Domènech believed that the patients would recover more quickly if they were surrounded by nature, which is why the gardens are such a central feature. In fact, while the hospital was still in use it was not uncommon to find patients sitting in the gardens or strolling around the grounds.

Impressive modernist building by Doménech

The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau is truly a stunning and innovative building, and one that deserves a visit. In fact, it is considered the most important civic building ever built in the Modernist style. It is located at Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167 and is within walking distance of the Sagrada Familia (just walk up Avinguda Gaudí) so it´s very easy to combine the two. The nearest metro is Hospital de Sant Pau (blue line L5).

As of November 2009 public access to parts of the Hospital de Sant Pau Modernista Complex is restricted due to the renovation. Access to the historical complex will only be allowed as part of the Barcelona Modernisme Route guided tours. Tours in English are offered daily at 10:15am and 12:15pm but you must book ahead, especially in high tourist season. For more information call ₊34 933 177 652 or visit www.rutadelmoderisme.com

Address: Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167 (vestíbul principal)
Phone: 933 177 652
How to get there: Metro L5, stop Hospital de Sant Pau or L4, stop Guinardó. | Bus 15, 19, 20, 45, 47, 50, 51 and 92.
Web site: www.rutadelmodernisme.com
Guided Visits: 902 076 621
Opening time: Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 2pm (information office)