Monday 4 January 2016

The Barcelona Hospital Art Nouveau Masterpiece, Santa Creu i de Sant Pau

Just up the street from Gaudi's masterpiece, Sagrada Familia, is an amazing hospital complex designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It's worth the detour to wander up the hill to tour the medical campus.

By the turn of the 20th century, the hospital had outgrown its location in another area of Barcelona and required a new complex to take advantage of a growing need for care and medical advances. Montaner had a vision of a large campus, divided into separate pavilions by specialty. Add in his Nouveau vision and you have a walkthrough masterpiece.

The main administration building, a looming welcome. Montaner's buildings were used as a hospital until 2009. Now, they are partly refurbished and being used as a knowledge center.


A model of the campus. The original plan envisioned dozens of buildings. Damn you budget constraints! Beyond beautiful designs, forward thinking elements were incorporated. Sterile, underground tunnels connect the different pavilions.

Behind the administration building, the little campus unfolds.


One of the tunnel exits up to the campus. An un-restored pavilion room.

The curves, the tile work, the fanciful touches, amazing.


Window details, exterior, interior. Great design flourishes, moulding and tile work.

A closer look at a pavilion entrance. Really?!

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