Courtyard of Domènech and Roura Pavilions, Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul

With the passage of time, the need for expansion has once again become evident, both in terms of the number of patients, as well as the technological advances in medicine and the growing teaching activity, since the hospital is now university in nature. During the second half of the last century, some new buildings were incorporated into the complex, of which the most important is the Urology Institute (Fundació Puigvert), a private hospital dedicated entirely to this specialty.

The hospital was conceived to have all the services within it and thus isolate it from the city. In the design streets, gardens, buildings with water supply, a church and even a convent were projected.

The development of the project underwent significant changes that have shaped the current hospital complex. The legacy of Pau Gil was exhausted in 1911 when, in addition to buying the land, 10 pavilions had been made: the administration, operations, two minor reconnaissance and 6 nursing. These are the most modernist- style pavilions with the richest artistic decoration. Construction was stopped until 1914, with patronage being obtained for two more pavilions.

In 1921 the second phase begins under the direction of Domènech i Roura, in which the Barcelona City Council provided financing with the purchase of the space and buildings of the old medieval hospital. The budget reduction and the change of architectural style results in more austere pavilions and a lack of decorative elements. However, the first two pavilions made by Domènech i Roura (Sant Manuel and the Assumption) are still twins from the beginning, denoting the active participation of their father. Other unique buildings, such as the Convalescence pavilion, the church and the kitchen pavilion, and the pharmacy closing the central street of the complex, are also being built during this phase.

With the final configuration of this second phase, completed in 1925, the hospital will continue until the 1960’s, where facilities are added without any respect to the original work, in addition to the Puigvert Foundation for Nephrology..

Domènech and Roura Pavilions

San Manuel and the Asuncio’n
1922
Still in modernist style, that of San Manuel was funded by the Mariné Molins brothers. The Assumption was made with the contribution of Lluïsa Rabell i Patxot, in memory of her mother, Assumption. The latter is attached to the construction of the Puigvert Foundation and has undergone many alterations.

Church
1922-1925
In Av. Sant Antoni Ma. Claret
It consists of a central nave and two lateral ones with an apse and a girola, with a belfry dome on the cruise.

Convent building
1920s
In the middle of the junction and closing the modernist complex
In fact, there are three buildings together. The power station was dedicated to the convent of the sisters who cared for the hospital; to the west the pharmacy was located and the east one had the kitchens, but later the café was installed. Of particular note is the access to this east wing, which is decorated with the facade of the Baroque church of Santa Marta, which was destroyed when the Via Laietana was built and moved here in 1928.

Santa Victoria
1926
In Av. Sant Antoni Ma. Claret
The one for Santa Victoria was built with the contributions of Elvira and Emilia Llagostera, who had donated it to Pope Benedict XV, who donated it to the hospital, as well as the contribution of Francesca Prat, v. of Barbey.

St. Frederick and the Sacred Heart (demolished)
1928
Sant Frederic is a smaller pavilion to the rest that was financed by Frederic Benessat. The Sacred Heart was a pavilion funded with various contributions that had direct access from Sant Quintí Street. It was a conventional line building which was demolished in 2011.

Saint Anthony
1929
Between convent building and convalescence
It is the one that has the most adulterated style in its format of floor, its height with respect to the rest and the finishes. In addition it has undergone many extensions without any architectural interest.

Hospital of the Holy Cross and Saint Paul
The Hospital de Sant Pau is located in a complex of buildings located in Barcelona, designed by the architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner, one of the main representatives of Catalan modernism. It was built between 1902 and 1930 in two phases: the first by Domènech himself, between 1902 and 1913, it consists of thirteen modernist buildings; the second, made by his son Pere Domènech i Roura from 1920It consists of six other buildings of moderate modernism and other later buildings. With its main building and its numerous pavilions, the Hospital de San Pablo is, together with the Pere Mata de Reus Institute (also by the same architect), one of the largest ensembles of Catalan modernist architecture.

The Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, formerly the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, is one of the most prominent buildings of modernist architecture in Barcelona. Its author, the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, was responsible for building another of the main modernist buildings in Barcelona, the Palau de la Música. Both were declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997, valuing their uniqueness and beauty.

The Modernist Site is the largest architectural ensemble of this style in Europe and is one of the main examples of Catalan modernism. Domènech devised a “city within the city” with pavilions surrounded by gardens and connected by a network of underground tunnels.

Thought for what would be their use, a hospital, the architect designed a constructive space and force in the Eixample, but with a rotation of 45 degrees with respect to the grid of islands designed to Ildefons Cerda. In this way, it gave the space a perfect North-South orientation, obtaining more adequate ventilation and more light hours.