The Art Nouveau Site of Sant Pau, including the Sant Carmen Pavilion, is an architectural jewel of Catalan Modernism. I arrive here on a cool November morning. I have walked from my Barcelona accommodation near Las Ramblas not really knowing what to expect. I’m both awed and inspired by what I find.
Sant Pau
Built between 1902 and 1930, Sant Pau was home to the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau from 1916 to 2009.
The project was conceived as a city within the city, an exceptional demonstration of the creative genius of Lluis Domènech i Montaner. Montaner is remembered as one of the great European architects. This Art Nouveau Site, which served Barcelona as an innovative, cutting edge hospital, is today a knowledge centre that hosts equally innovative institutions.
See also in this series:
- Hypostyle Hall
- Tunnels
- Sant Salvador Pavilion
- The Gardens
- Sant Rafael Pavilion
- The Operating Theatre
Carmen Pavilion
The Carmen Pavilion is yet to be restored. A peek into the interior of this pavilion gives me an idea of the level of devastation that more modern operations brought to the site.
Although modern conveniences of electricity and water supply and niceties such as patient privacy were not contemplated at the time Sant Pau was constructed, the addition of these, among other modern medical requirements did much to destroy Montaner’s original designs.
It’s actually incredible to stand here and contemplate the activity of this pavilion and the remarkable changes it had actively witnessed over the course of nearly a century.
The medical activity ceased here in 2009 although many of the scars of the years of service are still visible. One such example is the door frames where the height of the floor for the previously installed second floor is etched.
The spaced will be restored, like the other pavilions. Ceramics and tiles will be replicated from remaining original pieces and the modern damage will be erased. This process begins from the outside before the works move onto the interiors.
Good To Know
Tickets and in particular guided tours are limited. I missed booking the guided tour and ended up with an audio guide. The audio guide is highly recommended. Although there is a lot of signage, it’s a large site and it may prove difficult to take in if you’re relying on reading everything. A guided tour would be even better.
Would I Return?
Yes. Subject to further renovations. It will be interesting to see how the project evolves.