The former Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona was built to plans by Lluís Domènech I Montaner between 1901 and 1930. Composed of many independent pavilions, it is the world's largest complex built in Art Nouveau style. After being closed as a hospital in 2009, it was renovated and re-opened as a museum and cultural center in 2014.
![Hospital de Sant Pau - main entrance](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/f9dc3a0c-9202-499f-a038-50946c9866bd_rw_1920.jpg?h=a358437a91de82f4bd3ed0e3b92d77c4)
Hospital de Sant Pau - main entrance
Surrounded by gardens, 12 of the pavilions are connected through 1 km of underground corridors. The Hipostyle Hall is characterized by its large brick columns and ceramic tiles.
![Hipostyle Hall](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/194482d8-a16f-409f-a6f3-4ceabf48ea83_rw_1920.jpg?h=ed8cfde9baea5763f07f584c3dd7266a)
Hipostyle Hall
![underground corridors](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/4eef5915-e6f9-4790-bcff-e7a0a39f7569_rw_1920.jpg?h=3ed0c9e0086c2c61b65b7d6960c2c053)
underground corridors
Each pavilion was used by a different medical specialty. The design emphasized the importance of natural light and ventilation in the treatment of patients. Ceramic tiling was used extensively in order to ensure hygiene.
![nursing pavilion](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/06a5b8e9-7052-488c-a9fd-6bdb66cd9065_rw_1920.jpg?h=bf5ef28f5443186273a6173e472ce9aa)
nursing pavilion
![former hospital room](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/795a8d39-b13f-4ad7-98e8-918ef5122015_rw_1920.jpg?h=d0a56e31c2c6cab6ae310fac2c295d1f)
former hospital room
The administrative pavilion served as the main access point to the hospital site. The first pavilion of Lluís Domènech I Montaner's plans to be completed, It features the highest amount of ornamentation and quality of materials. It is also one of the first non-industrial buildings to use exposed brickwork on its inside.
![administrative pavilion](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/76e1adcf-636d-438c-83c5-12b3e04ac2b1_rw_1920.jpg?h=ebfec4fb4c0c6adbc95b4b20a32135d0)
administrative pavilion
The Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall is located in the center of the administrative pavilion on the first floor. Two brick arches divide the room in three sections.
![arches and ceiling of the Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/e772699a-d334-4da5-9f46-0438aef032bb_rw_1920.jpg?h=d53b1dfa1c191ccb7b29cdc2ff505c44)
arches and ceiling of the Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall
A balcony is present on three sides of the room. Its stone tracery in Gothic letters reads "Ampareu Syor als benefactors y als asilats d’aquesta santa casa aixís en la terra com en lo cel e inspireu sentiments de caritat envers d’ella amen." The 2.5 meters by 6.8 meters large painting "Translación de los restos mortales de santa Eulalia de Santa María del Mar a la catedral de Barcelona" by Aleix Clapés can be seen on one of its walls.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/8414d3a7-031f-488c-b88a-2b610df72b72_rw_1920.jpg?h=08fccc97ebcf74682a44960529f7efd9)
![Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/b98bcc23-863b-479f-83ea-d9b74b0a148a_rw_1920.jpg?h=7b5db6baa8be1c38a629afd237fc2f83)
Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall
![Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall with painting by Aleix Clapés](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/9d4c2ca5-5505-4c48-868f-59a89253a9a9_rw_1920.jpg?h=9e0ea5fc4e111da29a0372f82ca0e54c)
Lluís Domènech i Montaner Hall with painting by Aleix Clapés
The two-storey Francesc Cambó Auditorium can now accommodate conferences for up to 190 people. It features a Mozarabic-style ceiling. The center of the dome specifies the date of completion of the pavilion: 1910.
![corridor leading to the Francesc Cambó auditorium](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/4bc3102c-ebda-4b78-b974-2dc6af72b3f7_rw_1920.jpg?h=63a793c1c1d47cf1cf42cec0e4c1ac3d)
corridor leading to the Francesc Cambó auditorium
![Francesc Cambó Auditorium](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/84428faa-90b1-4e23-9892-bab1754ee75c_rw_1920.jpg?h=47b0b3d770aa8e93e9bda0de745de436)
Francesc Cambó Auditorium
![ceiling](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/b21ee896-eff4-4d5c-8918-a697c563ce13_rw_1920.jpg?h=1a87db8c6ceecf873bec71c068e74430)
ceiling
The sculptures of the religious communities of Santa Creu were created by Pau Gragallo in 1905.
![sculptures of the religious communities of Santa Creu](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/645ef5b2f82fdeaf819364ecd9d55d6c/6f08be62-8c60-433b-b3f9-9b25c5779c09_rw_1920.jpg?h=03ac03d9c0012ffb81812ace05dbc28a)
sculptures of the religious communities of Santa Creu
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