A magnificent example of rationalist architecture from the first third of the twentieth century, the Dispensari Antituberculós was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest in 1992.
The first rationalist public building
This health centre located in the Raval neighbourhood was the first rational public building to be constructed in the city. The Republican Government chose its architects well: the government promoted modern medical care and the group of architects who were commissioned to build the clinic, all members of GATPAC (Group of Catalan Artists and Technicians for the Progress of Contemporary Architecture), were in favour of architecture that put space in the service of people. The building, located between Ronda Sant Antoni and Carrer Montalegre, became a paradigm of rationalism: straight lines, geometric shapes and usable spaces.
A primary health care centre
Made up of three blocks, each intended for different uses, the building has a central garden to counteract the patients’ sense of isolation. It was renovated and modernised in the early 1980s. It is now home to one of the primary care centres in the Raval neighbourhood and remains a leader in the treatment of tuberculosis. It can be visited from Mondays to Fridays in the morning.
