Santa Creu Mental Institute: History and Heritage in Barcelona
If you are interested in the history and heritage of Barcelona, you cannot miss a visit to the old Santa Creu Mental Institute. This imposing facility, inaugurated in 1889, was a response to the growing social demand to improve care for the mentally ill at the time. Located in the Nou Barris district, the institute was a benchmark in psychiatric care during its time of operation.
An ambitious project
The Santa Creu Mental Institute was designed by Dr. Emili Pi i Molist and the architect Josep Oriol i Bernadet, who were inspired by the best psychiatric hospitals in Western Europe. During the years 1855 and 1860, they worked together to create this complex that became one of the most modern and advanced asylums of its time.
The institute, with an area of 700 meters long and 240 meters wide, had 12 symmetrical pavilions that could accommodate up to 700 patients. Its functional design included bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, meeting rooms, work shops, a library, an infirmary, bathrooms, a theater and even a church. In addition, 16 landscaped interior patios were created to provide a calm and relaxing environment.
Pioneering treatments
One of the outstanding characteristics of the Santa Creu Mental Institute was the innovative treatment provided to patients. Therapies based on agricultural, manual and artistic activities were implemented as part of the rehabilitation process. These techniques, ahead of their time, sought to improve the quality of life and mental health of patients.
In addition to a comprehensive therapeutic approach, the institute had the support of two religious brotherhoods: the Hospitaller Brothers of the Holy Cross and the Hospitaller Sisters of the Holy Cross, who cared for the sick and ensured their well-being.</p >
The transformation and the present
Throughout the sixties of the 20th century, several pavilions of the institute were demolished to make way for the construction of the Barcinova and Calinova industrial estates. Finally, in 1987, the institute was closed and the last patients were transferred to other facilities.
Today, only three pavilions remain of the old Santa Creu Mental Institute, which house the headquarters of the Nou Barris District and the Nou Barris Library. In addition, the building also houses other municipal offices and public services such as the Urban Police barracks. However, the church remains closed and out of use.
Visiting the old Santa Creu Mental Institute is a unique opportunity to learn about an important milestone in the history of psychiatric care in Barcelona. Its historical and architectural legacy make it a place of cultural and heritage interest that deserves to be discovered. Don't hesitate to include it in your Barcelona tourist itinerary!