Institut Mental de la Santa Creu, Neoclassical psychiatric hospital in La Guineueta, Spain.
The Institut Mental de la Santa Creu is a neoclassical complex in La Guineueta composed of twelve separate pavilions arranged in perpendicular lines. Each pavilion is connected by covered walkways, and semicircular wings at the ends housed patients requiring intensive specialized care.
Construction began in 1885 and continued through 1915 under the direction of architect Josep Oriol i Bernadet. The facility ceased operations in 1987 as mental health treatment shifted toward community-based care in home settings.
The name refers to the Holy Cross and reflects the religious values that guided its founding. Visitors can still observe how the layout included spaces for recreation and cultural activities within its grounds.
The complex is located between the districts of Horta and Sant Andreu de Palomar, making it accessible by public transport. Parts of the original buildings now house the District Headquarters and community library, which visitors can access during regular opening hours.
The hospital operated a tiered system accommodating middle and upper-class patients in separate areas with different comfort levels. Billiard rooms, music halls, and theaters provided leisure activities that distinguished this from a typical medical facility.
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