The complex of buildings that form the Recinto Modernista Sant Pau was constructed between 1901 and 1930, designed by the architect Lluis Domènech i Montaner, a contemporary of Gaudí.
Laid out at 45° to the surrounding Eixample the site occupies 9 city blocks with 27 separate pavilions and was considered by its architect a protest against the strictures of the rigid Cerdá city master plan. The hospital was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997 and has been recently completely refurbished.
While there is still a hospital on the site the historical buildings ceased functioning as a hospital in 2009, however the original buildings were considered to be highly advanced for their time with the integration of nature, air and light within the recuperation process.
