Maria Carol, Head of Social Environment and Governance at the Hospital de Sant Pau, recently participated in the conference “Spaces that care and cure: architecture, urbanism and mental health”. The event, organized by the National Pact for Mental Health and WeMInd Cluster as part of the “Mental Health, a shared perspective” series, took place on Thursday, November 5th, at the Smart Cities Barcelona Expo 2026.
During her participation in a round table, Maria Carol presented Sant Pau's experience with the co-creation project ReHEALMS, focused on creating spaces that prioritize well-being, and reflected on how the environment influences this area.
The conference focused on how the design of housing, healthcare facilities, educational and social institutions, workplaces, and public spaces influences how we relate, feel, and ultimately, how it impacts our mental health and emotional well-being.
The ReHEALMS project, driven by Sant Pau and funded by European funds, demonstrates the importance of architecture, sustainable mobility, nature, and art in patients' recovery and emotional well-being. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the UPC, ISGlobal, and En Bici Sense Edat, created a true living laboratory where healthcare professionals, caregivers, residents, artists, architects, and researchers worked together to imagine a future Sant Pau – a more open, pleasant, and just hospital for everyone.
“"ReHEALMS demonstrates that caring also means rethinking the spaces where we recover, and that architecture and art can be key allies in promoting more integral, human, and sustainable health. The project's aim is to share this experience with individuals, entities, and institutions that wish to rethink cities and urban spaces from a more human perspective."
