According to Bondia, these gardens, declared a cultural asset of national interest and accessible via Hospital and Carme streets, show evident neglect and dirt. The situation of abandonment, which includes the regular presence of drug users and homeless individuals, has been ongoing for years, affecting the cloister and facade of the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu.
“"The gardens show significant deficiencies."
In his resolution, the defender of Barcelona residents has recommended that the Barcelona City Council strengthen sanitation and ordinary maintenance actions, intensifying cleaning, disinfection, and general care tasks to ensure optimal conditions for use and coexistence. He also emphasized the need to promote a specific preventive conservation program to preserve the architectural elements of the site and prevent more serious pathologies.
Bondia has also urged the Ciutat Vella district to strengthen social intervention through coordinated action by municipal social services. The objective is to provide adequate care for people experiencing homelessness and to minimize the impact of this problem on the management and conservation of the heritage complex.
In parallel, the Barcelona City Council plans to rehabilitate the cloister and facade of the Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu. The governing commission approved on September 18 a project with an investment of over 1.2 million euros for the cloister and over 600,000 euros for the facade facing Hospital Street. This action is part of a broader transformation to convert the old hospital into a major cultural hub, expanding the Biblioteca de Catalunya and creating a district library, with a renovation covering 12,000 m².
The municipal intervention in this area of El Raval foresees a total investment of over 72 million euros over approximately eight years. The former Massana school, vacated in early 2025, will be demolished to expand the current Escola Massana of art and design in Plaça de la Gardunya. A new connection between the gardens and Plaça de la Gardunya, which will be completely remodeled, will also be created.
