Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre
Patient Information
Medical Team
Teaching
Research Chair
Foundation and Social Area
The Barraquer Saga
Communication and Press
History
Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer was designed by Ignacio Barraquer, who combined his professional work at the Ophthalmology Service of "Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau" and further on at the "Red Cross Hospital" in Barcelona, with his private labor.
The private eye consultation of Ignacio Barraquer, where he practised until 1940, was located at No. 3 of the centric Ronda de Sant Pere in Barcelona, on the corner of Plaza Catalunya, and it consisted of a ground floor and a first floor.
The private eye consultation of Ignacio Barraquer, where he practised until 1940, was located at No. 3 of the centric Ronda de Sant Pere in Barcelona, on the corner of Plaza Catalunya, and it consisted of a ground floor and a first floor.
With the aim to offer his knowledge and expertise to patients with limited financial resources, Ignacio Barraquer introduced the Social Entity founded with own resources, where these patients were treated under low cost rates. Therefore, it can be said that the consultation desk at Ronda de Sant Pere was the germ of what would later become his greatest work: the Clínica Barraquer.
When early in the 30’s Ignacio Barraquer considered to build a monographic hospital devoted exclusively to ophthalmology in the neighborhood of Sant Gervasi, Barcelona, his colleagues at the time called him a "mad visionary" by moving his popular consultation desk from the city to an outskirt district, claiming that no patient would go to a so “distant” place. The facts just proved the contrary.
Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer is a private institution devoted to research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of ocular diseases, which offers assistance to patients around the world. The building that houses it is located on Muntaner Street No. 314 (Barcelona), and construction began in 1934, completing its first phase in 1941. Distribution was essentially the same as shown at present, though it only consisted of a ground floor, two more floors and an attic. In the 50's, a new building was erected in the Laforja street next to the first construction, and in the 70's, it was expanded with the addition of three more floors, keeping the highest possible architectural coherence with the original.
Thanks to the work of all this team, Barraquer Clinic’s building reached the highest level of technology and avant-garde of the time. Ignacio Barraquer conceived his clinic with an idea of modernity, scientific rationalization and opening to the most advanced procedures and techniques, both in the field of medicine and the services offered to patients so that they might feel treated with both humanity and friendliness.
In 1971, on sight of the international fame achieved by Joaquín Barraquer and his new techniques applied by himself and his team, it was necessary to expand and modernize the existing building, which was conducted under the supervision of Joaquín Barraquer himself. The project was led by architect Salvador Capella Sagalés. Since then, there have been constant renovations at the Centre, to provide the best care to patients.
Download PDF>> original Prospectus 1941
