Main Conference Venue: Casa Convalescència

The Casa de Convalescència, one of the last great works of Catalan Modernism, is part of the complex of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. The main architect of the complex was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, although the construction of Casa de Convalescència finished under the direction of his son Pere Domènech i Roura. The complex was designed in the late 19th century to alleviate the shortage of hospital space in Barcelona. The building, which was used for convalescent patients, features stunning glazed solariums and a chapel, which split the building into two wings, one for men and one for women.

Its architecture is rich in modernist elements, featuring glasswork that illuminates the monumental entryway and cupola as well as the ornate tile work that adorns all of the ground floor halls. On a structural level, the building upholds the Catalan modernist tradition of ceilings formed by vaults made of flat brick and metal beams that strengthen the low supporting arches, built and displayed in open sight.

Casa de Convalescència currently belongs to Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), and normally functions as a center for language learning and life-long education.

Getting there

Map of the conference area

Casa de Convalescència is located on the corner of Carrer Sant Quinti and Carrer Sant Antoni M. Claret, in Sagrada Família neighborhood of the Eixample district. Check its location on Yahoo Maps.

The closest metro stations are Sant Pau / Dos de maig in L5 (blue line) and Guinardó in L4 (yellow line). Nearby day buses are 15, 19, 20, 35, 45, 47, 50, 51, 92. There are several car parking garages nearby.

The conference takes place in the rooms located in the ground and first floor of the Casa de la Convalescència. The following maps indicate room locations.

Conference bureau

The conference bureau (registration desk) will be located in the entrance hall of the conference venue, Casa de Convalescència.

It will be open, at least:

• Sunday 19th, 5pm to 8pm, for pre-registered participant pickup
• Monday 20th, 8am to 7pm (except for lunch break)
• Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th, from 8:30am to 9am and during breaks

Eating around the conference venue

Map of the conference area

Conference lunches are on your own. You will find many restaurants in the vicinity of Casa de Convalescència, and especially in the Av. Gaudí, in the direction of Sagrada Família.

Most restaurants in Barcelona offer a fixed-priced midday menu, consisting of first and main dishes, desert, and drinks. Coffee may or may not be included. Although our conference lunch breaks are earlier than usual in Barcelona, in the area of the conference there will be no problem in finding many places to have lunch at our lunch times, and in fact it will be easier to find room.

Note that, until january 2011, many restaurants are smoking: watch for the green (smoking) or red (nonsmoking) sign on the door. Here are some possibilities, not necessarily tested by the organizers:

• A. Restaurant Pasta Gansa Av. Gaudí, 68. All-you-can-eat salad bar, 8eur.
• B. Restaurant Sibar: Sant Antoni M. Claret, 310. In the Can Miralletes garden, restored old country house
• C. Restaurant El Roure: Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 175.
• D. Restaurant Can Amigó: Sant Antoni M. Claret, 149 151.
• E. Restaurant el Doctor i la Cuineta d'Or: Sant Antoni M. Claret, 147.
• F. Restaurant Trencadís Tapes i Menjars: Sant Antoni M. Claret, 163.
• G. Restaurant el Vendrell: Sant Antoni M. Claret, 186
• H. Restaurant El Trobador: Trobador, 22. 93 433 07 92
• I. Restaurant Miquetes Màgiques: Trobador, 20. Average price: 15eur
• J. Restaurant l'Oliva: Industria, 207.
• K. Restaurant la Cruïlla: Av. Gaudí, 87.
• L. Restaurant la Piazzenza: Av. Gaudí, 27-29. Average Price: 12eur
• M. Restaurant Llepafils: Av. Gaudí, 46.
• N. Restaurant La Llesca: Av. Gaudí, 12.