The first work on this modernist construction by Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his son Pere Domènech i Roure was carried out between the years 1902 and 1911. These years gave rise to the central pavilion, two examination pavilions, the surgery pavilion and a further six for nursing.

The work was stopped due to economic difficulties. On overcoming these problems, the work was renewed between 1911 and 1930. A further four nursing pavilions, the central pavilion for religious communities, the kitchens, the chemist and other auxiliary buildings were constructed. Next to the kitchen pavilion the façade of Santa Marta Church (18th century), which looks onto Carrer Sant Antoni Maria Claret, has been rebuilt.

From the year 1930 the Hospital de Sant Pau was fully operational, although other facilities were subsequently annexed, such as the tuberculosis pavilion (1936) and the headquarters of the prestigious Puigvert Foundation (1961).

One of the restorations carried out at the hospital, that of the La Merced pavilion, won the FAD restoration award in 1980. Few cities in the world have Hospitals which are at the same time so well prepared and which moreover constitute a top-quality architectural monument.