Fundació Ramon Pla Armengol

The Fundació Ramon Pla Armengol is located in Barcelona's Guinardó neighborhood and encompasses the gardens as well as the historic building of the former Ravetllat-Pla Institute. The institute was founded in 1919 by the bacteriologist Ramon Pla i Armengol and the veterinarian Joaquim Ravetllat i Estech to combat tuberculosis. The present-day complex was built between 1927 and 1930, when the architect Adolfo Florensa designed the estate in the Noucentisme style. During the Spanish Civil War, the house served for a time as a refuge for the Basque government in exile. After the death of the doctor's daughter, Núria Pla, who ran the institute until 1980, the grounds were handed over to the city of Barcelona. The park has been open to the public since 2019, while the main house serves as the Museo Núria Pla and holds a collection of furniture, paintings, sculptures, and goldsmith work.

The grounds extend over more than 36,000 square meters and are divided into several areas. At the center stands the listed building with its distinctive T-shaped layout, marked by a facade with Doric columns, arched windows, and a mixed-style pediment. The surrounding gardens reflect the historic design, with a monumental fountain featuring a copy of the Venus of Fréjus, as well as other sculptures such as a water carrier and a horse. Besides the classic garden area with olive and orange trees, you will also find an amphitheater plaza, a playground, and a viewpoint.

Special attention is paid to promoting biodiversity. The park is home to Mediterranean woodland, wetlands, and special planting beds with aromatic herbs that provide habitat for birds, insects, and amphibians. The ecological concept is complemented by community gardens tended by local residents, as well as artificial ponds and bat roosts. The grounds also function as an important green corridor that links the city's various nature reserves and ensures that flora and fauna can move through the urban landscape.