PERE MATA INSTITUTION

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- Localization: Cra de l'institut Pere Mata s/n - Poblation: 43206 Reus - Information phone: 977 778 149 (Tourist Information Centre of Reus) - Opening hours: Check at the Tourist Information Centre of Reus Opening hours may vary depending on season Visits arranged at the tourist office centre of Reus Coach departures from the tourist office of Reus (c/ de Sant Joan, s/n, de Reus) - Rates: 6 EUR

The technical project is adapted to an urban distribution of buildings with independent spaces. It is based on a garden pavelion style, called as well à village, pioneered in France. A group of well-to-do people from Reus, led by Dr. Emili Briansó agreed to build open space premises, mantained hyginietically clean, where patients could live in good conditions. It was then when they got in touch with Lluís Domènech i Montaner.

Inside the institution, among the six original buildings of that period, General Services and the so-called "de Distinguidos"(distinguished people), usually used for "de hombres ricos" (rich people) , built in 1908 stood out. Nowadays, it is used for cultural events: concerts, meetings, etc.

From the General Services pavilion a 30m high tower sticks out. It has a reservoir like the three dragons castle at Ciutadella Park, which represent today one of the emblematic images of the Institute.

Going downstairs, to the "de Distinguidos" pavilion, it is important to notice that the external of the building is made out of bricks. Af for its intense decoration, it is important to look closely at some of the fine hand-crafted wrought iron and stone carved pieces, or its ceramic soffits made by Josep Triadó and Lluís Bru. Furniture is still preserved in its original state.

The whole simbology is based on allegories, which refers to patient's recovery in an Art Nouveau language : botanical motifs, and other shapes from Nature.

Domènech worked paying attention to mental health residents' special needs. He concealed the grilles in a stain glass support structure. He built rounded handrails to avoid accidents and covered the dinner-room walls with easy-to-clean tiles, which is essential for good hygiene.