The orphanage at Can Besora

The current Vall d’Hebron secondary school is located in the former Can Besora estate, the farmhouse that gave its name to the land between Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron, the old Camí Sant Genís road, and the Collserola stream. It was demolished in the 1980s. It had room for 800 children, though it never housed more than 200, but it operated as an orphanage right until the early 1970s, after which it was auctioned off. Thanks to the local residents’ movement, which called for the building to be used as an educational centre, the City Council eventually bought it and converted it into a secondary school.

A building ahead of its time

Sagnier designed the orphanage-school following the Montessori method. It was a building ahead of its time, with large, well-lit study rooms, laboratories, a cinema, an infirmary and even X-ray equipment. It closed in 1972 and was about to be demolished, but the local residents prevented it. It continues to house students today and is listed in the municipal catalogue of protected buildings.