In a workshop in the Vila de Gràcia, very special patients are admitted. They are dolls with damaged eyes or battered stuffed animals that need to be repaired. This is what model maker Noemí Batllori does, the driving force behind the so-called toy hospital. She gives these pieces a new opportunity and extends their life to bring many more joys to their owners, whether they are children or even older people who still keep their childhood toys and want them to be enjoyed by their children or grandchildren.
A few years ago, there was another place in the city where dolls were repaired, but it closed its doors in 2017. It was located in the central El Gòtic neighborhood, in the Maldà galleries, and was called “Policlínica de Bebés,” founded in 1946. In a way, Batllori has taken over this artisanal work with great care and affection. “They are objects that connect us to our childhood and I want to highlight their value. They remind us of a world not so dominated by the digital and that provided us with calmness,” comments this toy surgeon, trained at the Llotja School of Art and Design.
The patients admitted are waiting to be treated
Without Batllori realizing it, the seed of this space was planted in 2017, when his daughter Gala, at the age of four, broke her wrist and, after a great upset, they played pretending to take her to a hospital and heal her. The tantrum passed, and some time later, for Christmas, Gala decided to organize a collection of broken toys among family and friends to fix them. Seeing that the idea generated interest, the next step was to open this place in a location in Gràcia.
At this time of year, with the arrival of Santa Claus and the Three Wise Men, there is a fortnight of patients even though the work pace remains constant throughout the year. “Maybe before summer, in September, or at Christmas there is a bit more work because people tend to do cleaning and things come out of the attics,” explains Batllori.
Among the patients, located on the admission shelf, there are porcelain dolls, stuffed animals, wooden tricycles, and even a cardboard rocking horse. All of them have a patient number tag and are listed in the admission notebook. Since this unique hospital opened in 2019, Batllori has already repaired over 500 toys.
Batllori shows a doll that he has to repair
She also conducts workshops to repair these objects, promoting responsible consumption, aimed at neighborhood schools, as well as education and vocational training students. This hospital also does not handle war toys. Among other projects, Batllori is preparing a limited series of wooden cars and also creates dollhouses. “It's a very rewarding job. I see people happy when you fix their toy and I receive a lot of positive energy from them,” concludes Batllori with a smile.
