La Modernità Silenziosa: Patrimonializzazione dell’Universidad Laboral di Cheste / Silent Modernity: The Heritage Recognition of the Universidad Laboral of Cheste

Abstract

The Labor University of Cheste, designed by Fernando Moreno Barberá between 1965 and 1969, stands as an emblem of ‘silent modernity’: exceptional Modernist architecture largely overlooked and legally unprotected despite its cultural and technical value. Conceived as a self-contained city for over 5,000 students, it seamlessly integrates residences, classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities, dining areas, healthcare services, and a monumental Auditorium. Its design embodies Modernist and Brutalist principles, blending functional rationality, modular construction, and expressive materials while responding to the Mediterranean climate and topography. Although recognized in the Docomomo Ibérico registry, the absence of formal protection has allowed interventions – such as perimeter wall closures – that compromise its spatial and aesthetic integrity. Archival research, technical literature, and on-site analysis document the original design and subsequent modifications, underscoring the urgent need for conservation and sustainable reuse.