The Universidad Laboral de Cheste, a Modern Heritage Site Under Threat

Abstract

Universidades laborales, or workers’ universities, were set up throughout Spain during the years of the dictatorship, and were aimed at professionally training the working classes. Their charitable–educational nature was established by law in 1955, although several date back to before that official date. The Universidad Laboral de Gijón (1946-1957) was the first to be built, as reflected in the traditional and academic architecture of Luis Moya. Fernando Moreno Barberá, one of the most important architects involved, was the author of four centres: those of Las Palmas, 1970-73, Toledo, 1970-78, Malaga 1972-78 and Cheste 1967–69, his work reflecting an undoubted assimilation of the Modern legacy.