Post-Conciliar Churches of Luis Cubillo in Madrid. Searching for the Standardized Parish Complex

Abstract

This work studies the series of thirteen parish complexes designed by the architect Luis Cubillo in Madrid between 1970 and 1972, in which he sought a standardization with which to give an effective response to the need for new temples arising from the Morcillo Pastoral Plan of 1965. To do this, he adhered to the "Instructions for the construction of parish complexes", published for this purpose by the Archbishopric. Once the immediate precedent of Cubillo's proposal has been described, the text first analyzes everything related to the temple and its adjacent spaces: the choice of the square plan as the most appropriate for the post-conciliar liturgy, its dimensions, its lighting and its singular structure. Subsequently, the rest of the parish complex is analyzed: its programmatic clarity, the systematization of constructive solutions, the ability to adapt to different environments and the limitations of the proposed model. Throughout the work, comparisons are established with other previous achievements of the architect, both in his civil and religious architecture. Beyond the obvious formal differences, continuities in their project strategies are discovered, such as the modular base of their designs or the rigor in the resolution of the functional program. Likewise, the constructive rationality of these parish complexes and their economy represented a logical continuation of Cubillo's extensive experience in the field of social housing in Madrid.