Post-conciliar architectural perspective of the chapel of the Carmen Teresiano school in Cúcuta

Abstract

This article is part of a study of sacred architecture in the city of Cúcuta, conducted by the Francisco de Paula Santander University. The study identifies buildings that have made history since the 1960s for their contribution to urban development. The general objective of this research is to analyze the chapel of the Carmen Teresiano School through its compositional strategy and qualities related to modern post-Vatican II architecture in Cúcuta. The methodology employed in this qualitative research involves a descriptive-documentary analysis of this architectural space. The analysis reveals that the adoption of modern architecture in Cúcuta and the provisions of the Second Vatican Council were integrated, demonstrating a conscious adaptation of theoretical principles to the specific environmental and cultural characteristics of the region. However, while the use of materials such as concrete, wood, and clay in the building envelope demonstrates an effective strategy for climate protection and sensory connection... It is also important to question whether this heterogeneity in formal and functional expression genuinely responds to local needs and dynamics, or whether, on the contrary, it perpetuates an aesthetic and technical approach that could limit true regional innovation. The results reveal an architecture capable of reflecting and enhancing the cultural and social identity of the territory, supported by a relevant urban integration. Likewise, modern principles are identified in the form and structure, tectonic functionality, and meaning, prioritizing sustainability, environmental sensitivity, and the creation of a space that transcends its physical function, highlighting respect for the sacred and regional tradition.