The Vibrant Palette of Architecture: Exploring the Power of Color in Building Design
Color isn't just a superficial element in architecture; it's a powerful tool capable of shaping perception, evoking emotion, and dictating the very atmosphere of a space. From the terracotta rooftops of Tuscany to the stark whitewashed villages of Greece, the color of architecture tells a story – a story of culture, climate, and the architect's vision. This article delves into the multifaceted world of architectural color, exploring its historical context, practical applications, and psychological impact. We'll uncover how color choices can influence everything from building energy efficiency to the emotional well-being of its occupants.
The use of color in architecture is far from arbitrary. It's a conscious decision influenced by a variety of factors, including:
Cultural Context: Different cultures associate specific colors with particular meanings. Red might symbolize prosperity in China, while white represents purity in many Western cultures. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for sensitive and effective design.
Climate and Environment: Light-colored buildings reflect sunlight, keeping interiors cooler in hot climates. Darker colors absorb heat, making them suitable for colder regions. This relationship between color and climate impacts both energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Materiality: The inherent color of building materials often dictates the overall palette. The warm tones of brick, the cool grays of concrete, and the vibrant hues of stained wood all contribute to the final aesthetic.
Psychological Impact: Colors evoke specific emotional responses. Blues promote calmness and tranquility, while yellows stimulate creativity and optimism. Architects leverage this understanding to create spaces that foster specific moods and behaviors.
Unique Advantages of Color in Architecture:
While there aren't strictly "unique" advantages in the sense of features exclusive to color alone, its impact is significantly intertwined with other architectural aspects. The synergistic effects are substantial:
Energy Efficiency: Light colors reflect sunlight, reducing the heat absorbed by the building envelope. This can significantly decrease the need for air conditioning, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint. Conversely, strategic use of dark colors on specific facades can maximize solar heat gain in colder climates.
Enhanced Aesthetics and Brand Identity: Color is a potent tool for creating a visually appealing and memorable design. It can enhance the architectural style, create a specific brand identity for commercial buildings, or seamlessly integrate a building into its surroundings. A well-chosen color palette can significantly boost curb appeal and property value.
Wayfinding and Signage: Strategic use of color can enhance wayfinding and improve the overall user experience. Clear color-coded signage can guide occupants through complex buildings, while contrasting colors can highlight specific areas or features.
Mood and Atmosphere Creation: Color directly impacts the psychological atmosphere of a space. Warm colors like oranges and reds can create a sense of energy and excitement, while cool colors like blues and greens can induce calmness and relaxation. This is crucial for designing spaces with specific functions, from vibrant retail spaces to tranquil healthcare environments.
The Historical Evolution of Color in Architecture
The history of architectural color is a fascinating journey through diverse cultures and technological advancements. Early civilizations utilized readily available pigments derived from natural sources like earth, minerals, and plants. Ancient Egyptian architecture showcased vibrant hues in frescoes and temple decorations, reflecting their belief system and societal structure. Medieval European architecture primarily utilized earthy tones, reflecting the readily available materials like stone and clay. The Renaissance saw a resurgence of vibrant colors, often employed symbolically in religious buildings. The industrial revolution brought about the mass production of synthetic pigments, expanding the palette available to architects and dramatically altering the landscape of architectural design.
| Era | Dominant Colors | Key Characteristics |
|--------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Ancient Egypt | Ochre, Red, Blue | Symbolic use of color, vibrant frescoes and decorations |
| Medieval | Earthy tones (browns, greys) | Limited palette, natural pigments, rustic aesthetics |
| Renaissance | Rich jewel tones | Symbolic use, frescoes, vibrant facades |
| Modern | Diverse, synthetic | Wide range of options, functional & aesthetic choices |
The Psychology of Color in Architecture
Understanding the psychological impact of color is paramount in creating successful architectural designs. Different colors evoke distinct emotions and associations:
Warm Colors (Reds, Oranges, Yellows): Stimulate energy, excitement, and appetite. Often used in restaurants, retail spaces, and areas requiring high activity.
Cool Colors (Blues, Greens, Purples): Promote calmness, tranquility, and relaxation. Ideal for spaces requiring focus, such as libraries, hospitals, and offices.
Neutral Colors (Whites, Grays, Beiges): Create a sense of neutrality and versatility. Often used as a background to highlight other colors or architectural features.
Sustainable Color Choices and Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of architectural color is becoming increasingly important. The production and disposal of paint can have significant environmental consequences. Architects are increasingly considering:
Low-VOC Paints: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful air pollutants emitted by certain paints. Low-VOC paints minimize environmental impact and improve indoor air quality.
Bio-based Paints: Paints derived from renewable resources, such as vegetable oils or plant extracts, reduce reliance on petroleum-based products.
Recycled and Reusable Paints: Using recycled or reusable paints minimizes waste and lowers the environmental footprint of building projects.
Conclusion:
The color of architecture is more than just aesthetics; it's a powerful design tool that impacts energy efficiency, user experience, and the overall atmosphere of a space. By carefully considering the cultural context, climate, materiality, and psychological impact of color, architects can create buildings that are not only beautiful but also functional, sustainable, and emotionally resonant. The continuing evolution of color technology and our understanding of its psychological effects ensures that the vibrant palette of architecture will continue to evolve and inspire.
FAQs:
- What is the most energy-efficient color for a building? Light colors, especially whites and light greys, generally reflect the most sunlight, reducing energy consumption for cooling. However, the optimal color depends on climate and specific building orientation.
- How do I choose the right color scheme for my home? Consider the overall style of your home, your personal preferences, and the surrounding environment. Use color wheels and online tools to explore different combinations and create a cohesive palette.
- Can color impact productivity in the workplace? Yes, studies show that certain colors can enhance focus and productivity while others can lead to stress and distraction. Cool, calm colors are generally preferred for offices requiring concentration.
- What are the latest trends in architectural color? Current trends include the use of biophilic design, incorporating natural colors and textures to create a connection with the environment, as well as bold, statement colors used strategically to create visual interest.
- How can I ensure the longevity of the color on my building's exterior? Choose high-quality, weather-resistant paints specifically designed for exterior applications. Regular maintenance and cleaning will help to prolong the life of the paint and maintain the building's aesthetic appeal.
| color of architecture: Color for Architects (Architecture Brief) Juan Serra Lluch, 2019-05-14 As far back as the earliest Greek temples, color has been an integral part of architecture but also one of its least understood elements. Color theory is rarely taught in architecture schools, leaving architects to puzzle out the hows and whys of which colors to select and how they interact, complement, or clash. Color for Architects is profusely illustrated and provides a clear, concise primer on color for designers of every kind. This latest volume in our Architecture Briefs series combines the theoretical and practical, providing the basics on which to build a fuller mastery of this essential component of design. A wealth of built examples, exercises, and activities allows students to apply their learning of color to real-world situations. |
| color of architecture: Color in Architecture Harold Linton, 1999 Color in Architecture: Design Methods for Buildings, Interiors, and Urban Spaces addresses every aspect of color planning and application. Going far beyond a theory-based textbook approach to the subject matter, Linton draws on over 200 real-world examples from an international cast of professional colorists. Case studies of various design challenges and solutions are presented in an easy-to-understand workshop format. Each of these studies let you dig a little deeper, giving you significant insight into the practices of professional color designers and illustrating how to clarify the planning concepts, capitalize on the visual properties of color, and select from the range of industrial materials available for both interior and exterior building surfaces.--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
| color of architecture: House Colors Susan Hershman, 2009-09 House Colors is the most comprehensive resource ever compiled on choosing exterior house colors. Sorted by architectural style, this format will allow the reader to pinpoint the colors that will best suit their style of home. It is the ultimate resource for those looking to achieve exceptional color combinations, from subtle to bold, that are so difficult to achieve without professional design assistance. |
| color of architecture: Inessential Colors Basile Baudez, 2021-12-21 Today, architectural plans and drawings are always signposted with colors: pink for pochâe, or exterior walls, yellow for certain interior elements, and blue for details and ornament. How and why did this practice begin? The craft of architectural drawing-plans, sections, and details-was originally developed during the Italian Renaissance under the influence of engravers. The results were correspondingly monochromatic, relying on representation through line and perspective. But in the 1800s, an influx of painters-turned-architects in Holland and Germany brought color into their designs. This innovation eventually spread throughout Europe, inspiring French architectural engineers to adopt a common color system in order to more clearly communicate their designs across the kingdom, and giving architects another tool with which to impress academic juries and the public. In this book, author Basile Baudez argues that color was not an essential feature of architectural drawing until European architects adopted a precise system of representation in response to political and artistic rivalry between countries, as well as the needs of public exhibitions. He shows that French engineers learned to use color from the Dutch colleagues they worked with and then fought against during the Dutch War (1672-78), demonstrating that a color-based system was published in French manuals for military engineers and used by royal architects, and that architects who wanted to compete with paintings for the public's attention needed to use the familiar language of color. This history reveals that color came to have three functions: to imitate architectural materials, to establish concise representational conventions that could span large geographic distances, and to seduce the public, including tourists. The book will feature a large number of fascinating, previously unpublished archival drawings, and will contribute to growing interest in the origins and professionalization of architecture, as well as the history of drawing as a medium-- |
| color of architecture: Colour for Architecture Tom Porter, Byron Mikellides, 1976 |
| color of architecture: Color Codes Charles A. Riley (II.), Charles A. Riley, 1995 A multidisciplinary look at the role of color in contemporary aesthetics. |
| color of architecture: Architecture and Color Waldron Faulkner, 1972 For practicing architects, designers, and manufacturers of building materials. |
| color of architecture: The Architectonic Colour Jan de Heer, 2009 This book is an account of a significant aspect of Le Corbusier's work - the relationships between form and colour. The book relates the way in which he arrived at a personal architectonic polychromy in the early 1920s and how his theories relating to Purism developed. |
| color of architecture: Matisse Rene Percheron, Christian Brouder, 2004-11-23 This book traces and sheds new light on the development of Henri Matisse's oeuvre, which spans some sixty years. Lavishly illustrated with almost four hundred images, this deluxe volume includes reproductions of the artist's most famous paintings paired with lesser-known documents and photographs culled from the archives of his estate. The authors also gathered firsthand accounts related by numerous participants in the Vence and Le Cateau projects. The result is an almost day-to-day look at Matisse's process as he created these works, as well as an intimate portrait of both the artist and the man.--Jacket. |
| color of architecture: Single-Handedly Nalina Moses, 2019-05-07 Part of the generation of architects who were trained to draw both by hand and with digital tools, Nalina Moses recently returned to hand drawing. Finding it to be direct, pleasurable, and intuitive, she wondered whether other architects felt the same way. Single-Handedly is the result of this inquiry. An inspiring collection of 220 hand drawings by more than forty emerging architects and well-known practitioners from around the world, this book explores the reasons they draw by hand and gives testimony to the continued vitality of hand drawing in architecture. The powerful yet intimate drawings carry larger propositions about materials, space, and construction, and each one stands on its own as a work of art. |
| color of architecture: The Modulor Le Corbusier, 2000 |
| color of architecture: Victorian Brick and Terra-cotta Architecture in Full Color Pierre Chabat, 1989 541 beautiful full-color architectural drawings illustrating the imaginative use of brickwork and terra-cotta appliqués in Victorian revival styles, reprinted from a rare portfolio by a well-known 19th-century French architect. Includes front and side elevations, floor plans, and detailed sections. 682 illustrations. Captions. Publisher's Note. |
| color of architecture: Color by Design Tim Travis, 2020-12-01 A beautifully presented survey of design and the applied arts, explored not by use, material, form, or date . . . but by color. The V&A Book of Color in Design is attractively simple: a celebration and exploration of color, as revealed through objects in the world-class collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Structured by color, it offers fascinating insights into the choices made by designers and makers from across the world and throughout history. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction that considers the history, symbolism, and use of an individual color. Objects—from items of jewelry, textiles, glassware, and ceramics to furniture and more—are reproduced in a visual selection that explores the varied hues of every color. However different objects within each section may be in their detail and meaning, they are united by their common color, revealing surprising connections between them. Throughout, narrative captions bring together disparate items from across the V&A’s collection to explore the universal significance of color in art and design. Beautifully designed, this highly visual, color-led survey of design and the applied arts is a compelling sourcebook with broad appeal for anyone interested or involved in all aspects of visual culture. |
| color of architecture: Modern Architecture in Color Werner Hofmann, Udo Kultermann, 1970 There are 112 color plates in this ... book which depict some of the most important work of such architects as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Tange, Mies van der Rohe and Nervi. Each plate is accompanied by a commentary written by Kultermann which indicates the varied architectural solutions to industrial age problems. The plates are prefaced by a detailed introduction by Hofmann in which he examines a number of themes, including the apparent conflict between the beautiful and the useful in architectural ideas through the ages and the connections between modern architecture and other art forms. He traces the development of modem architecture from three stylistic prototypes: a cast-iron factory (1848) by James Bogardus; the Crystal Palace (1851) by Joseph Paxton, and the Red House (1859) by Philip Webb--Review in AJA Journal, March 1971. |
| color of architecture: Architectural Colour in the Professional Palette Fiona McLachlan, 2013-08-15 How do architects use color? Do they adopt a different strategy or starting point for every project? Do they gradually cultivate individual color palettes, which develop alongside their body of built work? Do they utilize, or are they aware of, the body of theoretical work that underpins the use of color in the past, and forms the basis of most of the color systems commercially available today? Informed by the author’s thirty years in architectural practice and academia, this book investigates, documents and analyzes the work of a number of contemporary architects in order to respond to these questions and provide a clear reference of contemporary color use. The book suggests a holistic approach to the integration of color in architecture; through a series of thematic essays, the text explores and reveals underlying principles in color design and application. Case studies include: AHMM Caruso St John Erich Wiesner and Otto Steidle Gigon/Guyer O’Donnell + Tuomey Sauerbruch Hutton Steven Holl UN Studio. The book provides clear insights into how particular contemporary architects use color confidently and intelligently as an integral part of their design philosophy, in conjunction with their choices of materials and finishes. Offering a stimulating view of the history of color theory, and pragmatic advice to practicing architects, this book will be inspiring to both design professionals and students. |
| color of architecture: Colour in Architecture Maggie Toy, 1996-03-14 Focuses on a rarely taught subject which is vitally important to the built enviroment. |
| color of architecture: Architecture of Color Luis Barragán, Federica Zanco, Oscar Humphries, Edward Heathcote, 2016 Architecture of Color: The Legacy of Luis Barragán will explore Barragán’s architectural practice, his spiritual sense of aesthetics, and his unique use of color. The exhibition will also celebrate his legacy through the artworks of his contemporaries, those influenced by him, and those with whom he shares a visual and deeper synergy. The exhibition curated by Oscar Humphries will include works by Mexico-based artists with whom Barragán had close ties, including Mathias Goeritz, Chucho Reyes, and Eduardo Terrazas. Timothy Taylor 16x34 will transform the interior of the gallery with colorful walls that reference Barragán’s work, creating conversations in color with pieces by some of the most influential living and non-living artists of the past century. These artists will include Josef Albers, Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, Sheila Hicks, Agnes Martin and Sean Scully, and will be presented with Barragán-designed furniture. --Timothy Taylor website, viewed March 6, 2017. |
| color of architecture: Conditional Design Anthony di Mari, 2014-11-17 Conditional design is the sequel to Operative Design. This book will further explore the operative in a more detailed, intentional, and perhaps functional manner. Spatially, the conditional is the result of the operative. It is not a blind result however. Both terms work together to satisfy a formal manipulation through a set of opportunities for elements such as connections and apertures. |
| color of architecture: Visual Delight in Architecture Lisa Heschong, 2021-03-11 Visual Delight in Architecture examines the many ways that our lives are enriched by the presence of natural daylight and window views within our buildings. It makes a compelling case that daily exposure to the rhythms of daylight is essential to our health and well-being, tied to the very genetic foundations of our physiology and cognitive function. It describes all the subtlety, beauty, and pleasures of well-daylit spaces and attractive window views, and explains how these are woven into the fabric of both our everyday sensory experience and enduring cultural perspectives. All types of environmental designers, along with anyone interested in human health and well- being, will fi nd new insights offered by Visual Delight in Architecture. The book is both accessible and provocative, full of personal stories and persuasive research, helping designers to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific basis of their designs, scientists to better grasp the real-world implications of their work, and everyone to more fully appreciate the role of windows in their lives. |
| color of architecture: Color Scheme Edith Young, 2021 From the various shades of pink used by artists to describe the blush of Madame de Pompadour's cheeks to Helen Frankenthaler's orange color fields to Prince's concert costumes, Color Scheme is a collection of palettes that reveal new ways of thinking about larger arcs in visual culture-- |
| color of architecture: Sauerbruch Hutton Matthias Sauerbruch, Louisa Hutton, 2012 Sauerbruch and Hutton are unique among contemporary architects in their redefinition of colour as an essential material of architecture. The polychromatic treatment of their buildings created over the past twenty years reflect and concentrate the colours, forms and energies of the contemporary city. Simultaneously image and sculpture, ornament and text, they allow the complex technical reality of a building to disappear behind a powerful aesthetic experience. Beside Sauerbruch Hutton's renowned buildings such as the GSW Headquarters in Berlin, the Federal Environmental Agency Dessau or Munich's Brandhorst Museum, this book also shows their more recent work. Highlighting the sensual force of colour, Noshe's vibrant photographs reveal the architects' search for the expression of an architecture of sustainability that transcends both technical perfection and energyefficient performance. Words by Jonathan Glancey, Louisa Hutton and Matthias Sauerbruch complement the photographs. |
| color of architecture: Colour Strategies in Architecture Fiona Mc Lachlan, 2015-11 |
| color of architecture: Black: Architecture in Monochrome Phaidon Editors, 2017-10-09 A stunning exploration of the beauty and drama of 150 black structures built by the world's leading architects over 1,000 years. A visually rich book, Black: Architecture in Monochrome casts a new eye on the beauty - and the drama - of black in the built world. Spotlighting more than 150 structures from the last 1,000 years, Black pairs engaging text with fascinating photographs of houses, churches, libraries, skyscrapers, and other buildings from some of the world's leading architects, including Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, and Eero Saarinen, David Adjaye, Jean Nouvel, Peter Marino, and Steven Holl. |
| color of architecture: A Theory of Architecture Nikos Angelos Salingaros, Michael W. Mehaffy, 2006 More than a decade in the making, this is a textbook of architecture rich with design techniques and useful for every architect whether a first-year students or experienced practicing architects. The book teaches the reader how to design by adapting to human needs and sensibilities, yet independently of any particular style. It explains much of what people instinctively know about architecture, and puts that knowledge for the first time in a concise, understandable form. There has not been such a book treating the very essence of architecture. Preface by the Prince of Wales |
| color of architecture: Design and Color in Islamic Architecture Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss, Hans Christoph Seherr-Thoss, 1968 |
| color of architecture: Red: Architecture in Monochrome Phaidon Editors, 2018-10-25 A visual exploration of red's vivid role in global architecture over the centuries. From the earliest structures to today's contemporary creations, red has been one of the most traditional, and, at the same time, most cutting-edge, colors in the built world. Through stunning photography with informative text, you can explore more than 150 of the most striking buildings in existence - from the deep-red and stainless steel of LA's Petersen Automotive Museum to Moscow's red-brick State Museum and beyond. Visual pairings juxtapose striking works in a fresh, new approach to looking at and understanding architecture, including projects by some of the best architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From the publisher of Black: Architecture in Monochrome. |
| color of architecture: Color in Architecture Konrad Gatz, Wilhelm O. Wallenfang, Werner Piepenburg, 2011-10-01 Text Language Is English, German And French. |
| color of architecture: Architecture in Uniform Jean-Louis Cohen, 2011 It discusses topics such as the role of cities in the air war, the new buildings erected for industrial production, architecture's participation in actual warfare, and wartime mega projects and post-war developments in the civilian sphere, revealing the extent of the contribution made by architects to all aspects of the total mobilization that characterized the war years.--Page [4] of cover. |
| color of architecture: White Walls, Designer Dresses Mark Wigley, 1995 This work attempts to provide a new understanding of the historical avant-garde by analyzing the clothing of modern architecture. The author examines the relationships between architectural surfaces and clothing fashions and colour. |
| color of architecture: Interior Color by Design Jonathan Poore, 1994 This book demystifies the color design process, promoting the effective use of color in architectural and interior design. Includes hundreds of color swatches for experimenting with color combinations. |
| color of architecture: Experiencing Architecture Steen Eiler Rasmussen, 1962 |
| color of architecture: Fantastic Structures , 2016-03-15 In this eagerly awaited follow-up to the international bestseller Fantastic Cities, artist Steve McDonald uses his unique large-format approach working from actual photographs to create beautifully detailed line drawings of amazing buildings and other structures from around the world. The globe-trotting selection includes buildings from six continents—including Prague's Astronomical Clock, Russia's St. Basil's Cathedral, a Florentine bridge, a Romanian castle, an Indian palace, and many dozens more—alongside fun-to-color details from iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower, London's Tower Bridge, and the Chrysler Building. The crisp white pages are conducive to a range of applications, and a middle margin keeps all the artwork fully colorable. A dozen imaginative architectural mandala illustrations round out this gorgeous adult coloring book. |
| color of architecture: Color for Interior Architecture Mary C. Miller, 1997-04-21 This book examines the major considerations involved in color choice for interior spaces. |
| color of architecture: Color - Communication in Architectural Space Gerhard Meerwein, Bettina Rodeck, Frank H. Mahnke, 2007-06-08 Colors are an element of both the natural and the man-made environments. They convey messages of all kinds and perform a wide variety of functions, informing, organizing, warning. But they also serve an aesthetic purpose, affecting the statement, effect, and acceptance of objects and spaces. While people’s reactions to color vary widely, in design questions it is still possible to establish generally valid color concepts to match the expectations of the various groups of users. This book offers a guide based on a wide range of scientific findings and may be consulted as an authoritative reference by the architecture student and the professional alike. The three editors, Dr. B. Rodeck, Prof. G. Meerwein, and F. H. Mahnke have taught for many years at the Salzburger Seminare für Farbe und Umwelt der IACC. |
| color of architecture: Building as Ornament Michiel van Raaij, 2014 The ornament is back in architecture, but now on the scale of the building as a whole. One letter out of the alphabet, a pile of pebbles or a national emblem - the diversity of forms the new architecture can take seems infinite. In this book, Michiel van Raaij, in ten interviews, investigates how this new architecture emerged in the late 1990s and how it developed at the start of the twenty-first century. A new generation of architects sees the design of the upscaled ornament as an inextricable element of their practice. What are their motivations? How do they place their ideas in the tradition of their age-old profession? Michiel van Raaij argues that the design of the ornament, the iconography of the building, is bound by certain rules. A successful ornament represents a virtue and clarifies the function, status, construction, organization and context of the building.--Back cover. |
| color of architecture: Architectural Rendering Albert O. Halse, 2011-10-01 |
| color of architecture: 建筑立面与色彩 , 2010 本书中收录的2004年至2008年间竣工的项目,清晰地阐述了这一段时间内的色彩复兴。全书内容涉及建筑立面设计的方方面面,涵盖了多种材料及建筑方式的运用等内容. |
| color of architecture: Architectural Colour in the Professional Palette Fiona McLachlan, 2013-08-15 How do architects use color? Do they adopt a different strategy or starting point for every project? Do they gradually cultivate individual color palettes, which develop alongside their body of built work? Do they utilize, or are they aware of, the body of theoretical work that underpins the use of color in the past, and forms the basis of most of the color systems commercially available today? Informed by the author’s thirty years in architectural practice and academia, this book investigates, documents and analyzes the work of a number of contemporary architects in order to respond to these questions and provide a clear reference of contemporary color use. The book suggests a holistic approach to the integration of color in architecture; through a series of thematic essays, the text explores and reveals underlying principles in color design and application. Case studies include: AHMM Caruso St John Erich Wiesner and Otto Steidle Gigon/Guyer O’Donnell + Tuomey Sauerbruch Hutton Steven Holl UN Studio. The book provides clear insights into how particular contemporary architects use color confidently and intelligently as an integral part of their design philosophy, in conjunction with their choices of materials and finishes. Offering a stimulating view of the history of color theory, and pragmatic advice to practicing architects, this book will be inspiring to both design professionals and students. |
| color of architecture: Colour for Architecture Today Tom Porter, Byron Mikellides, 2019-08-08 What role does colour play in our built environment? How are our attitudes to colour changing? What potential do new technologies bring for the use of colour and light in architecture? Combining real examples from practice with colour theory, this book will help you to fully understand the role and impact of colour in our urban spaces. Contributions from leading architects Will Alsop, Legorreta and Legorreta, John Outram, Sauerbruch Hutton and Neuterlings Riedijk accompany those from artists Alain Bony and Yann Kersalé, and from colour researchers such as Kristina Enberg and Anders Hård, who developed the Natural Colour System. Topics include: how and why we see colour methodologies in the documentation of traditional colours the development of new urban palettes recent colour psychology research the effect of light levels on human behaviour dramatic colour effects achievable with light guidelines for future deployment of colour in the built environment. This is a sequel to the immensely influential Colour for Architecture, published in 1976. Much has changed in 30 years; new cutting edge technologies and materials have emerged allowing architects to experiment with colour and light in an energy efficient and sustainable way, paving the way for a more colourful and exciting built environment. |
