Perception of Color in Architecture
Color in architecture magnitude has varied throughout history. Color is not just the Benjamin Moore paint chosen; it is a variable in design that affects the quality of the designed space. From cities to facades to an individual space, color affects experience. Color is not a superficial element but a factor in design.
Certain colors have specific associations to everyday parts of our built environment. From the red fire station to the color of the Southwest’s adobe homes, color is part of history. Color has been used with specific agendas to create a conscious and or subconscious affect on people. Color is tied to memory, emotions and consequently actions. Understanding color allows for the opportunity to mold an experience.
Color in architecture can be determined by materiality. The color and texture of a material creates depth to a space. The way that light hits a material, it can highlight parts that potentially could have been overlooked. Color is a factor, along with materiality and light, in creating that experience that evokes a reaction.
Color in architecture is not just materiality but in the opportunity color allows to play with perception. The building façade of Museum Brandhorst in Munch, Germany plays with the use of scale. During the precession to the building, the color of the façade creates a mental interaction for the viewer. From afar the pastel panels blur together to have a simple coating over the pieced together volumes. Up close, the panels start to pull apart, differentiating in color and creating a rhythm through the façade. Color changed its appearance because of how it is viewed.
The implication of color is that it is not just an aesthetic property, but also an ability to create a sensory overload. Color works with form, materials, and humanity to create a reaction, memory and experience.
