Colours in Architecture

Colours in Architecture

Practicing in tropical region, we embrace the enthusiasm exploring various materials' applicability and there's the trend these days where the local architects favor to design with the raw feeling of tropical materials. So am I, in my design projects which I frequently presented the authenticity and beauty of tropical materials applied in my buildings. How about colour? Hmm...It is not primary consideration in my design, to be honest. But, after the readings, I found that I should have include the design of colour in my buildings. When it comes to architectural design, we tend to consider colours to be a mere element of decoration. In this blog, I would like to share my understanding about the 'colour' after exploring to the studies.

About the Colour
We all know the colours for the very first time when we are studying in the kindergarten. But have you ever really learn about the theory about colours? Let's me tell you briefly. Colour is a perceptual elements, a visual language which understood by all (of course, except those colour-disabled). Just like any other perceptual experience, visual colour has the effects that are emotional, symbolic and perhaps stimulation of our memory. According to Frank Mahnke, a colour-expert designer, he mentioned that colours and their perceptions are responsible for a series of consciousness and subconsciousness stimuli in our psycho-spatial relationship. Colour not just for decorative purposes but also responds to human's feelings.
Colour is an integral element of our world, not just in the natural environment but also in the man-made architectural environment. Color always played a role in the human evolutionary process. The environment and its colors are perceived, and the brain processes and judges what it perceives on an objective and subjective basis. Psychological influence, communication, information, and effects on the psyche are aspects of our perceptual judgment processes. Hence, the goals of color design in an architectural space are not relegated to decoration alone. - (Frank H. Mahnke, 2004)
The Role of Colour in Architectural Design
I do agree with Frank Mahnke about the importance of colour as it is kind of expressive elements of human mind in building space. Based on my understanding, colour helps in developing perspective and understanding the nature of a building. It can be applied to enhance the character of a building to create harmony and unity, or it can be intentionally contrasting to highlight certain elements. Colour also may affect the users' feeling of the space and enhance their mood (calm, relaxing, exciting or even frightening). Different colours have differents meaning when they react to the human mind.
The Red Square of Superkilen

The Black Market of Superkilen

The Green Park of Superkilen
And here's a brilliant example of colour application in the Superkilen by the Danish architect BIG in collaboration with the German landscape architect. The sprawling urban park Superkilen, wedges itself into one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Copenhagen. The masterplan of Superkilen scheme is split into three definite sections characterised by colour:
The Red Square is directly connected to Nørrebro’s busiest street, Nørrebrogade, and thus, it is Superkilen’s link to the city. It is also an extension of the existing sporting center, Nørrebrohallen, and offers additional areas for outdoor urban sports and fitness – which coupled with the Jamaican sound system, gives the area a distinctly youthful vibe.

The Black Market plays a central part in the masterplan. Devised as “an urban living room”, it implies areas for more contemplative, introvert activities. But it also works as a setting for social gatherings and flea markets in the weekends.

The Green Park with its soft, grassy hills is family-friendly and an obvious picnic spot, while also directly addressing the desire of the locals to have more green spaces.
I think it's interesting to see how the architect apply the colour for different purposes like: red which encouraging activity and energy/ black which calming the interactive space/ green which naturally relaxing the bustle city. As an architectural designer, we should be doing the same, to be playful to explore and experiment with various characteristic of colours to enhance the spatial experience/atmosphere, to make our design integral as a whole.



reference:
Mahnke, F. H. (2004). Color in architecture: More than just decoration. Archinect. Com. 

Color in Architecture — More Than Just Decoration. Retrieved from:
https://archinect.com/features/article/53292622/color-in-architecture-more-than-just-decoration

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOUR IN ARCHITECTURE. Retrieved from:
https://www.detea.es/en/the-importance-of-colour-in-architecture/

Superkilen by Jakob Harry Hybel, arcspace. Retrieved from:
https://arcspace.com/feature/superkilen/

Colour Case Study #3. Retrieved from:
https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1508854/colour-case-study-3