Jan

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The Esthetic Purposes of Color Theory

Filed Under theory of architecture 

the-esthetic-purposes-of-color-theory

color.jpgEsthetic Purposes of Color, Waldron Faulkner. Color serves many esthetic purposes in the design of buildings.

  • It creates an atmosphere. A bright color scheme for a building tends express gaiety and excitement; a quiet scheme may express dignity and repose.

  • It suggests either unity or diversity. A uniform color scheme contributes a sense of unity, while a varied color scheme gives a feeling of diversity.

  • It expresses the character of materials. If a building has a red tile roof, gray stone walls, and brown wood trim, the essential character of each material is clearly stated. If these have the same color, the building looks like a clay model.

  • It defines form. A line, a two-dimensional surface, or a three-dimensional volume is defined if its color contrasts with its surroundings.

  • It affects proportions. Materials with contrasting colors laid in horizontal lines tend to emphasize a feeling of breadth. If laid in vertical lines, they promote the sense of height.

also, color can describe as:

  • It brings out scale. A building made up of elements of uniform color looks like a monolith. Its scale is difficult to judge at a distance. If, however, its elements (including openings) are of contrasting colors, the scale of the building is more easily conveyed.

  • It gives a sense of weight. Elements in dark colors look heavy; those in light colors look light in weight. For this reason the color of tall structures is sometimes graduated from dark at the bottom to light at the top.

From the book Architecture and Color, Waldron Faulkner, F.A.I.A. (John Wiley & Sons Inc 1972)

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