WEEK 7

A Splash of Colour

The existence of colour or even the use of it can easily be seen as something insignificant by some, in the architectural industry.  It can easily be associated with other design deciplines, and thus left off as an afterthought, when in fact it is as important as the design concept or the site for which the design is intended.

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Colour can either make or break an idea – even the slightest difference in the intensity of its shade can affect a space in a way that is as big as an added wall plane or roof height. And as a seemingly flimsy aspect in the layered design process, it actually has a number of remarkable roles that it can play if it is well coordinated with the function and the nature of the space itself. Through observation and experiencing some spaces in site visits, I noted a few things that I will consider in the future before smearing paint on a wall like a mischievous toddler with wax crayons.

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Colour is a space definer. Something as simple as using different colours for different spaces and functions of an open plan space can clearly demarcate it, without having to deal with hefty furniture pieces or partition walls that will occupy space and limit your visual access. Humans can perceive colour through three different types of cones with photo-pigments. Each of these cones assist one to see the three spectra, with each one perceiving long wavelengths, short wavelengths or middle wavelengths. So the visual impact of colour is definitely visible to everyone who can see colour. 

Image source: Design My Heart Out

The general mood of a space can be affected by the colour one chooses. Each colour has the ability to make one feel a certain way or associate it with a specific mood. Colour is function-dependent, so each space and function have to have a colour that will correspond with the intended function. Look at it from this perspective: you cannot have black or depressingly dark hospital walls. 
Going back to the aforementioned ceiling height, how do you exactly alter that? Quite easy, really. If a room has an uncomfortably high ceiling height and the intention is to lower it in order to cosy up a space, then painting it darker is the solution. A darker shade of colour will bring the ceiling lower and subsequently alter the general mood of a space. The same principle applies to low ceilings but in a inverse manner. 

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The size of a space can be affected by the colour one chooses. Even though it is a case of perception, the visual difference it makes feels physical. Do you ever notice how spacious light or white coloured spaces are? Or how crammed or cosy dark coloured ones are? Well here is an ironic twist to the notion - dark colours do not always make a space appear smaller. Contrast does. If the walls are a dark colour and there is a trim of a different colour (usually lighter), the eye will be redirected to perceive the boundaries and edges, thus making a room appear smaller.

Response to temperature is also another factor that colour influences. Of course the main regulators of this are your wall thicknesses, position of openings, scale of glazed areas and orientation. But it is scientifically proven that black or darker coloured buildings absorb more heat and are warmer indoors than lighter coloured ones, while light coloured one deflect most it. And we all know that science does not tell fibs! 

So there it is. When you design a space, you do not just design a structure - you design an experience. You choose how the user should feel when they circulate around it. Every sense if dependent on how you manipulate the design, and that power can only come through a thorough consideration of every aspect in the design and its process. That is where the importance of colour comes.