REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

RES 105: COLOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND USAGE

2019 - 4 – 0135
1ST YEAR – A1

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019

THURSDAY
COLOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
THE ARCHITECT MUST CONSIDER THE COLOR EFFECT OF EVERY ELEMENT OF A
BUILDING’S CONSTRUCTION, FROM THE EARTHY COLORS OF PRIMARY
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS LIKE WOOD, STONE, BRICK, AND MARBLE, TO THE
EXPANSIVE VARIETY OF COLORS AVAILABLE FOR PAINT, DOORS, WINDOWS,
SIDING, AND TRIM.
AS WELL AS THE CONSTRUCTIVE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP AN ARCHITECTURAL
OBJECT, THE APPLICATION OF COLORS ON SURFACES ALSO INFLUENCES THE
USER'S EXPERIENCE OF THE SPACE. ACCORDING TO ISRAEL PEDROSA, "A
COLORFUL SENSATION IS PRODUCED BY THE NUANCES OF LIGHT REFRACTED OR
REFLECTED BY A MATERIAL, COMMONLY THE WORD COLOR IS DESIGNATED TO
THOSE SHADES THAT FUNCTION AS STIMULI IN A CHROMATIC SENSATION."
COLOR IS INTIMATELY LINKED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL STIMULI AND CAN BE USED
IN CONJUNCTION WITH VOLUME AND THE SHAPE OF EACH PROJECT. REGARDING
THE "PSYCHOLOGY" OF THE MAIN COLORS, THE FOLLOWING IDEAS HAVE BEEN
DEVELOPED:
BLUE: TRANSMITS THE FEELING OF POSITIVITY, CONFIDENCE, AND SECURITY. IT
IS OFTEN USED IN COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS SPACES, SUCH AS BANKING
AGENCIES, OFFICES AND COMPANIES.
YELLOW: PORTRAYS OPTIMISM, CURIOSITY, JOVIALITY AND A BRIGHT
ATMOSPHERE. IT IS FREQUENTLY USED IN COMMERCIAL SPACES OR
RESTAURANTS TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF PEDESTRIANS.
RED: THIS COLOR SHOWS ENERGY, EXCITEMENT, AND IMPULSE. THEREFORE, IT
IS REGULARLY USED IN COMMERCIAL SPACES, SUCH AS STORES OR FAST FOOD
OUTLETS, AS IT PORTRAYS A CERTAIN COMPULSIVITY AND CONSUMER DESIRE.
GREEN: EVOKES CALM, TRANQUILITY, SERENITY AND WELL-BEING. IT IS
REGULARLY USED IN SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING,
SUCH AS HOSPITALS AND RELAXATION CENTERS.
ORANGE: THE RESULT OF THE COMBINATION OF YELLOW AND RED, ORANGE
PROJECTS AN IDEA OF INTENSITY, CREATIVITY, EUPHORIA, AND ENTHUSIASM. IT
IS OFTEN USED IN CREATIVE ENVIRONMENTS, SUCH AS OFFICES, STUDIOS, AND
SCHOOLS. IF USED TOGETHER WITH BLUE, IT CONVEYS THE IDEA OF IMPULSIVITY
AND TRUST, AND SO IS ADOPTED BY BANKING AGENCIES AND OFFICES.
VIOLET: IT TRANSMITS WELL-BEING, CALMNESS, AND SOFTNESS.
WHITE: IS CHEERFUL, PARTICULARLY WHEN USED WITH WARM COLORS LIKE
RED, YELLOW AND ORANGE.
GRAY: SUGGESTS COLD AND ALSO DEPRESSING UNLESS COMBINED WITH AT
LEAST ONE LIVELIER COLOR.

COLOR HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO DETACHED FROM ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN.

HISTORICALLY, THE ARTIST’S PROFESSION ENCOMPASSED ALL, BUT NOT
EXCLUSIVELY: PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND ARCHITECTURE. COLOR WAS USED
LAVISHLY IN ARCHITECTURE, BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO GLORIFY GODS OR
KINGS OR TO CELEBRATE THE MARVEL OF THE BUILDING ITSELF. THE THOUGHT-
TO-BE BARE AND NEUTRAL STONE TEMPLES OF ANCIENT GREECE HAVE
RECENTLY BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE BEEN RICHLY PAINTED WITH DEEP JEWEL —
TONED PIGMENTS. THE CATHEDRALS OF MEDIEVAL EUROPE WERE ALSO PAINTED,
AS WELL AS THE PALACES AND TEMPLES OF CHINA, WHICH WERE fiLLED WITH
COLOR SYMBOLISM.
 MAKUHARI BAY NEW TOWN BY
STEVEN HOLL | PAUL WARCHOL
RED
EFFECT: EXCITING, STIMULATING
ASSOCIATION:
POSITIVE: PASSIONATE, FERVID,
ACTIVE, STRONG, AND WARM
NEGATIVE: INTENSE, AGGRESSIVE,
RAGING, FIERCE, BLOODY
CHARACTER: RED IS THE MOST
DOMINANT AND DYNAMIC COLOR.
THE EYE ACTUALLY HAS TO ADJUST
FOCUS, SINCE THE NATURAL FOCAL
POINT OF RED LIES BEHIND THE RETINA. CONSEQUENTLY RED
APPEARS CLOSER
THAN IT IS.
CEILING: INTRUDING, DISTURBING, HEAVY
WALLS: AGGRESSIVE, ADVANCING
FLOOR: CONSCIOUS, ALERT
CASA BLANCA BY MARTÍN
DULANTO | JUAN SOLANO OJASI
ORANGE
EFFECT: EXCITING, STIMULATING,
CHEERING
ASSOCIATION:
POSITIVE: JOVIAL, LIVELY,
ENERGETIC, AND EXTROVERTED
NEGATIVE: INTRUSIVE, BLUSTERING
CHARACTER: ORANGE IS LESS
MASCULINE THAN RED. IT HAS VERY
FEW NEGATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.
HOWEVER, IT MAY APPEAR CHEAP OR WITHOUT VIGOR IF LOW IN SATURATION.
CEILING: STIMULATING, ATTENTION-SEEKING
WALLS: WARM, LUMINOUS
FLOOR: ACTIVATING, MOTION-ORIENTED

APARTMENT BLOCKS IN
NANTERRE BY X-TU | LUC BOEGLY
YELLOW
EFFECT: CHEERING
ASSOCIATION:
POSITIVE: SUNNY, CHEERFUL,
RADIANT, AND VITAL
NEGATIVE: EGOCENTRIC, GLARING
CHARACTER: WHEN PURE, YELLOW
IS THE HAPPIEST OF ALL COLORS. IN
RADIATES WARMTH,
CHEERFULNESS, AND INSPIRATION
AND SIGNIFIES ENLIGHTENMENT,
AND COMMUNICATION.
CEILING: LIGHT (TOWARDS LEMON), LUMINOUS, STIMULATING
WALLS: WARM (TOWARDS ORANGE), EXCITING TO IRRITATING (HIGHLY
SATURATED)
FLOOR: ELEVATING, DIVERTING
 SARPHATISTRAAT OFFICES BY
STEVEN HOLL | PAUL WARCHOL
GREEN
EFFECT: RETIRING, RELAXING
POSITIVE: TRANQUIL,
REFRESHING, QUIET, AND
NATURAL
NEGATIVE: COMMON, TIRESOME,
GUILTY
CHARACTER: CONTRARY TO RED,
WHEN LOOKING AT GREEN THE
EYE FOCUSES EXACTLY ON THE
RETINA, WHICH MAKES GREEN THE MOST RESTFUL COLOR TO THE EYE. GREEN
CAN SYMBOLIZE NATURE BUT ALSO MOLD AND SICKNESS.
CEILING: PROTECTIVE, REFLECTION ON THE SKIN CAN BE UNATTRACTIVE
WALLS: COOL, SECURE, CALM, RELIABLE, PASSIVE, IRRITATING IF GLARING
(ELECTRIC GREEN)
FLOOR: NATURAL (IF NOT TOO SATURATED), SOFT, RELAXING, COLD (IF
TOWARDS BLUE)

LA MURALLA ROJA BY RICARDO

BOFILL
BLUE
EFFECT: RETIRING, RELAXING
POSITIVE: CALM, SOBER, SECURE,
COMFORTABLE, NOBLE
NEGATIVE: FRIGHTENING,
DEPRESSING, MELANCHOLY,
COLD
CHARACTER: BLUE APPEARS TO
BE TRANSPARENT, WET, COOL,
AND RELAXING. OPPOSITE TO
RED, BLUE WILL DECREASE A PERSON’S BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE RATE.
CEILING: CELESTIAL, COOL, RECEDING (IF LIGHT), HEAVY AND OPPRESSIVE (IF
DARK)
WALLS: COOL AND DISTANT (IF LIGHT), ENCOURAGING AND SPACE DEEPENING
(IF DARK)
FLOOR: INSPIRING FEELING OF EFFORTLESS MOVEMENT (IF LIGHT), SUBSTANTIAL
(IF DARK)
CHUNGHA BUILDING BY MVRDV |
KYUNGSUB SHIN

PURPLE
EFFECT: SUBDUING
POSITIVE: DIGNIFIED, EXCLUSIVE
NEGATIVE: LONELY, MOURNFUL,
POMPOUS, CONCEITED
CHARACTER: PURPLE IS A
MIXTURE OF RED AND BLUE (THE
TWO COLORS THAT ARE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY MOST
OPPOSED). PURPLE CAN APPEAR
DELICATE AND RICH, OR UNSETTLING AND DEGENERATE.
CEILING: DISCONCERTING, SUBDUING
WALLS: HEAVY, OVERPOWERING
FLOOR: FLEETING, MAGICAL
FAB-UNION SPACE ON THE WEST
BUND BY ARCHI-UNION
ARCHITECTS | SHENGLIANG SU

GRAY
EFFECT: NEUTRAL TO CALMING
POSITIVE: NEUTRAL
NEGATIVE: BORING
CHARACTER: GRAY FAILS TO HAVE
MUCH PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC
APPLICATION. THUS, THE CURRENT
FASHION OF USING IT WITH
VARIOUS ACCENT WALLS DEFIES
ALL LOGIC CEILING: SHADOWY
WALLS: NEUTRALTOBORING
FLOOR: NEUTRAL

RIDGE ROAD RESIDENCE BY

STUDIO FOUR
BLACK
EFFECT: OMINOUS
POSITIVE: DEEP, ABSTRACT
NEGATIVE: DUNGEONLIKE, NIGHT,
GRIEF, DEATH
CHARACTER: BLACK IS
ASSOCIATED WITH OPPRESSIVE
POWER, DARKNESS, AND THE
UNKNOWN. IN ARCHITECTURE IT IS
OFTEN USED TO MAKE SOMETHING
APPEAR AS RECEDING, SUCH AS
THE HVAC IN A CEILING.
CEILING: HOLLOW TO OPPRESSIVE
WALLS: OMINOUS, DUNGEONLIKE
FLOOR: ODD, ABSTRACT

CASA DEL ACANTILADO BY FRAN

SILVESTRE ARQUITECTOS
WHITE
EFFECT: DISCONCERNING
ASSOCIATION:
POSITIVE: CLEAN, CRISP, BRIGHT
NEGATIVE: EMPTY, STERILE
CHARACTER: THERE ARE A LOT OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND
PHYSIOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATIONS
FOR NOT USING WHITE AS A
DOMINANT COLOR.
CEILING: EMPTY, NO DESIGN
OBJECTIONS-HELPS DIFFUSE LIGHT
SOURCES AND REDUCE SHADOWS
WALLS: NEUTRAL TO EMPTY,
STERILE, WITHOUT ENERGY
FLOOR: TOUCH-INHIBITING (NOT
TO BE WALKED UPON)
CASA DEL ACANTILADO BY FRAN
SILVESTRE ARQUITECTOS
COLOR USAGE

RESIDENTIAL

PURPLE IS A
SOPHISTICATED
AND CHIC COLOR
WITH A LOT OF
CHARACTER. IN
THE CONTEXT OF
THE PURPLE HILL
HOUSE DESIGNED
BY IROJE KHM
ARCHITECTS ITS
ROLE IS TO
EMPHASIZE THE
SEAMLESS
CONNECTION
BETWEEN THE
BUILDING AND ITS
NATURAL
SURROUNDINGS.
IT’S NOT JUST THE
COLOR THAT HELPS THE HOUSE BLEND INTO THE LANDSCAPE BUT ALSO THE
OVERALL SHAPE AND DESIGN WHICH MIMIC THE HILL AND SURROUNDING
LANDSCAPE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF PURPLE CREATE
THIS SURREAL VIBE WHICH SUITS THE HOUSE PERFECTLY, ESPECIALLY
CONSIDERING ITS UNIQUE DESIGN AND UNUSUAL INTERIOR FLOOR PLAN
STRUCTURE.

THIS IS A HOUSE
INSPIRED BY THE
DESIRE TO BLUR
THE BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN NATURE
AND
ARCHITECTURE
AND TO CREATE
SOMETHING THAT’S
SIMULTANEOUSLY
NATURAL AND
MAN-MADE. IT’S A
PROJECT
CONDUCTED BY
RANDY BROWN
ARCHITECTS. THE
HOUSE IS LOCATED
IN OMAHA, UNITED
STATES, ON A
SLOPING SITE WITH VIEWS TO THE WEST AND SOUTH AND A FOREST UNFOLDING
BEHIND IT. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED USING GREEN BUILDING TECHNIQUES,
INCLUDING PASSIVE SOLAR ENERGY, NATURAL VENTILATION AND A GREEN ROOF
SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THAT, RENEWABLE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN USED
THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. THE BROWN PATINA OF THE EXTERIOR WALLS HELPS
THE HOUSE BLEND INTO THE LANDSCAPE.
INDUSTRIAL

IN 2011 STUDIO
JAKOB +
MACFARLANE
ARCHITECTS
WORKED ON
REINVENTING
THE DOCKS
ON LYON IN
FRANCE, THE
GOAL BEING
TO REPLACE
THE
LANDSCAPE
DOMINATED
BY
WAREHOUSES
AND CRANES
INTO ONE THAT
BLENDS
ARCHITECTURE, CULTURE AND COMMERCE, WHERE THE ATMOSPHERE WOULD
BE MORE VIBRANT AND MORE MODERN. THE ORANGE CUBE MADE THAT HAPPEN.
AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, IT’S A LARGE CUBE-SHAPED BUILDING THAT’S BEEN
PAINTED ORANGE, A COLOR REMINISCENT OF THE LEAD PAINT USED ON OLD
INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES. IN THIS CASE THE COLOR TELLS A STORY AND
CREATES A STRONG BOND BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND HISTORY.

RED TURNED OUT TO

BE THE PERFECT
COLOR FOR THE NEW
REGIONAL BLOOD
CENTER BUILDING IN
RACIBORZ, POLAND.
THE BUILDING WAS
DESIGNED BY STUDIO
FAAB AND IS FINISHED
WITH CERAMIC TILES
IN THREE DIFFERENT
SHADES OF RED, A
LITTLE DETAIL WHICH
CREATES AN
IRREGULAR PATTERN
MEANT TO MAKE THE
STRUCTURE EVEN
MORE VIBRANT AND
EYE-CATCHING. THE
RED COLOR WAS
CHOSEN BECAUSE OF
ITS CORRELATION
WITH BLOOD, MAKING
A STATEMENT ON
MORE THAN ONE
LEVEL.
COMMERCIAL

GUOSHI LUXURY SPA

RESORT, THE BEAUTY
OF WABI-SABI, WHILE
MODERATE, MODEST
AND PURE, ALSO
EXPRESSES VITALITY.
THE DESIGNERS OF
THIS PROJECT
PURSUED THE SIMPLE
BEAUTY OF NATURE,
WHICH IS FITTING IN
ITS OWN RIGHT,
ULTIMATELY
RETURNING TO
SIMPLICITY AFTER
CAREFUL REVISION.
THE INDOOR AND
OUTDOOR SPACES
ARE DIVIDED BY
GLASS AND WOODEN
FENCES TO GUIDE THE SIGHT AND FORM THREE FRAMED SETS OF SCENERY THAT
INCLUDE THE MOUNTAINS FAR TO THE NORTH. WITH SILENCE, LIGHT AND
SHADOW, THE ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE COME CLOSER TO THE NATURE OF
THE WORLD, ALLOWING FOR GREATER RESONANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE
SPACE. THIS IS AIMED AT CREATING A SPATIAL ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH
STILLNESS IS MAINTAINED IN A NOISY NEIGHBORHOOD.

CHEROKEECASINORAMONA
,THE EYE-
CATCHING
FAÇADE IS A
TRIBUTE TO THIS
RICH OIL
HISTORY. THE
VIBRANT
EXTERIOR
CONTRASTS THE
LANDSCAPE AND
IS VISIBLE FROM
THE NEARBY
HIGHWAY,
ATTRACTING
VISITORS. THE
CASINO USES
20,000 SF OF
METAL PANELS.
VALSPAR'S
FLUROPON 70%
PVDF COATING
SYSTEM WAS
UTILIZED FOR THE
PANELS IN COLONIAL RED, COPPER PENNY, SLATE GRAY, AND CUSTOM BRIGHT
RED. THE COLORS WERE SELECTED WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE OIL BOOM PERIOD
AND ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION.