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This article examines the role of colour as an integral consideration of material selection. It suggests that an
understanding of colour, and its potential to alter the general perception of form, space and surface, is as essential as
any other material property. Recent developments have led to a period of growth in the use of colour in architectural
design, for example through highly pigmented ceramic tiles, back-painted glass facades and pigmented concrete.
These offer permanent and durable surfaces. The potential of colour to alter the perception of space and form brings
with it a certain anxiety in its use, particularly when embedded on the exterior surfaces of buildings. Yet decisions on
colour are often arbitrary and left until late in the design process. The article will consider colour and material surface,
colour as conceptual material, the elusive properties of colour, which are entirely contingent on light conditions and
context, and colour specification in the design process.
1. Elusive colour the other formative materials with which all students had to
Colour can be a curious paradox. The coloured surfaces of engage, as part of their foundation studies (Figure 1). Clay,
construction materials, which appear initially as solid and stone, glass, wood, colour are all centrally placed within the
tangible – clearly materials that one can hold, touch, and feel – diagram. The concept of colour as independent from material is,
can also be considered as immaterial, unreliable, ethereal however, inherently problematical. Colour can never be
phenomena of light. Each material surface, whether naturally disassociated from surface, unless used as projected light.
coloured or pigmented, reflects a specific part of the visible Even then, the colour that is seen will still be contingent on
spectrum, and absorbs the rest. The solid terracotta of brick, the nature of the surface on which it is being projected. It has an
the pale creamy yellow of sandstone, the vivid green of immensely powerful effect but is often neglected or left late in
oxidised copper, the intense blue of azurite, the sticky liquid the design process. It may also surprise professionals in the
polychrome of paint or the polished sheen of ceramic tile, building industry that colour does not feature strongly in
instantly registers in both eyes and mind. The observer contemporary architectural education. Nineteenth century
perceives only the wavelength of the light that is reflected by concerns of surface decoration gave way to the Modernists’
the particular molecular and chemical compound of each view of the plan as the generator of the building, and now, with
material. The wavelength differentiates purple from yellow, the ease of computer modelling, a further shift is evident to
orange from blue, peppermint green from apple green. spatial hierarchies and formal design as the focus of design
development. Material choice is still of prime importance, of
Colour is more immediately perceived than form, and will tend course, and students will be encouraged to consider materiality
to dominate the reading of an object. It has the power to alter as integral to the design process, but colour has not maintained
entirely the appearance of a building or the experience of a space. the same central position in architectural education.
Architectural form therefore, like natural form, can be made
more or less conspicuous. Colour may either reinforce the form, Architects are not always confident in making colour choices,
or camouflage through a distortion of the perception of the or rarely integrate a conceptual use of colour early in the
volume, or the surface. For example, architects Sauerbruch design process. There is therefore a level of anxiety inherent
Hutton use polychromatic surfaces that wrap architectural forms in the use of colour in the built environment. Some will work
and subvert surfaces. They note ‘…the optical dissolution or with, or defer to, an artist, or colour designer rather than
manipulation of form introduces uncertainty, doubt, ambiguity. make such decisions on their own. There are some notable
It engages you’ (Sauerbruch Hutton, 2006). exceptions, which this article will consider, in which the use
of colour is a key driving force. In these cases, colour choice
2. Colour as conceptual material is an inherent part of the design and material selection and
The curriculum or Vorkurs devised by Johannes Itten at the not an afterthought. If colour is to be incorporated as a
Weimar Bauhaus in Germany (1923), included colour alongside pigment, or as a durable, permanent surface coating, it
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4. Transformative colour
If truth and honesty of material expression is still a matter of
concern, how then should materials that can be significantly Figure 3. Wiel Arets, Utrecht library interior (photo: F. McLachlan)
altered or enhanced by an embedded pigment be considered?
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natural colour in the sand, cement and aggregate, then adding unified. Not only does the pattern transform the surface, the
a further ingredient seems an acceptable expression of the images become more obvious when the building is wet and fade
material’s reliance on the properties of the mix. One concern as it dries.
may be that most contemporary pigments are factory-made
chemical compounds, such as the inorganic (non-carbon) dyes. In a recent art and architecture project in Edinburgh, the artist
Traditionally, mineral pigments were used as colourants – the Martin Creed specified 104 different colours of natural stone,
most common being iron oxide, which ranges from yellow one for each step for his Work No 1059, (2011) on the
through to deep reds. Although naturally occurring, such Scotsman Steps. The beauty of the materials used has
pigments are, of course, still chemical compounds. transformed the previously dark, horribly smelly, public stair.
Each of the stone steps was sourced from one of a very wide
The Museu Paula Rego, Casa das Histórias, by Pritzker Prize range of countries, yielding deep blues, rich greens, soft pinks,
winning architect, Eduardo Souta de Moura is a vivid orange/ white, beiges and black marbles. It is rare to experience a
red-tinted concrete building at Cascais, Portugal, using a project so driven by colour and surface. It is extraordinarily
manufactured pigment. The architect was chosen directly by joyful, the more so for those of us who carry the memory of the
the client, the painter, Paula Rego. Both seem to share an stair before its transformation. In this case the effect of the
interest in composition and colour, although Souta de Moura’s colour and material choice is extremely clear. It is the essence
pure forms provide more of a contrast for the work. What does of the conceptual idea.
the colour do for the building?
5. Precision and imprecision
It certainly makes it more memorable, more photogenic, (given The Swiss architects Gigon/Guyer regularly work with artists
the number of periodicals in which it has featured), it is bolder such as Helmut Federle. Collaborations with artists in relation
and curiously attractive – the transformational effect of the to colour are common, particularly in central Europe where
simple pigment taking a very ordinary material to a different colour consultants may be considered as full collaborators in
level of expression. The architect chose the colour to contrast the design process rather than someone who chooses one shade
with the green of the surrounding forest. He is interested in the over another. The artist also appears to be useful in sharing the
contrast between natural and man-made. One commentator blame if colour choice becomes controversial. There is an
has noted that the concrete, and the pigment is ‘satisfyingly expectation that an artist will stir the emotions and is more
uneven and painterly’, the colour imprecise (Richardson, easily forgiven if not everyone appreciates the results. In 1999
2009). Time will tell whether these pigments are stable, or they designed a small oddly shaped railway signal box or
whether the unreliability of the colour will be readily accepted. Stellwerk, immediately adjacent to the railway tracks in
John Ruskin, noted ‘the artist who sacrifices a truth of form in Zurich. The atmosphere is tinged with the rusty red oxide
the pursuit of a truth of colour; sacrifices what is definite to dust that spills from the steel train lines on to the surrounding
what is uncertain, and what is essential to what is accidental’ surfaces every time a train brakes. The architects conceived the
(Hyman, 2006). building as highly contextual, employing a rich red-brown
pigment mixed into the concrete (Figures 4 and 5). Strangely,
Perhaps it is partly the very imprecision of colour-tinted and unexpectedly, the colour has faded and the deep brown has
concrete that softens its effect, despite the boldness of the gradually shifted to a strong pinky-orange. Rather than being
shade. At David Chipperfield Architects’ monumental City of distraught by this change, the architects seem to revel in that
Justice, law courts in Barcelona (2002–2009), the massive fact that they cannot be entirely in control of the colour. In
volume is broken into nine towers, each of which is a different another of their later projects, an extension to a small art
subtly tinted concrete. The very severe rectangular forms, with gallery at Römerholz, they mixed copper dust into the concrete
highly rigid repetitive elements forming a gridded, almost cage- mix then directed dribbles of water down the surface
like appearance, are subverted and made more humane and deliberately inviting streaky green rivers to appear on the
forgiving by the simple addition of pigment. In this case, the surface of the concrete over time. This idea came from the
colour has nothing to offer in terms of performance, it is purely observation of the effect of staining on statues in the gardens
an aesthetic decision. nearby. In each case, a simple pigment additive has made the
buildings more significant in some respect.
We are also witnessing a renewed interest in applied surface
pattern and decoration, using a variety of techniques and The colour of a painted coating, applied to the exposed
materials such as screen printing on glass and precast concrete, surface, is relatively simple to change, to correct an aesthetic
for example at Eberswalde Technical School, Switzerland faux-pas or unpredicted environmental property. When colour
(1996) by architects Herzog and de Meuron. By applying the is permanent, such as with tinted or back-painted glass or
same pattern across bands of glass and concrete, the surface is ceramic tile, confidence and skill is essential, and the choice of
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(1916). Contemporary usage tends to be as rain screen Harald F. Müller, had intended to make a clear visual and
cladding, which is highly durable and can take advantage of symbolic relationship with the earthy brown of the adjacent
vivid stable hues, such as on Westminster Academy in London fields. By contrast, the inner faces to a courtyard were a strong
by AHMM (2007). Architects Sauerbruch Hutton used thin orange. A few years later, the coloured render had to be
glazed terracotta rods on the complex layered facade of the lightened in colour to a paler browny-grey as the heat, which
Brandhorst Museum in Munich (2007) (Figure 6). The colours was absorbed through the render, was adversely affecting the
were chosen deliberately to modify their effect from close up to insulating panels on which it had been applied.
far away. From a distance individual colours merge in the eye
of the viewer into a milky beige, yet close-up pistachio green, In the case of coloured render, the change was relatively easy to
soft pink and pale yellow compete with strong lilacs, emerald make; in the case of glass or ceramic tile, both cost and
green and brick red. The deception is intensified by the layering manufacturing time make change virtually impossible.
of the vertical square-section rods, held by stainless steel Architects require confidence and care with specification.
connectors clear of an undulating powder-coated metal surface With such permanent colour, the procurement process has to
behind. It is rare to see such complexity applied purely in the include a facility for prototype, sampling, mock-ups. It must
service of an optical effect. Even though this is a highly also allow for an element of trial and error. If it does not, and
sophisticated use of colour, the slightly distorted box-like form many examples of poor colour design can be observed, it can
is instantly recognisable and highly memorable. It has become be very detrimental to the overall project.
synonymous with the identity of Brandhorst Museum.
7. Colour in the design process
Similarly, coloured glass, which is now available in a vast range It is common for architects to have a general conceptual idea
of colours, provides intense, clear colour by sandwiching a film that a project will make use of colour, but not to isolate and
of tinted plastic between sheets of glass or by applying paint to select the actual hues until a relatively late stage in the design
the rear surface of the glass. Both Sauerbruch Hutton and process. William Braham argues that colour is always
Swiss architects, Gigon/Guyer, have employed coloured glass subservient to form and notes ‘…architects still close their
as a cladding material. In these cases the colour does not affect eyes and wave their hands when the discussion turns to colour’
the durability or the structural strength of the material, but it (Braham, 2002). Navigating ones way through this array of
can alter its thermal properties. The GMW Headquarters in colour choice is a complex task for both lay people and
Berlin is Sauerbruch Hutton’s best-known building. Immense professionals alike.
care was taken with the section of the family of colours used on
the interactive west facade. Deeper hues had to be modified One of the vagaries of most procurement methods is that
because they absorbed too much heat. A similar issue occurred specification is intertwined with price competition. The
when Gigon/Guyer added a deep brown pigment to the render architect may wish to be precise in selecting a particular
in a housing project near Zurich. The artist collaborator, product and manufacturer, but more often than not, the final
selection involves a choice between named suppliers in order to
keep costs negotiable and competitive. It takes a wilful
architect, an unusually focused client, and an appropriate
procurement method, to define a sole supplier of a specific
product early on in the process. Selecting naturally coloured
materials is somewhat easier, as they may come within a set
price range, such as brick, laminates, ceramic tiles. The final
choice of colour could be made at any stage in this case.
Material choice is invariably related to economic drivers. In
some cases colour, or a simple coat of paint, is used where
more costly materials are not possible within the budget. With
paint, it is almost impossible to be precise until a manufacturer
has been agreed. Each paint manufacturer has its own brand
and named or coded colour. There are wide-ranging standards
that can help – for example Natural Color System (NCS),
British Standards and Pantone – but finding an exact match is
not as straightforward as one might expect.
Figure 6. Sauerbruch Hutton, Brandhorst museum, Munich.
(photo: F. McLachlan) Partly as a result of the sequence of construction, decorative
products are often chosen generically and final selection
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confirmed late on. Colour design is therefore frequently seen as context, adjacencies, light conditions and material surface.
a last minute choice. The best colour design is integral to the Colour is plastic, variable, always modifying in appearance. It
conceptual development of the project. The white steel of the can easily overpower form, which may explain why many
Lord’s Mound Stand, a light and airy summer pavilion, chimes architects and designers still play safe, adopt Adolf Loos’
with the whites of the cricketers and would be hard to conceive principles, and focus on the natural colour of materials.
of as anything other than white. Similarly, the complex
polychromatic tiles of the Brandhorst Museum facade or any REFERENCES
of Sauerbruch Hutton’s coloured glass buildings are developed Braham W (2002) Modern Colour, Modern Architecture.
in parallel with all other aspects of the design. The colours are Ashgate, Farnham, UK, p. 5.
not afterthoughts, nor are they arbitrarily chosen. Forty A (2006) The material without a history. In Liquid Stone:
New Architecture in Concrete (Cohen J-L and Moeller, Jr
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drawings, sophisticated visualisations, and the development of Hyman J (2006) The Objective Eye: Colour, Form and Reality in
‘building information modelling’ (BIM), selecting coloured the Theory of Art. University of Chicago Press, Chicago,
materials digitally is rarely successful. Most architects will still IL, USA.
select from a physical swatch and, ideally, from sample Koolhaas R (2001) The future of colours is looking bright. In
whether off the shelf or prototype. Neither should one choose Colours (Koolhaas R, Foster N, Mendini A, et al. (eds)).
the colour remotely as light conditions and site context alter Birkhäuser, Basel, Switzerland, pp. 11–12.
the perception of the colour. Richardson V (2009) Souto de Moura’s storyhouse for Paula
Rego. Blueprint 20 October. See http://www.
UN Studio’s extraordinary office buildings at La Defense in blueprintmagazine.co.uk/index.php/architecture/souto-de-
mouras-storyhouse-for-paula-rego/ (accessed 21/06/2012).
Almere, the Netherlands make use of a glass sandwich panel
Sauerbruch Hutton (2006) On colour and space. In Archive
with an iridescent Radiant Colour/Light film as part of the
(Sauerbruch Hutton (eds)). Lars Müller Publishing, Baden,
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Switzerland, pp. 181–189.
clear red, looking at an angle, or walking past the facade, the
colour appears to vary to green, yellow and orange (Figure 7). It
is entirely dynamic, being affected by passing clouds and the
angle of view. The building embraces the transient and unstable
nature of colour as a key element in the conceptual design.
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