Full Spectrum: Colour in Contemporary Architecture

Architecture's use of color has evolved, from the polychromy of the ancients to the white interiors of high modernism, postmodernism, and contemporary building systems and facades. This book explores the operative role of color in current practice by proffering visions of radical reimaginings of our present one.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: RIBA Publishing

Architecture is a multifaceted discipline, and one of its most powerful tools is color. It has been used to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas, from the feminine and cosmetic to the pure and intrinsic. Attitudes towards color are constantly evolving, and they have played a significant role in the history of architecture. From the polychromy of ancient civilizations to the white interiors of high modernism, the figurative flourishes of postmodernism to the embodied sublime of contemporary building systems and facades, color has been a constant presence.

In contemporary architecture, color has taken on a new significance. It has emerged as a powerful mode of working and a potent political proposition. The second digital age has brought about paradigmatic shifts in how architects engage with color. Employing the full spectrum of color requires a projective mode of action, one that anticipates nascent futures. It aids in the democratization of visual culture, opening the field to enable a multiplicity of identities by introducing new references and embracing new voices.

This book explores the operative role of color in current practice by proffering visions not of idealized other worlds, but rather radical reimaginings of our present one. It features 100 architects, including Maya Alam, David Batchelor, Galo Canizares, Courtney Coffman, Fala Atelier, Marcelyn Gow, Louisa Hutton, Sam Jacob, Carolyn Kane, Guto Requena, Javier González Rivero, Paulette Singley, Amanda Williams, and Mimi Zeiger.

In conclusion, color is a versatile and powerful tool in the architecture's toolbox. It has the ability to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas, and it has played a significant role in the history of architecture. In contemporary architecture, color has taken on a new significance, as it has become a powerful mode of working and a potent political proposition. By employing the full spectrum of color and engaging with it in a projective manner, architects can create radical reimaginings of our present one and aid in the democratization of visual culture.

Weight: 492g
Dimension: 210 x 250 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781915722034