Examination of the impact of colour on spatial progression : with special reference to selected buildings in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Colour is a very close phenomenon to human life. Colour plays an important and significant role in human activities. It is evident though colour is important in human activities some times it is been used without a meaning or rationale. In most instances it can be seen that colours are used without much thinking. When using colours to decorate buildings it is very essential to think about the building's functions, user's expectations and the context in which the building is constructed. But frequently it can be seen that constructors of buildings have drawn their attention much on outer appearance rather than on the above factors in selecting and using colours. Colours can be efficiently used to emphasize the feelings belonging to certain places of the building. But this aspect has not"been taken into consideration in many instances. Because of this trend people do not draw much attention on using colours meaningfully. This tendency has caused negligence in using the colours meaningfully and on a rational basis. Therefore the present study focuses its attention on examining how different colours are being used in buildings and how colours are used by the designers and constructors in order to increase the spatial progression of buildings. This study specially examines the role of architecture in promoting the use of colour in improving the effect of spatial progression in buildings. The first chapter discusses the nature of architecture and its role in the field of building construction. It also examines about the elements and details that are used for spatial progression The chapter discusses in details how colour can be used as a detail for improving spatial progression of a building. The second chapter is used to examine how colour is used in different selected buildings as a detail to improve spatial progression. It gives an understanding about how different colours can be used to emphasize different effects in buildings. The chapter discusses about the psychological background of colours and how these psychological elements influence the feelings and moods of people. Also the chapter gives an understanding about the meanings and expressions of different colours. The third chapter deals with force and episodes used for emphasizing spatial progression and how colour as a detail can be used to emphasize spatial progression. In this context application of colours in three different buildings in Sri Lanka has been critically examined. The buildings, which were examined, are the buildings of SOSVillage in Piliyandala, buildings of Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology in Malabe and the building of the Light House Hotel in Galle