Application of colour in architecture : an examination with special reference to its modes of expressions in generating architectural expressions

Abstract

The nature gives us a spectacular colour identification of elements within its global aspect. Humans identify colour contrast impressively than all other living beings in nature. Therefore colour is part of a total sensory experience of our environment and contributes immeasurable beauty to the visual world. It is a part of every working and non-working moment of all of us, defining every thing we see, even tinting our dreams. As a n integral part of our perceptual system, it helps us to identify objects, acts as a signaling device, conveying information about our surroundings. It is also being used to give direction, to warn or call attention to an object or event, to modify or change a structure to stimulate or to depress a person, to give a sense of p l a c e and thereby a sense of identity. "Colour affects our states of mind; some even believe in its power to cure illness. Whether or not you believe in the more cosmic theories about colour, there is certainly scientific proof that colour can warm us up or cool us down. When the eye sees that lovely yellow, the, brain interprets and associates it with warm sunshine, and the opposite happens with a cool icy blue- its mind over matter." Sally Walton, 2002, p.36 Psychology shows that colour has an enormous effect on the human emotional responses. It may influence the inner state, attitude or even well being of the viewer. Thus colour perception not only does lead to knowledge about things of the external world, but also deeply involved in evoking variety of human emotions and thereby affecting human behavior. This used as emotions generated in creative spaces applied beneficially in architectural renderings. ' Architecture is not only a physical object already described but it further deserves to b e an emotion generating art. These emotions generated through architecture are basically user, context, activity pattern, higher purpose and colour application is more sensible and admirable in this fact. Colour application has to be done through its modes of expressions and such modes created basically through are form and shape; shaping means developing the form through building elements a n d its texture, material, lighting conditions and other decorative embellishments.(ornamentation) Therefore architectural expressions could b e achieved by using colour through its modes of expression not as isolated patches but by applying it in creative manner. This dissertation is study of the colour application in architecture with special reference given to its modes of expression more vigorously.