A critical study of role of colours in generating architectural space

Abstract

The primary purpose of art is convey an appropriate message to the preceiver

through the expression of feelings. Therefore architecture which is its sublime

from fulfilling there requirements becomes an art. As an art, architecture

provides the back-drop to convey the appropriate message to create meaningful

spaces which are identified as architectural spaces.Every living organism

requires space for its existence. Therefore the framework provided for their

existence is considered as the dimensions of living things. Space can be limited

or unlimited. Limitless space around us is considered as infant space. When the

space is bounded by natural or man made limitations it becomes realistic. Space

could be considered as the major force, evoking or conditioning the human mind.

It provides not only the participant or the user with adequate physical movement

but also create emotional satisfaction. The emotional satisfaction of the

percevior could be achieved through the meaningful articulate inside the space. It

helps the observer in preconceiving spaces in their true perspective. That means it

communicate the appropriate message to the participant thus creating the derived

environmental quality within the particular space.Therefore architecture mainly

consider with qualitative needs while filling the quantitative needs. The

environmental quality in architectural space is determined by several factors.

That is form, scale, proportion, interrelation of spaces, objects inside, and the

way how these factors blend with each other. Quality of an architectural space

is also affected due to expression of visual surfaces of enclosure planes and

objects and their interrelationship to each other. Most effective visual

property of the surface is its color, its light and its texture. However the way

people perceive or respond to the environment emotionally or spatially depend on

their physiological nature, personalities, their cultural and social backgrounds

and the environment itself. Color can be regarded as one of the visual

properties of surfaces and also can be experienced through the sense of vision.

It is also known as the character of the surface or enclosure planes within a

space character of form. Various colors can be achieved in different ways such as

the way that materials are manipulated using color pigments on a surface. Color

can be identified both in nature as well as in man made environment.Color in

nature play a dominant role in creating well balanced, non disturbing and

effective environment. Flowers, plants, fruits, plumage of birds, the gaudy

fish, sunset, blue sky are the most striking colors of nature. Color also

indicate time as much as it changes with time. Altering the day cycle and from

one season to the other. Physiology shows that color has an enormous effect on

the human emotional responses. Therefore color perception not only does lead to

give visual striking but is also deeply involved in evoking variety of human

emotions and thereby affecting human behavior. Color as a basic and vital force

is lacking in architectural spaces. Now we are speaking about color balance,

color harmony, color contract etc. All depend on color value, tone and

brightness of the color. Most of us are not making use of its power enough. In

order to strengthen the study an analysis is done on selected examples by

describing reasons for the use of a particular color schemes. Examples are

selected on the basis of appropriateness and the clarity and they are analyzed

on the following framework. 1. Activity pattern of the space 2. User of the space

3. Mood intended to create 4. Any other higher purpose the building seeks to

serve.