Exploring Environmental Colour Design in Urban Contexts
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Queensland University of Technology
Australia -
Queensland University of Technology Australia
Abstract
The increasing complexity of urban colour and growing recognition of its psychological effects prompts rethinking of the current conceptual and methodological approaches to environmental colour design. Contemporary designers are challenged to understand how evolving colour knowledge can be integrated with the fundamentals of colour design. This paper aims to elaborate on the concept of environmental colour composition (ECC) and outlines an alternative approach to colour design in urban environments. A better understanding of the dynamic relationships between the tangible and perceptual elements of an ECC can bring new meaning to the consideration of colour as an integral component of city design. The proposed concepts of environmental colour events and scenarios provide a foundation for both further theoretical inquiry and practical application of synthesised colour knowledge in the design of urban environments.
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Author Biographies
Galyna McLellan is an architect and educator with extensive experience in teaching architectural and interior design in several universities in Ukraine and Australia. She completed her Master in Urban Design and PhD at the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. The topic of a thesis was “Contemporary Environmental Colour Praxis in Urban Contexts” with reflected her professional interest in psychology and ethical aspects of urban design. She is currently lecturing at QUT and involved in UNAA Queensland programs.
Dr Mirko Guaralda is Senior Lecturer in Architecture at the Queensland University of Technology; his background includes experience in architectural design, landscape architecture and urban design. Before joining academia full time, Mirko has been working in industry and local government; he has been involved in a wide range of projects at different scales, from small dwellings and gardens, to new estates and urban strategic planning. Since 2001 Mirko has been involved in research projects in Australia as well as in Italy, his home country, and so far has received over $500,000.00 in funding for his work on cities and communities. He is currently research associate with QUT Design Lab, and the Urban Informatics Research group at QUT.
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Brino, G. (2009). Italian city colour plans (1978–2007). In T. Porter & B. Mikellides (Eds.), Colour for architecture today (pp. 30–35). London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Cruz-Diez, C. (2009). Reflection on colour. Houston, Texas: Cruz-Diez Foundation.
Day, C. (2004). Place of the soul. Architecture and environmental design as a healing art. Oxford: Elsevier, Architectural Press.
Doherty, G. (2010). Urbanism of colour. Harvard: University Press.
Franz, G. (2006). Space, color, and perceived qualities of indoor environments. In M. Tolba, S. Soliman & A. Abdel-Hadi (Eds.), Environment, health, and sustainable development—proceedings of the 19th International Association for People Environment Studies conference (IAPS 2006) (pp. 1–8). Seattle, WA: Hogrefe & Huber.
Goethe, J. W. (1970). Theory of colours. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Itten, J. & Birren, F. (1970). The elements of colour: A treatise on the colour system of Johannes Itten based on his book the art of colour. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Lenclos, J. P. (1989). The geography of colour. Tokyo: San’ei Shobo Publishing.
Lenclos, J. P. (2009a). The geography of colour. In T. Porter & B. Mikellides (Eds.), Colour for architecture today (pp. 30–35). London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Lenclos, J. P. (2009b). The globalisation of colour. In T. Porter & B. Mikellides (Eds.), Colour for architecture today (pp. 84–87). London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Major, M. (2009). In T. Porter & B. Mikellides (Eds.), Colour for architecture today (pp. 151– 158). London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Mankhe, F. (1996). Colour, environment and human response. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
McLachlan, F. (2012). Architectural colour in the professional palette. London and New York: Routledge.
Mitchell, C. T. (1993). Redefining designing. From form to experience. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Porter, T. & Mikellides, B. (Eds.) (2009). Colour for architecture today. London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Ronchi, L. (2002). Light and colour in environmental design: Some annotated terms. Retrieved from http://www.fadu.uba.ar/sitios/sicyt/color/glossary.htm.
Sharpe, D. T. (1981). The Psychology of Colour and Design. Totowa, New Jersey: Littlefield, Adams and Co.
Schindler, V. M. (2004). Colour as vocation: Werner Spillmann’s contribution to environmental colour design. Colour Research Application, 30, 53–65.
Spillmann, W. (2009). Unity in diversity at Kirchsteigfeld, Potsdam. In T. Porter & B. Mikellides (Eds.), Colour for architecture today (pp. 36–38). London, UK: Taylor & Francis.
Thackara, L. (1985). Designing without form. Design, 433, 28.
Tosca, T. F. (2002). Environmental colour design for the third millennium: An evolutionary standpoint. Colour Research and Application, 27(6), 441–454.
Zennaro, P. (2017) Strategies in colour choice for architectural built environment. Journal of the International Colour Association, 19, 15–22. Retrieved from http://www.aic-color.org/journal/v19/jaic_v19_02.pdf.