Chromatic imaginaries
Description
Color is powerful. As a physical element in our world that is created in our minds, it is uniquely visceral yet intangible. Color has objective rules, finite categories, subjective interpretations, and embedded meanings. Color can calm, activate, soothe, shock, welcome, stimulate, and rejuvenate. Yet color is often relegated to the realm of ornament, and its powerful performative properties are underutilized in the realm of architecture. If its unique potential was instead realized, color could be used to communicate emotionally and spatially, subjectively and universally. The properties of color have been analyzed through scientific investigation and artistic exploration for their spatial, psychological, and emotional effects. In the realm of painting, color is a fundamental way to imply space on a canvas and stimulate response from viewers. Scientifically, color has been the subject of countless studies for its effects on human behavior as well as its physical properties and universal significance. Theories merging from these fields can be utilized to create a richer, more intentional relationship between color and architecture. Much more than a coat of paint, color can be used to construct the architectural experience. It can be equated with other fundamental elements, such as form, light, and context, as a tool in the creation of space. Through its interaction with these elements, color can amplify spatial intentions, shape perception, and augment the interaction between humans and the built environment. Emphasizing architectureÕs ability to shape the human experience, this thesis constructs a future of architecture where color is fundamental.