Forming Spaces with Colour and Light: Trends in Architectural Practice and Swedish Colour Research

Abstract

Architecture is space built for human life, and colour in architecture means colouring this space, or spaces. To choose colour for rooms within a building is profoundly different from two-dimensional artwork or colour design, as the spatial preconditions themselves interact with the chosen colours to form a three-dimensional totality. On the other hand, the experience of space is always present in our visual perceptions, even when we look at surfaces that physically have only two dimensions. Colour presupposes light, and the understanding of light and shadow is decisive for our spatial understanding. the purpose of this article is to discuss the issues of colour, light and space, mainly with reference to current Swedish research results and the experiences of practicing architects and interior designers.