How does color affect architecture?

Just as the color of an abstract painting or a photograph can create a certain mood, so the color of a building or room can profoundly affect how people using it perceive it. .

Physiologically, many studies have shown that blue light slows down melatonin production, making people more alert or awake even at night. Psychologically, people associate certain colors with certain emotions due to cultural symbols and life experiences – for example, they may perceive red as threatening or intimidating because its relationship with blood.

Children's Art Museum / WORKac. Photo: Ari Marcopoulos

Overall, the way a room is colored can have complex effects on how a user feels, while a facade can be perceived in significantly different ways depending on how it is colored. Below, we summarize the emotional groups of each color, assessing their different effects when used in architectural space.

Red Color

Laboratory Innovation / AIM Architecture. Photo: Dirk Weiblen
Town hall Herstal / Frederic Haesevoets Architecte. Photo: Christophe Vootz
Headquarters HILTI / metroquadrado®. Photo: Bernardo Portugal
Opy Cafe / YBYPY. Photo: Pedro Vannucci

Red connotes passion, excitement or warmth depending on its exact color, but it is also associated with fear or danger. The use of color and the layout of the space can determine exactly how it feels.
D-Edge / Muti Randolph + Marcelo Pontes + Zemel + Chalabi Arquitetos. Photo: Maira Acayaba
Restaurant Zen Sushi / Carlo Berarducci Architecture. Photo: Fernando Guerra
Apos2 / Apostrophy's. Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan

Darker colors, like chestnut, are sultry and inviting, while bright neon reds are friendly and eye-catching. All reds, if used sparingly, can feel overbearing, but if used effectively can create a unique environment of experience. On the contrary, using red in spaces with lots of neutral colors is a highly effective method to draw people's attention to specific objects or elements.

Orange Color



Architecture using orange can create a light, bright, friendly space. Less ostentatious than red spaces, orange is calmer but still bright and fun. Because it is less aggressive, as well as less risky, it is widely used.
Le Soufflet / NatureHumaine. Photo: Adrien Williams
MissouriState University  – Game Center Level 1 / Dake | Wells Architecture. Photo: Architectural Imageworks
Commercial Court Lille Métropole / PetitDidier Prioux Architectes. Photo: 11:45am
McAllen/MSR Design main library. Photo: Lara Swimmer
Riverview Park I / De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop visitor service building. Photo: Courtesy of De Leon and Primmer Architecture Workshop

Yellow Color

Yellow is always bright, cheerful, and can be used in a space to highlight specific elements in a way that doesn't overwhelm as much as red. Due to its friendliness and youthfulness, yellow is commonly used in children's spaces such as kindergartens and kindergartens. In addition, this color of radiance can bring any gloomy space to life. Yellow-orange with bold or light shades also represents tranquility.
Medical office Unite Here in LA / Lehrer Architects. Photo: Courtesy of Lehrer Architects
The Tetrisception / Renesa Architecture Design Interiors Studio. Photo: Vibhor Yadav
Fai-Fah / SPARCH. Photo: TMB Bank
Duplex Tibbaut / Raúl Sánchez. Photo: José Hevia
Nursery school Sjötorget / Rotstein Arkitekter. Photo: Image Courtesy of Rotstein Architecture
Accessory store gym / 45tilt. Photo: Hey! Cheese
Lock & Be Free / Wanna One. Photo: CaulinPhoto

Green Color

An unusual color for architecture, green – especially emerald or pastel green – is very soothing and relaxing. Even neon green, while bright, often looks calmer than other neon colors. However, yellow-green, if used poorly, can feel strangely indifferent, especially where next to white. On the outside, the green walls and green roof both suggest sustainability and provide friendly warmth.

Espai Caixa / MIRAG. Photo: Jordi Surroca
AM Recycled / PKMN Architectures. Photo: Courtesy of PKMN Architectures
Yandex Saint Petersburg / za bor architects. Photo: Peter Zaytsev
Education Center Antas / AVA Architects. Photo: Jose Campos
Family Box Qingdao / Crossboundaries. Photo: Xia Zhi
House on the mountain / Gluck+. Photo: Steve Mundinger

Blue Color

Blue represents cool, gentle, dignified and safe. On the ceiling, blue represents the celestial bodies, while individual blue elements such as columns or furniture are among the most common uses of the primary color in architecture. Installing blue light for outdoor spaces is also one of the most effective ways.

High Trestle Trail Bridge/ RDG Planning & Design. Photo: Iris22 Productions
Channel 7 BBTV / Apostrophy’s + Airbase Architects. Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan
Melanchthon Schiebroek University / OIII Architecten. Photo: Rob t’ Hart
Wehrhahn-Line Düsseldorf / netzwerkarchitekten. Photo: Jorg Hempel

Violet Color

Purple, like blue, is soft and relaxing, but to a greater extent – especially pastel purple in diffused light settings. Neon purples, especially neon purple lights, are fun, bright, exciting, and can make a lasting impression due to their uniqueness.

Exhibition room Mathematics: The Winton / Zaha Hadid Architects. Photo: Luke Hayes
Restaurant Encanto Acapulco / Miguel Angel Aragonés. Photo: MAA
OMNOMNOM Vegan Cafe / replus design bureau. Photo: Dmytro Sorokyevych
Ziggo Dome / Benthem Crouwel Architects. Photo: Jannes Linders
The Year / Estudio Guto Requena. Photo: Fran Parente
Fitness Center Orange / KMT Project Department. Photo: Ravil Safiullin

White Color

White walls are one of the most popular features of modern architecture because of the connotation of purity and cleanliness. The white outer wall stands out in the dark, flat, pristine; while the white interior walls can make the user feel calm but alert. White ceilings and walls also help diffuse light, making the interior seem brighter

House-T / Tsukano Architect Office. Photo: Kenichi Asano
The Polite House / JVA. Photo: Lars Evanger
Oasis – Pastoral Care Voestalpine / x architekten. Photo: David Schreyer
Munich Fractal Arena / Dear design. Photo: Xavier Manosa
V House / COTAPAREDES Arquitectos. Photo: Cesar Bejar
One Ocean, Thematic Pavilion EXPO 2012 / soma. Photo: SOMA
White Digger / Tomas Ghisellini Architects. Photo: Tomas Ghisellini

Black Color

Black buildings tend to appear apathetic and contemplative, although they can be perceived as ominous in some situations. Be careful with lighting in black interiors as it can give a dark and stuffy feel to rooms and facades. While black wooden architecture can appear rustic and introspective, black metal detailing often feels sleek and modern.

Objective Subject Offices / GRT Architects. Photo: Nicole Franzen
Mr Sun Sushi Bar / Atelier Branco Arquitetura. Photo: Pedro Kok
Restaurant Yuwan / Nota Design Architects + Engineers. Photo: Jian Long

Clearly, color has great emotional power in both interior and exterior architecture. However, when designing with color, whether in a simple environment or using common colors like black and white, careful consideration should be given to lighting, materials, and design. With each color often connoting a different range of emotions from the happiest to the most ominous, only cohesive and holistic design can ensure that the use of color produces the desired effect. .

Bookstore Metal Rainbow-Zhongshu ở Tô Châu / Wutopia Lab. Photo: Yijie Hu
Design Wing / Coordination Asia. Photo: Coordination Asia
Technology Center Microsoft Tô Châu / PDM International. Photo: Courtesy of PDM International
Overview Your Rainbow / Studio Olafur Eliasson. Photo: Courtesy of Studio Olafur Eliasson
Student dining room at Prestwood School / De Rosee Sa. Photo: Prestwood Infant School Dining Hall
Keep It Glassy 2 / Coordination Asia. Photo: Coordination Asia

Theo Lynh Lan/ noithatmagazine

Other news