How can architects use color to create a unique building identity?

2 Color psychology effects

Color psychology is the study of how colors influence human emotions, behaviors, and perceptions. It can help create a building identity that evokes a desired response or feeling from users and visitors. Red is generally associated with passion, energy, and excitement; orange is linked to creativity and enthusiasm; yellow often symbolizes happiness and positivity; green is typically associated with nature and growth; blue can represent tranquility and trust; purple may evoke royalty and luxury; pink is often associated with love and romance; brown can signify earth and stability; black is usually connected to power and sophistication; and white usually symbolizes purity and simplicity.

4 Color identity strategies

Color identity is the use of color to create a distinctive and recognizable image for a building, as well as to communicate its function, context, and vision. To create a unique building identity, one can use a single color or a monochromatic scheme to make a strong and simple statement (e.g. the red Pompidou Centre in Paris or the white Sydney Opera House). Alternatively, contrasting colors or a complementary scheme can be used to create a dynamic and dramatic effect (e.g. the yellow and blue La Muralla Roja in Spain or the green and purple Wuxi Wanda Cultural Tourism City in China). Similarly, harmonious colors or an analogous scheme can be used to create a subtle and soothing atmosphere (e.g. the orange and red National Assembly Building in Bangladesh or the blue and green Aqua Tower in Chicago). Finally, varied colors or a polychromatic scheme can be used to create a diverse and vibrant expression (e.g. the multicolored Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna or the rainbow-colored Palais des Congrès in Montreal).

5 Color identity examples

To inspire you to use color to create a unique building identity, here are some of the most iconic and innovative examples of color in architecture. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, designed by Frank Gehry, uses a titanium cladding that changes color depending on the light and weather, creating an organic sculpture that stands out against the industrial cityscape. Jean Nouvel's Agbar Tower in Barcelona features a glass facade with thousands of LED lights that form different patterns and colors at night. Oscar Niemeyer's Niterói Contemporary Art Museum in Brazil is characterized by a bright red color that accentuates the circular shape and cantilevered structure of the building. Zaha Hadid's Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan uses a white color to emphasize its smooth and curvilinear shape, creating a fluid form that blends with the landscape and culture.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?