SHEFALI

As we all know that, due to change in environmental conditions as well as increasing demand for spaces, the future interior spaces need to be altered accordingly, but with the expectation of a better quality of life. However, alterations can deliver both positive and negative experiences, depending upon the user’s needs. As discussed in previous blogs, color provides a foundation for a shift in space design.

Colour as an integral element of space design significantly influences perceptions of the users. The significance of color schemes in the appraisal of the interior aesthetic has traditionally been recognized by design professionals. At the same time, obscure visual patterns and disharmonious color schemes can cause visual disturbances, disorientation, stress or bad mood as well. In opposite, color scenarios tailored to phenomenological human needs can arouse positive emotions, eliminate visual disorder.

The energy of light is another feature that needs to be taken into consideration in order to understand the physio-psychological impact of colors on people’s well-being. Colours are created by considering different wavelengths of light. Thus, color is a form of energy, which affects our body, mind, and emotions. Balanced visual stimulation in interior spaces is one of the fundamental aspects of a health-giving environment.  In particular, monotony or lack of variety can also cause under stimulation related health issues such as restlessness, excessive emotional response, bad concentration, and irritation.

As a healing tool, color has been used throughout the ages. To some extent, people are able to sense whether a place is psychologically fit or not. Ambiances of color are powerful enough to generate inspiration and positive emotions. Therefore, the interior color design has the potential to restore and enhance the wellbeing of users.

 

Unity in a space creates a sense of harmony and wholeness, by using similar kind of elements. Variety helps to add interest by breaking the monotony. Apart from learning that how color helps to add identity and emotions to space, it is also important to understand how to use them beautifully, to add interest and excitement to space.

Variety is the principle of design, which is concerned about the use of color with the elements of design i.e. shape, form, texture, and pattern to introduce diversity and contrast into an interior space. It provides a different character to an element in order to add contrast and interest. The contrast in an element acts as a tool to visually attract the viewer.

To break up the monotony within a space, there are many ways to add variety through shapes, lines, textures, and patterns. To add visual variety colored lights and colored translucent materials can also be used, though depending upon the right quantity and type of light source. For example, assume a house with an open kitchen concept. If the color contrast is not added into the floor , then the spaces will not be able to distinguish, thus it will result in the loss of identity of the space.

Therefore, to maintain the quality of a space variety plays a very important role. Although adding color to space is one of the important aspects to define the space, but using it with the other elements will help to enhance its properties.

References:

Reed, R. (2010) COLOR + DESIGN: Transforming Interior Space. Fairchild Books.

Morocco is the diverse cultural country, situated in the northwest region of Africa. Due to the influence of various cultures, it has a very unique architectural style. The architecture of the place is as rich and alluring as the landscape of the country itself. The most influential style is that of Islamic architecture, whether it is old or modern architecture.

The design elements of the Moroccan architecture include elaborate geometric patterns, ornamental Islamic calligraphy of Quranic verses, and colorful zellij (a ceramic-tile mosaic). Chefchaouen, the smallest city of Morocco is one of it’s most picturesque destinations. Located in the outstanding scenery of the Rif Mountains, it boasts one of the country’s most delightful medinas and is famous for its varied shades of blue painted walls.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There are many beliefs interpreted by different people of why walls were painted blue. Many people interpret it to be the representation of sky, there are those who believe that shades of blue help to deter mosquitoes as mosquitoes tend to live near water, but not inside it. Some people believe it was painted blue to keep buildings cool, and many believe it represents water. Other than all these beliefs, it had also been interpreted in Islamic terms i.e. blue represents happiness and optimism.

From all of the above interpretation, it has been concluded that a single color can depict and interpret various emotions and meanings depending on varied culture and traditions. Therefore, the Moroccan architecture is the best example to prove that emotion varies from place to place, person to person and with varied cultures as well.

Reference:

http://heymorocco.com/morocco-architecture.aspx

https://theculturetrip.com/africa/morocco/articles/the-story-behind-the-many-shades-of-moroccos-blue-city/

Sagrada Familia is a large roman catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. His conception of the design was based on Gothic and Byzantine cathedrals. He wants to express the Christian belief through the architecture and beauty of the building and he managed to achieve this by introducing his personal architectural style i.e use of logical forms and geometries inspired by nature with use light and color as a central character.

The use of light has been done very smartly to endow the architecture of the space. The sunlight has been used to add a sparkling effect on the pinnacles of the tower and windows. The interplay of light and shadow had been done by setting the sun height on different facades accordingly.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Gaudi believed color as the expression of life, so he decided to use color as well to express his beliefs in Sagrada as shown in images. He used the colored stained glass in openings to create a transcendent atmosphere. The most colorful parts of the cathedral are the high windows with unobstructed sunlight. He has used the transparent stained glasses on the high windows so as to illuminate the golden vaults and mosaic at the top. The lower sections are less illuminated to let the readers read and see as well as to create a balance in a space.

On the whole, it can be said that the building’s interior is a good example of how light and color go hand in hand to maintain the function and balance of the space. Therefore, the architect had achieved his conception of the space.

 

 

 

 

References:

https://blog.sagradafamilia.org/en/divulgation/the-sagrada-familias-stained-glass-windows-captivating-light/

http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/documentation-center/

A few days ago, I went to Piccadilly Circus in London. Suddenly, the colorful M&M store caught my attention. In the huge clusters of buildings, it was standing out due to its colors and lighting and I was not able to stop myself from entering the store. The moment, I entered the space, I got mesmerized after seeing the ambiance of the space.  I would like to share my experience of perceiving the colors within the space.

M&Ms are the colorful gems, which children love. When I entered the space, It took me to my childhood days. The colors and contrast used were so dominating, that I couldn’t stop myself to move forward in the space. It was creating an eagerness to explore what would come next. The colors used were all bright colors.

While exploring the space, I started going down the stairs. While descending, the installation on the ceiling has been observed. The unit used in the installation was of the colorful button-shaped m&m chocolates. Then, suddenly the wall of M&Ms had drawn my attention. There were multiple dispensers each with different color and variety of gem. The wall was painted in white color, which was enhancing the colors of gems in turn.  Similarly, the other elements used in the space were also inspired by the signature features of the M&M in one or another way, whether it is in terms of shapes or colors.

 

As a designer, I would like to share my views regarding space. I liked the concept of using bright colors, as space is meant to be for kids, and generally, they love bright colors. Then, the elements used in spaces, all of them were depicting the M&M features, which was developing an interest to explore the store. Lastly, the use of white color on the dispenser’s wall was one of the good design examples, as it was enhancing the colors of the main element. Overall, it can be said the store is a good example of how to use colors sensibly to design a user-friendly space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rose window, also known as Catherine window is a term generally used for circular windows, but especially for those which are found in gothic churches. These windows are also called the wheel windows generally glazed with stained glass. There are many examples of the circular windows in the Romanesque period, but the one which I admire the most are rose windows at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Chartres.

The cathedral features three rose windows, with outward radiating circular patterns. They all are made to depict a story through its patterns and colors used. Let’s discuss the North Rose window to understand the concept of these windows. Each detail of rose window was carefully planned to give the message to the viewers. the colors used depicts the characteristical meanings i.e. the blue color depicts the purity, and of the Virgin Mary, and the red color depicts the blood of Jesus. Basically, the theme of the window is the story of mother Mary and Jesus Christ birth.

Just as the colors tell a story, the shapes used also depicts symbolism. The inner circle depicts Mary and Jesus, and the twelve no each of different surmounted shapes depicts the angels protecting them from evil powers.

As shown in images, the rose windows of Notre Dam are strikingly beautiful. The cathedral was built by people who were illiterate, so they tried to depict the story through the colors and artworks. This is the perfect example to study that how colors and shapes can be used to visually connect the viewers to space.

 

References:

https://wasatchshutter.com/famous-windows-the-rose-window-of-notre-dame/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjHuo2t0ZHfAhUQ1xoKHWtAAcMQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fchartrescathedral.net%2Fchartres-cathedral-stained-glass%2F&psig=AOvVaw3_rRDXmkzbC7hs64FzTslH&ust=1544405652967436

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj-w__F0ZHfAhURhRoKHTLsDD8QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fchartrescathedral.net%2Fchartres-cathedral-transepts%2F&psig=AOvVaw2lQ2itOCrq2a0F8s0Iht5j&ust=1544406715554082

Last week I have visited The Design Museum, London. There I got the chance to view a design exhibition ” Top designs of the year 2018″. I have seen various great design works and installations, but the one which had drawn my attention was the “Lego House“.

The LEGO House is an activity center located in LEGO’s hometown of Billund, Denmark. It was designed by the BIG ( Bjarke Ingels Group). The building provides a variety of functions i.e exhibition spaces, public squares, roof terraces, and pixelated staircases which serve as informal auditoriums. The blocking of the building was done in the way,  lego models are developed, i.e overlapping and interlocking concept. The open spaces are created in the way of the uncompleted model, to depict the process of developing a model. Inside, the building is divided into four different zones offering different activities.

The color coding has been used in the building to distinguish different zones. Each color is related to the function of the space. Red color represents creative skills, blue is for cognitive skills, green is for social skills and yellow is for emotional skills. Jesper Vilstrup, CEO LEGO House stated: “All activities in the house are related to our LEGO philosophy that learning through play promotes innovation and creativity”.

In the end, I would like to say that this building is a perfect example to study how form follows the function. The way the colors have been used is a good way to differentiate in terms of the function and technical meanings of the spaces. One more time, it has been proved that how color can be used to add meanings to the spaces.

The Gopuram is the monumental ornated entrance tower to the South- Indian temples. it is a multi-story structure, exquisitely decorated with various sculptures and carvings and painted in a variety of themes derived from Hindu mythology. Whenever I think of color and culture, the first image comes to my mind is of the gopuram architecture.

The best example of gopurams can be seen in Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. In the ancient city of Madurai, it is one of the largest temples. It is known for its huge and superior gopurams. As shown in pictures, the gopurams are full of vibrant statues of animals, god, and demons. Each piece of artwork is beautifully painted in a variety of colors. The color majorly used are red, green, yellow and blue. Each color symbolizes the culture, traditions, and beliefs of the Hinduism religion.

The red is the color of purity and power. It is put on the female deity, who depicts women empowerment. The color green symbolizes peace and happiness. It is known to stabilize the mind as it is the color of nature. The yellow color represents the color of knowledge and learning. It is inspired by the dress of Lord Vishnu who is the true epitome of knowledge. Lastly, the blue color represents the maximum nature i.e. the sky, the river, the oceans, and the lakes. It depicts the bravery, manliness, ability to deal with difficulties with the stable mind.

Each culture has its own significances and myths. In Hinduism, the men believed to be more strong so blue the color of bravery has given to male deities and women are supposed to be pure so red the color of purity has given to the female deities. The gopurams of south Indian temples are the best examples to study the Hindu culture and beliefs in respect with colors.

References:-

Click to access hinduism.pdf

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/india/meenakshi-amman-hindu-temple/

As discussed in earlier blogs, culture plays an imperative role in any design. Appreciation and regard for cultural diversity are important during the color design process. A cultural sensitivity is very important while designing so as to preserve the culture of the space. In this blog, I would like to discuss one of my earlier live photo documentation and want to share the cultural value of colors used in that building.

During my bachelor’s coursework, I got the chance to document the Shah- E-Hamdan Mosque in Srinagar, India. It is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in Kashmir. It was the first mosque to be built in Srinagar as a typical wooden structure in valleys. The entire mosque was built in interlocking wooden planks without the use of a single nail. The artwork in the mosque has been more emphasized. It signifies the Islamic traditions and beauty.

The signature artworks which were done include Paper Mache work on walls, Khatamband work on the ceiling of the main hall. The use of colors can also be seen in both exterior and interior works. The two major colors used are the brown and green color. Both colors have their own significance and derivations, the brown color depicts the wooden construction style in valleys and the green color depicts the cultural value i.e. it is considered as the holy color in Islam. As seen in the images, the green color used is also specific in nature, only a particular shade of color has been used. Many other colors can also be seen in artworks, but green is the major color used.

Overall, the building is a good source to study the traditional style of architecture and cultural values of the Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Additionally, it also justifies the concept of using color in the context of culture.

Perception is defined as the immediate interpretation of the object in the brain, and it depends upon the visual characteristics of the physical space. These characteristics have the potential to elicit emotions and functions in a space individually or mutually.

Light and color both individually are important elements of interior space, but without light, there is no color. Light not only illuminates a space, but it also has the potential to alter the way of perception of color around us. Color is a complex process from light entering the eye to how the receptors in the eye transmit it to the brain. colored light consists of a variable series of wavelengths called visible spectrum.

As seen, the violet color has the shortest wavelength and the red color has the longest wavelength. According to the fact that the longer the wavelength is, the more effort the eyes have to make to perceive the object. Therefore, red color focus behind the retina, thus looking towards it, for a long period of time can be tiring and irritating, the green color focus on the retina so it is the most pleasing one and violet focus in front of the retina, thus cause haziness for longer periods.

Thus, this is how the basic light defines color emotions. It plays an extremely important role to conceive color emotions. Therefore to design a healthy space, selection of color and lighting for an interior space should go hand in hand.

References:-

The language of light: how light alters perception

Click to access PSYCH_2013091116400427.pdf

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjz0aaTs5DfAhWqxIUKHV5xB_sQjhx6BAgBEAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.weather.gov%2Fjetstream%2Fcolor&psig=AOvVaw2EV-mMexV5CO83L_OlHydF&ust=1544364208762899