Color and light are inseparable and both possess an impressive potential to influence mood, behavior, and perception, but most architects have ignored them -- until recently
Until recently, most architects would only explore color when working on child-oriented buildings and rooms. For more serious projects, they stuck to the proven elegance of black and white aesthetics and the thoughtful use of natural materials. The could perhaps be attributed to the modernist legacy of despising decoration. However, color and light are inseparable and both possess an impressive potential to influence mood, behavior, and perception. La Defense Offices, an enormous ode to iridescence, where the colors and brilliance depend strongly on weather and light conditions, was "designed with the office tenants in mind" and sets a wonderful example of how architects -- armed with an understanding and appreciation of color -- can create a refreshing and surprising environment for routine activities. It's just one in a collection (below) of groundbreaking buildings.
View the complete OpenBuildings collection: Show Your Colors.
Image: Trevor Mein.
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