To what effect we use colour.
1. We read the room in terms of colour
and interpret its build structure
By colouring we interpret architectural structures, proportions and materials.In an ideal world we strengthen the already existing structures and make them - under consideration of light exposure and lighting - legible. We give a stage to materials and surfaces depending on their significance. Unfavourable conditions such as low ceilings, long corridors, structural rigidness, or an excess of formal restlessness will be corrected by us through the use of colour to make them easier on the eye. We thereby create an interplay of colour, material, proportion, light and sense of space.
Example 1: Lounge area with a horizontal interpretation of the outer walls (seems more calm), vertical emphasis (seems more fresh and active) and with directionless design (eye catcher for a short term stay)
Example 2: Anything but an easy decision: What happens to the exposed concrete on the stair stringer? Which hand rail will match it? Our pictures show colour variants in the style of the 1970s, 1990s and 2010s - three examples of many many more and the beginning of a fundamental debate about materials, forms and style elements.
Interpretation in a minimalistic style of confederate architecture
Interpretation in the style of the 1990s
Interpretation in the style of the 1970s
2. We improve the sense of wellbeing (quality of stay)
and improve functionality and ergonomics.
From discovering the building (orientation within it), to the quality of stay up until questions about work place design and visual ergonomics, we create the framework for a productive use of space through colour, may it be a doctors practice, an office, kindergarten, a work place in industry, carehomes or canteens.
Colour surroundings influence the willingness to move, resilience and attention, conveyed between interpretation of surroundings and interpretation of ones self, and they subtly work with the interplay of deliberate and subliminal contents of experience. Basis of our planning are extensive analysis of the kind of use of space, the time one would stay in the space and the characteristics of people typically using the space, also in terms of age, what they are used to visually and possible limitations.
The shown patients rooms are designed for long term stay…
…and are often experienced in a positive way by people.
In a therapeutic context, a fresh and cool atmosphere is often desirable.
3. We create atmosphere through coloured room moods.
The atmosphere of a room is mainly shaped by its colour mood and light situation.
Before developing this colour concept, we formulate, together with the client or the user the mood desired for the room. The second step is translating the sought after mood and impression into colour tones. Such colour compositions are feelings made visible and colourfully distributed moods.
Creating “Colourful worlds of experience” is a design emphasis for the catering industry, very often for retail as well as sport and leisure facilities.
But everyone designing the interior of a flat, has certain expectations as to how the rooms are supposed to feel.
Atmospheric picture for the experience “Construction”
Atmospheric picture for the experience “Water”
Atmospheric picture for the experience “Warmth”
Characteristic colour palette for the experience “Construction”
Characteristic colour palette for the experience “Water”
Characteristic colour palette for the experience “Warmth”
4. We give rooms a personality
and we make personality visible.
Style is the personal signature, the special way, in which someone chooses and arranges things. Especially in private, rooms carry the personal signature of the owner. For rooms with changing groups of users, we determine the right style in correspondence with the owner and the architect. We can take into considerations trends, epochs, geographical and ethnical features , the CI of a company and many other things.
The aim is, that the style of the inside room reflects main aspects of the personality of its users or their values. In that way we make it possible for as many people as necessary, to identify positively with the room.
The colour design and 3D visualisations on this page were created by Jürgen Opitz, are are taken from the book “Farbgestaltung Innenraum” by Martin Benad and Jürgen Opitz.