Introduction

Abstract

Color plays a significant role in the environment. The designer may recognize its expressiveness by using its associative attributes as embellishment or symbol. Rarely is it used to shape space, enhance or diminish volume, or assign position to an object in the visual field. While color has a constructive aspect, it is added as a last decision in architectural praxis, often subjectively or arbitrarily. Can color be rationalized as an aspect of architectonic space or form? Is it a primary constituent or aspect of structure at the outset of the design process? We deal with these issues here by presenting experiments with color and forms as basic “building blocks.” Central to the issue is that hue and light influence appearance.