Sun; source of life, energy and enlightenment. Throughout the evolution of architectural design, can be found perfect examples of how sunlight sculpts the shape and colors of compositions in countless ways. Lighting is one, and the most important, design principle in this branch of art, so this way, the other requirements such as the correct function, expressiveness, orientation and construction, are resolved around a good natural lighting in its three forms: Direct, Indirect and Diffuse. (Pattini, 1994)
Color, on the other hand, gives expressiveness, sensations and symbolism to a cold architecture guided by the increasing use of pure materials and their natural colors, or by lovers of white and grayscale. The application in architecture can be the cornerstone of the composition, that’s mean, it may praise or condemn it, for this, it must be used all the studies and researches about the Color’s Theory and how artists from different times have discovered the properties and the symbolism that involves a correct use of the mixture of color’s palette.
Natural light, or also known as white light, is the one that houses hidden colors in its waves at different lengths and frequencies, discovered by Newton during the 17th century, in his experiment about the refractive dispersion of sunlight. So, it’s natural to think about how linked light and color are, that is why this project brings together the best virtues of both elements to be able to generate a space with different sensations and emotions in its users.
The subjectivism in colors is what makes them special for their application in architectural projects. Eva Heller (2000) in her book, Psicología del Color, explains how different and even contradictory could be the sensations that a certain color produces in a person, for this reason the so-called Chromatic Chord is used, where, for a composition, whether pictorial, sculptural or architectural, the colors that are used should be associated in a particular way with the same references about emotions and symbolism, this way, a violent contrast is not created in the design. For example, all the colors that belong to the warm chromatic scale can produce the feeling of closeness and warmth, as well as support the symbolism of love and passion.
The color’s context determines its effect, with the use of direct and indirect light a pavilion is molded, where sunlight, colors and impressions dance together and outcome in an experimental architectural composition, but at the same time, pure. Created through the solar path at the site: Trujillo, Peru. Which is located at 8° South latitude, so it indicates the maximum inclination that the sun will have for the summer and winter solstices. This way, the dancing colors pavilion ensures itself with direct and indirect sunlight during all year. (Except on cloudy days where the lighting will be merely diffuse).
An experimental proposal in composition, but also in materiality, where translucent heat-resistant polycarbonate panels are used, thus the enclosure is made up of consecutive panels inside of the fan-shaped design to be able to generate curves from straight lines. Instead, the rigid structure is designed to be able to separate the perceptions and colors using wooden panels with steel for greater strength and stability.
The performance of the project consists of using direct and indirect sunlight rays to pass through the translucent colored panels and this way sunlight could bathe the spaces with colors and effects for the user inside. But what colors will be used?
The sensations associated with colors has been compiled in a survey of 2000 people in Germany by Droemer Verlag (2000), following these studies it is possible to corroborate the different emotions and symbolisms that each color enclose and this way we are able to determinate the correct color palette for the project.
“We know many more feelings than colors, so each color could produce different and even contradictory effects…”.
-Eva Heller
ORANGE; the color of the outstanding, the color’s story explains how the yellowish red begins to be called orange due to the arrival of the homonymous fruit to Europe, Asia and Africa; for this reason, taste and aromatic are also associated with this color. Joy, fun and sociability are also linked to it, these factors indicate that it is the perfect color for a striking, sociable and cheerful entrance.
RED; the color of strength, the most important of the primary colors and the first to be recognized during the artistic evolution of the human being, the symbolism it offers evokes fire and blood, this is why it is the color of power, vitality and dynamism. In addition, as the main warm color, reading inside the theory of chromatic perspective (Itten, 1967), it is used to indicate the closeness and warmth of a space / object. Perfect to succeed orange.
GREEN; the neutral color, one that isn’t symbolically extremist, contrary to what would be red and blue. Within the chromatic perspective, green is introduced as an intermediate color, which also in pictorial compositions is used as a neutral resource. Historically, the color of nature, of the healthy, so it can be used in compositional transitions towards the natural context, from the interior to the exterior, from one extreme to another. It also generates feelings of trust and hope in people, that’s why green panels are used as a warm-cold transition in the pavilion.
“GREEN ENJOYS THE EYES WITHOUT TIRING IT”
-Plinio
BLUE; the color of the tranquility, the contrast generated by going from red to blue, maximizes the feeling of freshness and pure air, because it creates cold spaces. Within the chromatic perspective it is used to indicate the remoteness of a space / object, so that’s why it will be the top of the composition, a blue that houses the symbolism of relaxation, rest, evoking the "bleu hour", the minutes after the sunlight goes down and let it pass into the night.
To sum up, this conceptual project combines the purity of sunlight in architecture and the psychology of colors according to the studies already mentioned, creating a pavilion that will provide sensations and symbolism to the people who use it.