Connections Between Colour, Architecture, and Space – Does Colour Unite or Divide us? by Dr Justyna Tarajko-Kowalska on 12 March 2025
Announcing the eighth in our series of colour lectures ‘From Colour Fundamentals to Colour Applications Across Design and Industry’ will be on 12 March 2025, and presented by Justyna Tarajko-Kowalska who will be talking about “The Connections between Colour, Architecture, and Space – Does Colour Unite or Divide us?” Eventbrite
Introduction
What is colour in architecture? Is it just a combination of material colours? Is it just a layer of pigment applied to the form, a “2mm architecture” that can be changed at any time without any consequences? Or is it just a subjective impression – an insignificant addition to the three essential attributes of an architectural work: function, form, and structure?
Colour in architecture is often treated as a “female” element opposite the “male” element of construction – weaker, unstable, changeable, subject to fashions and ideologies – and yet beautiful and desirable. In today’s world, where everything changes, the role of colour in architecture is also changing – it is no longer just an added, used element. Instead, it becomes an expression of the idea of movement and changeability, shaping the perception of buildings and space.
The presentation is an attempt to answer the following questions: What is colour in architecture today, and what are its functions in shaping contemporary spaces? And whether it unites or divides us? The history of colour in architecture and how colour sometimes becomes an unwanted or even rejected element, will be also discussed. There will also be examples of public spaces in which colour is a leading compositional element, creating new spatial and social relationships.
Justyna Tarajko-Kowalska (PhD) is an Architect, working as a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Cracow University of Technology (Poland), since 2001. She is the author of over 60 articles and numerous lectures on color in architecture and urban planning published in Polish and English. She has participated in many conferences and scientific sessions on colour, including AIC (International Color Association) congresses. Since 2005, she has been a member of the AIC Environmental Color Design Study Group. She is also active in developing design projects for architectural color. In the scientific studies, she concentrates more specifically on the issue of colour in the built environment and the history of color in architecture and urbanism.
Approximate length of lecture is 30 minutes. The lecture will be accessible on the day and during the afternoon from 12.00 (GMT) midday until midnight.
About the lecture series at University of the West of England: “From Colour Fundamentals to Colour Applications across Design and Industry”
Understanding the role of colours across industries varies significantly. It requires different skills, languages, and tools to communicate effectively and accurately. The series of lectures, “From Colour Fundamentals to Colour Applications across Design and Industry”, comprises nine inspirational women speakers who are experts and practitioners in their field. All are working and drawing from their disciplines, including in printing, fashion design, product design, art, interior design, built environment (design, materials, urban planning, conservation), and material science and production, and will explore and discuss current thinking about the role of colours across disciplines.
Forthcoming lectures:
12/03/2025 Justyna Tarajko-Kowalska – The Connections Between Color, Architecture, and Space – Does Color Unite or Divide us? EventBrite
26/03/2025 Grazyna Wiejak-Roy – Colour Appearance in the Built Environment
(passed) Vien Cheung – Colour Theories in the Western and Eastern Cultures
(passed) Carinna Parraman – Colour in Art and Perception
(passed) Alexandra Loske – Women colour theorists and historians through the century
(passed) Stephanie Wooster – Colour and Fashion Trends
(passed) Becky Gooby – Colour in the British Interwar
(passed) Laura Morgan – Towards Sustainable Colour: Rethinking Practices for Production, Application and Design.
(passed) Agata Kwiatkowska-Lubańska – Material and Finish in Contemporary Design
For more information please visit https://cfpr.uwe.ac.uk
Centre for Print Research, University of the West of England, Bristol
Lecture series Co-ordinators: Carinna Parraman and Grazyna Wiejak-Roy
