Color in Architecture: Theory and Practice

Dear Colleagues,

Color has been an inseparable feature of architecture for centuries. It depends on technological possibilities, fashion, style, and the preferences of the architect and investor. In different epochs, colors were given different and special meanings. There have been times of contempt for color, and times "calling for color". The psychological basis of the use of colors, and their influence on humans, were also important. Color could, therefore, perform a propaganda function, which is most easily perceived when analyzing “regime architecture”. This knowledge helps us understand an architectural work and its creator, as well as the times in which it was designed. There is no doubt that color enriches architecture, brings out depth and adds light to it. At the beginning of the 20th century, marked by Sir Arthur Evans' reconstruction activity in Knossos, the triumphant return of color was met with distrust and criticism from both conservators and less aware recipients of architectural works. Our fears and fascinations are characterized by an ambivalence that is difficult to explain. On the one hand, there is a growing awareness of the ubiquity of color in ancient architecture, from antiquity to late modernity, as well as an increase in the current research and the analytical and stratigraphic possibilities, which are extremely helpful in discovering the past. On the other hand, there is the fear of color, which is now perceived as out of date and unfashionable in the world of minimalism and transparency. Today, we are faced with serious decisions related to the restoration, conservation and revalorization requirements of architecture. Unfortunately, original color has turned out to be an often elusive feature of buildings that disappears over many years, or even centuries, of use. Knowledge about it is necessary in order to take appropriate actions related to the protection of created architecture, both in the distant past and in the 20th century. In the proposed Special Issue of "Arts", we are seeking articles that will reveal the richness of colors in architecture over the centuries, and show the possibilities of using the latest knowledge in a non-invasive way, in line with the contemporary conservation doctrine and respect for authenticity. We would be grateful for articles that not only discuss the results of research conducted in historical buildings, but also theories about colors in architecture and their application in practice.

Prof. Dr. Jadwiga Urbanik
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Tomaszewicz
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Chorowska
Prof. Dr. Vladimir Slapeta
Guest Editors

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