Ángela García Codoñer

Putting the Colour Back into the Rua Junqueira in Lisbon

The aim of the present article is to explain the objectives, methodology and approval of a coordinated European Research Project leaded by the “Territory, Architectural and Design Research Centre” (CITAD) of the “Minerva Foundation, Culture, Education and Scientific Research” (FMCEIC) in Lisbon, together with the “Grupo de Investigacion del Color” (GIC) del Instituto Universitario de Restauracionm del Patrimonio (IRP). This project, entitled “Methodology for the development of a Color Plan in a Urban Environment” was founded by the “Technology and Science Foundation” (FCT). This project has lasted for three years and has been carried out by a multidisciplinary team of lecturers, doctors and professionals specialized in Colour in Architectural Heritage.

Experimentation with Colour in Architectural Spaces

Even if the false myth of white in modernity is already over, we have a chromatic tradition to some extent broken and which needs to be rebuilt, or better re-experienced. In the Master’s subject “Color and Design of Spaces”, a teaching is developed seeking for a critical understanding of our visual culture and a creative experimentation with colour in architecture. We analyze in depth the strategic ability of colour to support a particular architectural intention together with its cultural and semantic connotations. Secondly, we experience the chromatic possibilities rendered by new building materials, lighting technologies and computer design software.