Written by: Saram Maqbool
Posted on: September 01, 2023 | 
| 中文
A typical Hutong alleyway in grey with red doors
There's no question that color has helped us define ourselves for millennia. The colors we choose to surround ourselves with are representative of our own characteristics and personalities, giving things a unique flair that's associated most with their primary users. So, why is it that we see so little color in our buildings?
One reason, in my opinion, is the adoption of modern architecture. When it first came around, among its goals was to showcase building materials in their raw form. Steel columns were suddenly exposed, concrete was left bare on facades, and flat glazing took over the intricacy and thought behind the window frames of yesteryears. That's not to say that architects didn't break away from this new norm, though. Names like Luis Barragan, Micheal Graves, and Ricardo Bofill stand out as those brave enough to slather their designs with colors in the most tasteful ways possible. But the overall tendency to rely only on greys and whites, with the introduction of some wood every now and then, is far different from what came before it.
The Great Wall of China
While some postmodern architects use colors for their visual effect, different hues were used for various symbolic purposes in the past. China is one country, for example, that has seen its fair share of color in architecture. The various hues in Beijing's architecture weren't just for show either. Each had its own significance tied to the culture and traditions of the place. To this day, Beijing's 5 most prominent colors red, yellow, blue, white, and grey are used in festivals and holidays. But they were once a notable part of the city’s architecture too. Even though based on modern color theory, at least, red, yellow, and blue would be associated with love and danger, happiness and peace respectively, they meant very different things in ancient China’s architecture.
An ornate roof in the Forbidden City
Red, often referred to as the color of prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture, dominates Beijing's ancient architectural landscape. That's why it's seen so much in multiple aspects of Chinese culture, like weddings, on New Year and other occasions. In terms of architecture, The Forbidden City, the heart of the city, is a prime example. With its intricate red and gold façade, this imperial palace complex exudes grandeur and power. Red gates, walls and roofs can be spotted throughout the city, symbolizing China's historical eminence and the dynasty's might.
The Forbidden City in Beijing
Yellow, the color traditionally reserved for the emperor, also holds a special place in Beijing's architecture. It symbolizes the supreme power of the ruling dynasties and was decreed as exclusively for use by rulers, for temples and tombs. Yellow is associated with the earth and depicts the very base on which Chinese antiquity stands. The mythical forefather of the nation is known as the Yellow Emperor, which is very telling of the color's significance. Many buildings of ancient China feature yellow: the Ming Dynasty’s masterpiece Temple of Heaven, with its iconic roofs adorned with intricate yellow tiles, being one example. Such buildings are a testament to the emperor's connection with heaven, and the importance of harmonizing with the cosmos.
Luis Barragan house in Mexico City
Speaking of the heavens, blue was mostly associated with divine blessings. It could be seen in a number of roofs across the city, adorning the colorful facades and metaphorically connecting them to the powers and good fortune above. The cobalt tiles laid on top of the Temple of Heaven are a great example of this. The Temple originally had green rooftops, but this was changed in the 18th century by order of the emperor. Today, a number of cobalt roofs can be seen dotted across Beijing, often on top of red walls.
We're taught in architecture and design schools to use colors sparingly, as too many can become overwhelming. As if in agreement with this sentiment, the three primary colors of Beijing were balanced with a neutral base of white. This wasn't seen much in buildings, but in city walls and other structures. White represents purity, simplicity and elegance in Beijing's architecture. The Great Wall, which winds its way through the countryside north of the city, features white stone walls that blend harmoniously into the natural landscape. Additionally, the elegant White Dagoba in Beihai Park stands as a serene monument against a backdrop of trees and water, an effective example of the inherent beauty of simplicity. Grey, while understated, represents continuity and timelessness. The ancient hutongs, narrow alleyways lined with grey brick houses, evoke a sense of history and community. These winding alleys preserve the essence of old Beijing and serve as a testament to the city's enduring traditions and culture.
White Pagoda in Beihai Park
While it may be impractical or frowned upon to use color in our skylines today, Beijing's ancient architecture shows just how powerful different hues can be. When they represent something that people relate to and recognize, colors become a powerful visual tool for social messaging, cultural uplift and preservation of tangible and perceived heritage. Who knows though, perhaps a thousand years from now, someone might write an article about the lack of color in the 21st century, and what it meant for our present cultures. But the bottom line is that using at least some color won't hurt anyone and could add some much-needed character to our buildings, even if one chooses to use all three primary colors along with white and grey like Gerrit Rietveld did in the infamous Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht back in 1924, a building that shows how to use multiple colors in a way that becomes quite iconic as time goes on.
Rietveld Schroder House in Utrecht
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