Colour Turn

On the need for spatial component in describing colour vision deficiency

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Colour vision deficiency (CVD) is traditionally described using colorimetric models that treat colour perception as a pointwise phenomenon. While this approach has been essential for defining diagnostic methods and colour vision simulators, it does not account for the spatial mechanisms through which the visual system interprets colour. These mechanisms, acting mainly at cortical levels, play a central role in how colours are perceived. However, studies investigating their role in colour-deficient observers are still limited and fragmented. This paper reviews and discusses research that introduces spatial processing into the study of CVD. The results consistently show that small contextual variations can significantly affect colour discrimination in colour-deficient observers. We argue that colour vision, both normal and deficient, cannot be fully described through pointwise colorimetric principles alone. To achieve a realistic understanding of colour perception, diagnostic tools and simulators must include the spatial mechanism of vision.

Keywords: colour deficiency, colour blindness, colour in context, spatial processing in vision

Material and Immaterial Colours in Interaction: Josef Albers’ Murals ‘Homages to the Square’ at the Rochester Institute of Technology

Juan Serra, Michael Murdoch — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When a group of uniform colours interact on a flat surface, they can be interpreted as being material or immaterial finishings, opaque or transparent, and having different spatial positions. These phenomena were experienced in Josef Albers’ artwork, particularly in his Homage to the Square series, with over 2,000 paintings, prints and other works experimenting with colour interactions. At the Rochester Institute of Technology campus, Albers created one of his rare large-scale Homage to the Square pieces, titled Growth, comprising two opposing murals in the lobby of the administration hall. We developed a detailed study of this artwork, and based on archival research and on-site observations, interpreted how its geometric composition and colour interactions create material and immaterial effects, making possible different spatial layering interpretations. Albers' paired set, Growth, acts as an abstract trompe l’œil and successfully demonstrates that colour depth perception is contextual rather than absolute.

Keywords: architecture, colour, Josef Albers, square, space, layer, material, immaterial, transparency

Dust atmospheres: Perceptions shaping spatiality

Andreas Rauh — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This essay examines the aesthetic and phenomenological dimensions of dust, atmosphere and landscape, focusing on their interrelationships with spatiality and colour. Drawing on phenomenological methods, particularly those of Gernot Böhme, the study examines how dust functions as both a disruptive material and a prerequisite for atmospheric phenomena. Using historical examples, artistic practices, and theoretical considerations, the essay demonstrates how dust shapes perception, mood, and the experience of the environment. The discussion integrates insights from New Materialism and highlights the role of dust as an aesthetic medium and its ability to connect physical and emotional registers. Ultimately, the essay argues that dust is not only a sign of decay, but a formative element in the creation of atmospheric spaces.

Keywords: dust, atmosphere, phenomenology, felt-body (leib), landscape

The complexity of the creative process in urban colour design

Anamaria Rezende — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article presents the development of an urban colour design intervention for the Jardim Ruyce Staircase in Diadema, Brazil, examining how chromatic structuring reorganizes spatial perception and activates the sensory, material, and social layers of the urban environment. The methodological process combined photographic surveys, analysis of existing material conditions, colour palette extraction, chromatic synthesis, 3D modelling, and augmented reality prototyping, revealing a multispheric design field in which each design decision affects the overall configuration. The findings indicate that chromatic interventions grounded in the site’s existing layers can clarify continuities, increase spatial legibility, and strengthen local identity and a sense of belonging. In this context, colour does not operate as an isolated element but functions as a mediating component that articulates relationships between the body, space, atmosphere, and memory. Ultimately, the study suggests that urban colour design can support more situated and sensitive approaches to the transformation of contemporary public spaces.

Keywords: urban colour design, spatiality and atmosphere, chromatic design process, colour narratives, augmented reality in urban design

Colour and spatialities: A literature review

Imène Slama — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper focuses on the relationship between spatialities and colour. It explores the concepts, methods and tools that can be employed to study this correlation. Further, it discusses how these concepts, methods and tools redefine the integration of colour as a spatial mediator through its materiality, immateriality, and ambient dimensions. The aim of this paper is to establish a theoretical framework relating to the theme of colour and spatialities, and to evaluate its relevance. The methodology is based on a literature review of research published within the last ten years by the International Colour Association (AIC) and the Color Culture and Science Journal (CCSJ). Criteria were defined to classify the literature review into three main topics: materialities, immaterialities, and ambient spaces. The diversity and complexity of the concepts, methods and tools presented in scientific papers support the idea that colour goes far beyond its aesthetic function to play significant emotional, social and ambient roles.

Keywords: spatialities, colour, materialities, immaterialities, ambiances, research, methodology, design, architecture, urbanism