Color Ground
The colors we clothe our buildings in, and the materials we use to build them can have a significant effect on how solid, safe, and grounded they appear. And, I might add, in addition to paint color, let’s not forget that the wood, brick, stone, concrete, metal and other natural and industrial materials we build with, have color too. Add to this the by turns rapturous, earthy, luminous, bold, sublime, and subtle colors of nature, and you have a complex picture of the elements that go into making where we live, work and play picture perfect..or not.
In general, darker, richer, deeper, more saturated, brighter, warmer and more intense colors appear heavier, and thus may seem to “pull downward” towards the, in most cases, ground! Placing them above a lighter, airier, softer, cooler, paler, duller, less saturated colors may give the impression of pressing or pushing down upon something less substantial, creating a sense of pressure, ungroundedness, or even danger. Who wants to feel like the heavier-looking second story might come crashing down through its weaker-looking support, or foundation?
The building above is grounded not only by its strong, dark burgundy red garage door, but also by the heavy foliage and hedge shrubbery which nearly obscures its foundation (the lower part of the structure upon which the rest of the building rests). The cream-colored concrete, red roof tile and strongly patterned brick provide contrast and a variety of color and materials, but, particularly because of the grounding effect of the dark green, highly textural foliage, do not seem too heavy for the foundation to bear.
The UMG (Universal Music Group) office building in Santa Monica, CA is grounded by a strong, deep, earthy brick-red, which seems to support the pale pink upper above, though the entire structure is punctuated by a multitude of windows. Palms, parkway and other landscaping in front also support this grounded effect.
A similar outcome is achieved by juxtaposing a more saturated hue of reddish pink stucco foundation with the softer and paler ocher-colored wood siding above. Lush vegetation sporting luxuriant red and pink flowers trailing over a natural wood fence add to its heavier, grounding effect
These interior gymnasium walls are grounded by the deep blue protective covering at their base. Given the wild shapes and over-sized lines, shapes and patterns used in the room’s design, the consistency and “reliability” of the blue may also serve to keep young athletes players focused and grounded as they play.
Here is the outside of the same building, swathed in corrugated stripes. Notice that the stripe closest to the ground is darker blue, and the one at the top, lighter.
This fun and fascinating building combines all manner of materials, from wood siding, to brick, to concrete,
and even verdigris decorative details above the door. The mass of flowering vegetation in front, while nearly obscuring parts of the facade, add to the fancy of the place, while connecting it to the earth, the ground. In moody weather, the mix of weathered materials and enveloping foliage may lend an air of mystery and perhaps even magic to the place.
Here, an artist’s self-styled, whimsical touch creates grounding through the application of bright color, repeated shapes, and sense of a garden planted at the base of the house. The playful, optimistic feeling is further enhanced by the use of complementary colors yellow and purple.
The largest sphere in this extraordinary mural seems to be sitting right on the sidewalk! It could be coming right out at us, the viewer, but at least the building doesn’t look like it is about to leave the ground! The tiled trompe l’oeil technique is used to great visual and grounding, effect here.
When we walk past this extraordinary building in LA’s Venice Canal District, our eye is drawn past the foliage, across the manicured back yard, and over the amazing sunken pool under the blue-framed overhang, through the space between the orange posts, to the electric apple green accent wall behind them. Brighter, more vibrant, and more saturated than the natural greens , and applied blue and orange surrounding it, this wall looks strong enough to carry this unusual structure’s visual weight.
This wild building on Wilshire in Santa Monica is one of my favorites. An eclectic mix of materials, hues and shapes, it seems break all the “rules”, yet somehow, it works! This could be due to a counteracting balancing effect of the mix of elements. The undulating curve of the upper wood facade/detail is counterbalanced by the strong concrete support/column next to it, even though the wood is a strong color, and an even stronger visual element. Our eye is drawn upward from the glass, and warm blue and green (reflecting sea, sky and grass?) colors behind it to that grand sweep of wood,
which is also supported by the metal detail/support that follows its shape and movement below. The whole building feels like a
huge kinetic wave, appropriate architecture for a beach town on the edge of the Pacific. The foliage, and its concrete base below also add grounding. Amazing! Fidelity, you got it going on, architecturally!
The “Bagel Nosh” in Santa Monica, hosts a marvelous display of mouth-watering treats. Where does our eye go right to here? No, there isn’t a spotlight on the center of the case. That’s just the natural color of these bright golden-yellow jalapeno-flavored bagels. The strong, rich, saturated color just grabs our attention, and holds it there…it’s up to you to decide whether the taste of these treats warrants their attention-grabbing status.
We walk upon the ground, perhaps that is why our shoes are often brown and black…colors of the earth. We usually want to feel grounded when we tread upon the earth, a firm foundation, a solid base. But, maybe not all the time. Perhaps sometimes we want to whirl, twirl, leap, float, and feel “ten feet off the ground”. Don’t we long to take risks, to take flight, as much as we long to be safe, secure, and grounded? When you want to feel fun, fantastical, floating, and fabulous, try on a glittery, glowing, or gossamer pair of footwear, and see if it helps your grounded spirit to soar!
What buildings, architecture, food or footwear have YOU experienced lately that feel grounded or the opposite?
If you feel so inclined, please share about them with us here.
We love to hear from You.
Remember, we are all trying to ground ourselves yet take flight within this thing called Life, together.
Stay grounded, but don’t be afraid to fly!
Alleyways across the board in Santa Monica yield moments of contemplation and surprise, like this wall crawling with red blooms, reminding me for all the world, of Southern France.
Fantastical decorative gates are another Los Angeles hallmark, and Santa Monica is no exception.Here an image that has become “au courrant” among the holistic set.
Glass bricks, metal and stone flanked by green combine to elegant effect in this vertical structure.
I wondered if this brilliant yellow and white building was live work space.
It looked to be designed with a nautical feel, appropriate to its location in the beach town of Santa Monica.
Variety is the spice of life, and here in Santa Monica, architectural styles run the gamut. Here we have a study in yellows: bright yellow on the modern, multi-unit building, and earthy ochre yellow on the small neighboring house.
Voila, a beautiful ad hoc complimentary set up! Starring the complimentary pair of purple and yellow hues, opposite each other on the color wheel.
Finally, another pastoral scene that one sees often in Santa Monica..an outdoor dining set up, in an enclosed area that is right off the street! Santa Monicans, and Angelenos in general love themselves some hedges, fences, plants and gates to create privacy, but true to theatrical form, often right off the busy sidewalks outside their homes! What else would you expect in this glowing and glittering home to the entertainment industry?
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