The Color in Structures and Enclosures: Applications in Contemporary Latin American Housing
Although the use of color can be employed to hide or disguise a specific characteristic, it can also be used to highlight them. Within the Latin American territory, we can observe that shades of red, green, and blue have predominated in residential architecture, aiming to integrate a language appropriate to the context in which it is implemented.
Applying color to structures and enclosures can enhance the aesthetics of their interior or exterior spaces. This application can be linked to technologies, construction methods, the surrounding landscape, and local materials, among other factors. By emphasizing specific structural elements, distinguishing spatial areas, or framing visuals and architectural features, the use of color offers a multitude of possibilities that encompass contrasting tones, complementary colors, as well as neutral or camouflaged shades in combination with other materials.
Below, we present a selection of residential projects in Latin America, including houses and apartments that use color both in their structures and in their interior and/or exterior carpentry, giving character to their spaces for various purposes.
Related Article
How to Use Color to Accentuate Architectural Designs
Structures
Fonrouge Residence / Fabrizio Pugliese
Ghibli House / Nuevo Arquitetura
Itatiba House / 24 7 Arquitetura
Gama House / Studio ArquitetUras
Lapinha Studio / plano livre
ER House / Jobim Carlevaro Arquitetos
Elita House / Yemail Arquitectura
Cascada House / Ana Nuño de Buen + Luis Young
Enclosures
H – House Saul / Parada Cantilo Estudio
MOO House / Agustín Aguirre + FRAM arquitectos
House n.03 / Mana arquitetura
Casa Xilo / Estúdio Minke
Camburí House / Samir Riman – Arquitetura
Free House / Chip Studio
San Ignacio House / Amarillo Amate Arquitectura
Casa Georgina / Departamento del Distrito
House in Xalapa / Lopez Gonzalez Studio
Nakasone House / Escobedo Soliz
This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: Color in Architecture presented by Sto.
Material, texture, sheen, and color are inseparable – the identity of a building becomes clear in an Architect’s choices of how these come together. Considering the lifecycle of a building from design, occupation, and legacy, we understand that achieving the right expression is tantamount to the success of a building. Sto’s innovative materials and data-driven color system complement design ambitions with technical knowledge and rigorous testing, to offer possibilities, accuracy, and longevity when Building in Color.
Produced by Sto, the short documentary ‘Building in Colour’ is a cinematic exploration into the role of materials and color in architecture, taking the work of Stirling Prize-winning architect Michael Wilford CBE (1938 – 2023) as its starting point.
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