The winner of the World Architecture Festival´s Prize for innovative use of colour on the exterior, designed by CRAB Studio, is a great example, why architecture is worth being photographed and written about. The 5 photographs should hint at the complexity of an architects job to take into consideration every aspect of the world known to us. Just as a vast digital file is essentially made up of 0´s and 1´s, cleverly arranged and grouped, they form a larger body of work that then can be grasped and used, or simply enjoyed by everyone.
The RGBs. Or: "Winning (with) The Primaries".
The successful arrangement of themes, in any area of art and science, culminates in an object very cohesive even to the untrained eye. Oftentimes though, the impression carried away by the viewer may be a rather impressionistic one. Associations may be triggered by the shapes read. But sentences are rarely built. Should the picture not tell the whole story by itself. Well, it can. But words are a great tool to point out the significance, if there is any, of what is seen. Writing about a picture sharpens the eye of the photographer and influences the viewers perception. Even the inclusion of simple stats like a date fundamentally add to and can change the viewing experience. It can be both an analysis of an existing work as well as a guideline for a future series. The decoding of a subject in another form can be telling. Narration, in this case, gets rid of the guesswork and lets outsiders in on the deal. In architectural photography, text and visuals are a most essential coupling. It defines and clarifies and develops the perception of our built environment. Text therefore is nice and forthcoming, but requires research and responsibility. Aspects that are best provided by the building itself.
A title will make a great start (look above). And then (in this case) comes...
Red.
Ever seen a building that seems to be made entirely of pure colour pigment? Most likely not. But the Winner of the "Innovative Use of Colour on Exteriors" Prize at the 2014 World Architecture Awards, CRAB Studios Department of Law and Central Administration at the Vienna University of Economics, seems to pull of just that. With pure concrete being revealed in places, the bold and refreshing colour scheme continues throughout the entire buildings interior as well. There, You will also find entire sections of vibrant...
Blue and Green.
Those two are found on the outside as well. But there, blue is not actively offered by the building itself but instead by the sky, which in turn is subtly reflected by the windows.
And the green, originally supposed to grow from the roof, is now coming from the ground as plants.
The clearly defined but gradual colour change on the exterior, as well as the provocative pairing of materials are a clear hint at the goings-on inside. Themes are layered, grouped, sequenced, enveloped, spread. Something is always in between something, around or inside it. Clearly defined, but intertwined and connected. The arrangement provides a structure for the body of people and knowledge to flow and function.
Thinking of an organism? Naturally. Structures and processes are the same everywhere. Easily spotted in hindsight, always tough to construct deliberately. Even the process of ageing has been accounted for. The buildings skin, the untreated timber, will weather down. But the vibrant colour underneath will shine through. The most important lesson at this Faculty may actually be taught by the building itself.