Two recently published books on color in architecture have emerged almost simultaneously, offering remarkably different yet complementary approaches to this fascinating subject. "Colors" by the Graz-based collective Diskursiv and "The Color Black: Antinomies of a Color in Architecture and Art" edited by Mohsen Mostafavi present contrasting methodologies that together provide a comprehensive exploration of color's role in architectural design.
The visual contrast between these volumes is immediately apparent and symbolically meaningful. "Colors" presents itself as a compact, brick-like publication with a pristine white softcover featuring only the embossed word "Colors" on its front. In stark contrast, "The Color Black" adopts a classic handbook format with a matte black hardcover, incorporating a slightly glossy square reminiscent of Malevich's work, within which the title appears in dark gray.
"Colors" represents the work of Diskursiv, an association for architectural research based in Graz. Their approach to color in architecture employs a diverse, multi-voiced strategy featuring twenty contributions that could hardly be more varied in their perspectives. Alex Lehnerer examines a Clint Eastwood film where Wild West townspeople paint their community red in a futile attempt to protect themselves from bandit attacks. Maria Montresor analyzes the color schemes of medieval sacred buildings in Florence and Rome, while Rafał Śliwa explores whether spaces can avoid color altogether, examining works by Sigurd Lewerentz and Christian Kerez.
The publication's eclectic nature extends to Francesco Caneschi's investigation of how intensive colors and graphics mark urban spaces, and Julian Müller's tour through the vibrant film environments created by production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti for movies including "American Gigolo" (1980). The result is as colorful and dynamic as it sounds, with loosely written texts of refreshing brevity, though some topics arguably deserve more extensive treatment. This is particularly true for the interviews with Max Otto Zitzelsberger and Oda Pälmke, which feel somewhat compressed given their potential depth.
"The Color Black" takes a markedly different approach, with editor Mohsen Mostafavi pursuing his subject with significantly greater intensity. Where "Colors" casually surfs across surface topics, "The Color Black" immediately plunges into the dark depths of its theme. Mostafavi explains that black has long fascinated him, but the book's concept crystallized through conversations with Swiss architect Peter Märkli, who recommended Max Raphael's essay "The Color Black: On the Material Constitution of Form" by the German art critic and committed Marxist (1889-1952).
The laborious process of translating and reading Raphael's thoughts revealed the full fascination of the subject to Mostafavi. The resulting publication consists of three distinct parts. The first features Mostafavi's own highly readable essay tracing black through art and then architecture. Like a spider on speed, Mostafavi rapidly weaves an increasingly dense web connecting Malevich to Rothko, Judd to Pollock, Mies to Märkli, and Celsing and Ferriss to Krischanitz and Fujimori. Rather than providing a chronological overview or scientifically founded survey claiming completeness, the focus remains on associations and connections.
The second section presents Raphael's essay, now officially available in English for the first time. Mostafavi's formulations clearly show Raphael's stylistic influence, as the latter races through epochs and styles at similar pace, constantly seeking the next dark surface. The journey moves from Rembrandt to Ghirlandaio, from Frans Hals to Hans Memling, exploring black as background or foreground, as clothing color, as a hue of social representation, and as dark figures against dark grounds. This creates a sometimes intoxicating whirlwind that demonstrates the infinite richness of the subject matter.
The book concludes with two concentrated conversations in which Mostafavi exchanges insights with Märkli and conceptual artist Theaster Gates about their respective decades-long engagement with black. These casual conversations round out the publication while serving as a bridge to the colorfully shimmering "Colors" with its multitude of voices, participants, and formats.
Both publications offer valuable perspectives on color in architecture, whether considered individually or as a wonderfully complementary black-and-white pairing. "The Color Black: Antinomies of a Color in Architecture and Art" is published by Mack Books in London, featuring 156 pages in hardcover format for 45 euros. "Diskursiv No. 2: Colors" is published by Jovis in Berlin, containing 384 pages available as a paperback for 28 euros or as an e-book for the same price.
