"Colour contributes towards enriching the sensitivity, the poetic resonance and harmony of architecture. Colour means a considerable extension of the functional precision of architecture towards psychological and human aspects", so begins colour designer Fritz Fuchs a letter to Stuttgart architect Günter Behnisch, as reproduced in Behnisch & Partner's 1993 book "Über das Farbliche / On Colour"
Produced in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name "Über das Farbliche / On Colour" contains contributions from seven architects and designers on the role, importance, function and dangers of colour in architecture - and is one of the books featured in the forthcoming Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft Cologne's "Ex Libris" evening.
For all unfamiliar with the Ex Libris concept, the Ungers Archiv is home to one of the largest private collection of architectural books; and for the Ex Libris events two architecture professionals are each invited to select one book from the collection and present it to the public.
What we really like about Ex Libris - apart from the fact it helps keep the written word, and so by extension the Ungers Collection, contemporary and relevant - is that rather than the normal situation today where idiots like us discuss object X, building Y or exhibition Z, in the Ex Libris events you have real experts explaining in detail what they like and/or dislike about the position taken by another expert.
Which is a rare joy.
On November 26th Peter Cachola Schmal, Director of the German Architecture Museum, Frankfurt will present his views on the aforementioned "Über das Farbliche / On Colour". And hopefully on Fritz Fuchs' position.
In the second half of the evening Berlin based architect and Harvard University Guest Professor Louisa Hutton will present "The Projective Cast. Architecture and ITS Three Geometries" by Robin Evans, in which the author explores the multi-faceted relationship between geometry and architecture.
Ex Libris with Louisa Hutton and Peter Cachola Schmal takes place at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft, Belvederestrasse 60, 50933 Cologne on Tuesday November 26th.
Full details can be found at www.ungersarchiv.de
