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The Color of Cities: An International Perspective [Hardcover]

Lois Swirnoff (Author)

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Lois Swirnoff
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Review

THE COLOR OF CITIES: An International Perspective by Lois Swirnoff

"Reviewed by Charles Redmon, FAIA, a principal of Cambridge Seven Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a former president of the Boston Society of Architects

Excerpts from review:

What an original and fascinating way to look at city form and character: to dissect the built environment through the lens of color and light. Linking the perception of color to the incidence of light, Lois Swirnoff (who is also a brilliant photographer) takes us on a richly illustrated journey to many of the major urban centers of the Northern Hemisphere. Her thesis is that the color or urban environments is directly linked to the differing angle at which the sun's rays hit the earth's surface. The steeper the angle (closest to the equator), the more intense the use of bright, saturated colors reflecting this brilliant light; and the shallower the angle, the greater the prevelant use of softer, more subtle colors.

The book is organized as a series of written and photographic essays. These anecdotal travelogues tour different latitudes, focusing upon the impact of location, light, and shadow, and are coupled with descriptions of the elements of streetscape, facades, and building materials. When the text and images are tightly interlocked and developed, the book's thesis is clearly and forcefully presented. The author's description of how the colors of natural materials (such as in the temple at Segesta in Sicily) change from light to shade, transforming into complementary hues through the seasons and times of day, richly illustrates her message. And her description of the change in the color of the ocean through the seasons andwith proximity to the earth's equator also conveys a powerful message about the angle-of-light's impact upon regional colors.

...Lois Swirnoff undertook a difficult theis, linking solar positioning to urban colors. At the same time she rightfully discusses all the other factors that shape the character, form, and color of urban places: city plan and design; vernacular expressions; local traditions; building materials; natural setting; growth and change; people and personalities; and cultural heritage. In the final analysis, it is really this amalgam of influences that shapes and forms urban places. But looking at all these factors through her colored looking glass is certainly worth the journey.

Product Description

-- A unique color dictionary of international urban design, this is a phenomenal photographic reference documenting the distinctive color characteristics of cities throughout the world
-- Shows how cultural color preferences are exhibited in buildings, parks, and other public spaces
-- Fully illustrated with beautiful original color photographs from the author and other noted architectural photographers
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Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
To its inhabitants the modern city is a mere backdrop, a neutral stage to the theater of daily activities. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Amazon.com:  3 reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
A visual, historical and sociological treat! 20 Sep 2000
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The is a somewhat remarkable book, worth the high price tag. Swirnoff tackles an unique issue: the role of color/light in forming a particular city's identity. She cites (and sites) examples from New York to Santa Fe to Venice to Mexico to Paris to the Caribbean to Stockholm to Japan and many others, too. The book has many photo examples, both black-and-white and color, as well as quite thought provoking written discussion.This is a much-needed book, focusing on an important issue of local identity at a time when globalization challenges the specifics of space and place. The book would appeal to travellers, visual artists, architects, sociologists, urban planners and many others.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The Color of Cities 13 Feb 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a colorist for the last twenty years, specializing in exterior building color I was sorely disappointed to read this book. Basically everything she had to say of import could have be said in an essay. The author has a wonderful vocabulary but after wading through all the prose one finds there is liitle said that isn't entirely obvious. I was left with the impression that this book was concieved as a great excuse to travel to the world's really wonderful places. You will note that she not traveled to Lubbock or Erzerum.
2 of 11 people found the following review helpful
The Color of Cities 13 Feb 2001
By A Customer - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a colorist for the last twenty years, specializing in exterior building color I was sorely disappointed to read this book. Basically every she had to say of import could have be said in an essay. The author has a wonderful vocabulary but after wading through all the prose one finds there is liitle said that isn't entirely obvious. I was left with the impression that this book was concieved as a great excuse to travel to the worlds really wonderful places. One is aware that she not traveled to Lubbock or Erzerum.

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