Colour associated thermal impacts: manifestation and contributing factors with reference to red and blue

Abstract

Theory of colour-a long-established tradition of artists-differentiates between the impacts of warm and cool colours respectfully on human beings. The lack of scientific and statistically substantiated knowledge on aforesaid colour associated thermal perception (CTP) deems to hinder its optimum integration in creating responsive built environments. This investigation seeks scientific explanation on manifestation and contributing factors of CTP with reference to a warm colour (red-RTP) and a cool colour (blue-BTP). The hypothesised potentials of CTP to manifest as a psychological response, a biological response, a factor altering core body temperature or as an actual thermal sensation caused via the human skin (due to heat radiation emitted by coloured surfaces) were tested. A crossover experiment was executed with a sample of healthy male undergraduates (n=111) selected via stratified simple random sampling (age 19-30), under controlled laboratory conditions. Substantiating colour theory, subjects demonstrated a propensity to perceive red as warm/hot (64.2%) and blue as cool/cold (59.3%). As revealed by logistic regression, CTP neither manifests due to a fluctuation in core body temperature nor as an actual thermal sensation. It is a psychological response characterised by common as well as colour-specific factors. Accordingly, thermal impacts of colour could be integrated in indoor environments to psychologically manipulate the perceived thermal environment against the real thermal condition to achieve the desirable thermal milieu. This novel knowledge may provide insights for Architects, interior designers, relevant authorities and organisations to develop strategies incorporating thermal impacts of colour to achieve low-energy design. Introduction Focusing on the imperative role of colour in creating environments responsive for human behaviour, the current study accentuates that a colour scheme, while being pleasing aesthetically, should aptly contribute to the appropriate milieu corresponding to the feelings, emotions, expressions and behavioral patterns associated with the intended activities of any built space. The human responses to colour which could be integrated in creating responsive environments are threefold.