Color characteristics of the natural environment: a case study

Color is an element of the natural environment that contributes to the identity of places. Different regions exhibit different colors according to their unique physiographic characteristics, such as vegetation, topography, climate, and soils. When designing places, it is important to consider the characteristic colors of the larger natural context because the perception of color is affected by the colors surrounding (Chevreul, 1839), and humans have a psychological need to orient and identify with the environment or, in short, experience the environment as meaningful (Norburg-Schulz, 1980). The purpose of this study is to describe the existing natural color characteristics of a place in order to develop a better understanding of regional color characteristics, and to suggest ways that this information could be used by designers to create meaningful places. Catawba Valley, in Montgomery County, Virginia, was the site from which views were selected for study. Colors were sampled from these views three times a day, once a week between July 1991 and July 1992. Data was analyzed to determine the occurrence, distribution, and dominance of hue, value, and chroma in each view. Conclusions were drawn regarding: which physical characteristics of the landscape affect color characteristics; considerations in predicting the color characteristics of a place; and how the colors in each view are related according to color harmony theory. This study ends with a demonstration of how the color characteristics of a place can be considered in designing with color.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Landscape Architecture

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Landscape Architecture

Department dc:contributor.department

Landscape Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Riley, Sarah Duncan

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-09192009-040528

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44876