40 336 Colour Exercises (Spring 2027)

This course is based on practical, analogue work with colour. During the semester we will approach colour in different ways, and the students will become familiar with colour as an architectonic means, in interiors as well as exteriors. The purpose of the course is to enable students to work with colour in their future architecture projects.

During the course each student will create their own colour compendium – a booklet comprising of colour exercises. The compendium will consist of 10 to 12 exercises, mostly individual work but also some collaborations.

Through the exercises, students will develop their own colour palettes and investigate how colours influence, and are experienced in, different spaces. We will use paint mediums like watercolour and gouache. We will study colour through collage and Josef Albers´ ideas of colour relativity. We will become acquainted with architects and artists who use colour integrally in their practice, as well as some colour theories, colour terms and colour systems (e.g. Goethe, Itten, NSC). We will visit a few exhibitions/sites in Oslo. It is expected that the students contribute actively and are present.

At the conclusion of the course the student should be able to:

• Articulate and reflect critically on colour as a spatial means, both in interiors as well as exteriors.
• Analyse how colour influence space and the perception of built structures.
• Explain, discuss and communicate colour theories and colour systems (Itten, Goethe, NCS e.g.), including relevant colour terms.
• Make informed colour choices and be able to justify them objectively.
• Mix colours precisely and be able to explain the components of a colour (subtractive colour mixing).
• Present the differences between perceived and nominal colour.
• Communicate which parameters affect hue and value relative to their context (Albers)

The students will get a set of short, intensive exercises dealing with colour and space, and build a compendium consisting of their experiences and takes on the various exercises.

The course will consist of both individual work and collaboration, as well as presentations and group discussions.

The school support some of the costs. The students will need to buy materials (water colour paper, brushes, paint etc).

Physical attendance at lectures, reviews, supervision sessions, discussions, and other educational activities is expected and necessary in order to achieve the learning outcomes

Assessment method: Portfolio

Grouping: Individual and group work in combination

Grading scale: Pass/fail

order to be assessed in this course, the student must have completed the following activities and assignments:

The students will be given between 10-12 exercises,and must have submitted at least 80% of them to be assessed in this course. The students will be evaluated on the quality of their compendium, reviewed by an external sensor at the end of the semester.