Introduction
Color has magical ways of affecting people’s moods and emotions. Some colors are associated with violence and restlessness, while others are associated with a relaxed mood and composure. Colors like red, orange and yellow are found in the red area of the spectrum. These colors are associated with warmness and hence are called warm colors. On the other hand, colors on the blue side of the prism cause a calm atmosphere, and they include blue, purple, and green[1]. This essay focuses on different reading areas, noting the particular features associated with their physical arrangement and the thematic colors. I chose this environment because it is made of colors that are easy to relate to and also exhibits a variety of arrangements that have different meanings. My first instincts told me that the space should feel so calm and soothing to the visitor. The essay argues that the thematic colors of white and blue are used to cause calmness for people reading in the areas.
Visual Description
Sector-specific
In the pictures above, it can be seen that three different reading areas exhibit different kinds of arrangement, but one dominant color persists. The first picture, Atlantis Books, Santorini, is a spectacular literary haven patched in the intestine of a whitewashed building in the tiny village of Oia, Santorini Island of Greece. The reading area is tucked right into the basement, arranged in the east-west progression to show the scintillating blue Aegean Sea, overlooking the volcanic mountains just a few yards yonder. The second picture is Librairie La Fontaine, Lausanne, Switzerland. It is an open learning center guaranteed by the dominant white color theme and ample space for easier traffic flow and the least disruption. The bookshelves are elliptical in shape to ensure easier browsing by those looking for particular books. The third reading area is taken from Daunt Books, London, a gothic architecture characterized by soaring skylights, stained glass windows, and oak balconies.
From the look of the arrangement, these environments are appropriate for reading and meals. The patio in the basement of the depressed floor of Atlantis Books reveals that it can accommodate as many as five people. These people could be reading as they have a small discussion or lunch. However, the open space that exposes the visitors to the stunning caldera suggests that this area is suitable for pastime activities other than just reading. The open space provides room for meditation as one can easily gaze at the empty space in between. The Librairie La Fontaine, on the other hand, is outrightly a reading environment as defined by its arrangement of books and the elliptical shelves in the space. The space is expansive enough to allow for smooth movement as one goes through the shelves, while the elliptical shelves guarantee a wider visual field for people browsing books from one corner to the other. The whitewashed walls guarantee calmness as one reads through the materials since calmness is one ideal requirement for a reading environment. Finally, Daunt Books shows an antique reading area whose architecture veers off the modern arrangement, given its stained glasses. However, the white skylights on the ceiling provide an ideal environment for reading since white is associated with solitude. So, generally, the people using the environment are scholars and book lovers who want tranquility while doing their research.
Personally, when I am bored, I walk to an empty space where I can view the sky properly or near a water body and meditate a bit about my life. This way, I leave the place calm and more resolute than I came. A specific case study where water bodies have been used to bring a calming mood is the design of the Sydney Opera House.[2]. This house is constructed right in the middle of a water body, with the windows exposed to the blue skies to bring the calming mood which emanates from the lulling symphony of the orchestra sounds.
Mood
The psychology of mood suggests that different colors affect our moods variedly. In this area, people are expected to have a calm mood so as to reduce instances of disturbance to the rest. The blue color, together with the white composition, is ideal for the achievement of a calm mood. A reading area needs a calm mood because it is a place where deep thinking and brainstorming take place. The site ensures that calmness is achieved properly through colors and the arrangement of sitting positions.
Research
Behavioral psychologists agree that moods can shift drastically depending on the color to which one is exposed. According to Chen et al., the lighting environment has immense effects on one’s perception of life, psychology, and productivity[3]. In this setting, the activities expected can only allow for calmness and tranquility. Blue, purple or white, which fill the composition of this environment, have been cited as the color that guarantees calmness, while a color like red is more stimulating than calming[4]. Therefore, in case the space needs some agitation, it is prudent to go for a red or orange color. These colors have been shown to belong on the red side of the spectrum hence more stimulating. Even yellow can better work at the pace of red or orange.
Conclusion
The color that fills the composition of an environment has an enormous effect on the moods of the people around. The three pictures of the reading areas are spectacular scenes composed of pearl-white walls and blue compositions. This is envirenemnt doubles as a luncheon; therefore, it needs to be calm, just as guaranteed by the colors. These compositions are backed by psychological researchers who suggest that blue, purple, or white are colors associated with calmness. However, red, orange, or yellow are more stimulating.
Bibliography
Chen, Ruijun, Meng-Chun Tsai, and Yaw-Shyan Tsay. “Effect of Color Temperature and Illuminance on Psychology, Physiology, and Productivity: An Experimental Study.” Energies 15, no. 12 (2022): 4477.
Shahidi, Reza, Rostam Golmohammadi, Mohammad Babamiri, Javad Faradmal, and Mohsen Aliabadi. “Effect of warm/cool white lights on visual perception and mood in warm/cool color environments.” EXCLI journal 20 (2021): 1379.
Wan, Jiangjun, Yawen Zhou, Yuxin Li, Yi Su, Ying Cao, Lingqing Zhang, Liu Ying, and Wei Deng. “Research on color space perceptions and restorative effects of blue space based on color psychology: Examination of the yijie district of dujiangyan city as an example.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 9 (2020): pp.16
The mind map
[1] Wan, Jiangjun, Yawen Zhou, Yuxin Li, Yi Su, Ying Cao, Lingqing Zhang, Liu Ying, and Wei Deng. “Research on color space perceptions and restorative effects of blue space based on color psychology: Examination of the yijie district of dujiangyan city as an example.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 9 (2020): pp.16
[2] “Australian Cities And Waterways: Sydney And Sydney Harbour | Blog | Integration And Application Network”. 2011. Ian.Umces.Edu. https://ian.umces.edu/blog/australian-cities-and-waterways-sydney-and-sydney-harbour/.
[3] Chen, Ruijun, Meng-Chun Tsai, and Yaw-Shyan Tsay. “Effect of Color Temperature and Illuminance on Psychology, Physiology, and Productivity: An Experimental Study.” Energies 15, no. 12 (2022): pp.1
[4] Shahidi, Reza, Rostam Golmohammadi, Mohammad Babamiri, Javad Faradmal, and Mohsen Aliabadi. “Effect of warm/cool white lights on visual perception and mood in warm/cool color environments.” EXCLI journal 20 (2021): pp.1380.
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