This issue of DETAIL magazine, on colour and texture, considers a variety of different colour concepts, from muted and restrained building exteriors to bright accents in reddish purple or radiant blue.

What colour is the historic old town in Göttingen? How can a new building hold its own among the city’s traditional half-timbered houses? Silvia Schellenberg-Thaut and Sebastian Thaut from Atelier ST in Leipzig realized a compelling concept for the Kunsthaus in Göttingen, a university town in Germany’s state of Lower Saxony. The facade of the cultural centre interprets the building tradition of its neighbours, and colour plays a prominent role.

In the spirit of architectural modernism, London-based architects Wittham Cox looked to Le Corbusier’s colour palette for their overhaul of a Brutalist student housing block in Sheffield, England. Similar to the Swiss architect’s Unités d’Habitations, the balcony reveals are painted in primary colours that soften the building’s exposed concrete surfaces and add to the cheerful character of the residence hall.

What else awaits you in 2022 at DETAIL? In each issue, the new interview series on climate change will highlight its impacts and possible solutions in architecture. DETAIL first spoke with Tatiana Bilbao from Mexico City, who sees the response to climate issues as an opportunity for more diversity and social justice.

This issue of DETAIL magazine, on colour and texture, considers a variety of different colour concepts, from muted and restrained building exteriors to bright accents in reddish purple or radiant blue.

What colour is the historic old town in Göttingen? How can a new building hold its own among the city’s traditional half-timbered houses? Silvia Schellenberg-Thaut and Sebastian Thaut from Atelier ST in Leipzig realized a compelling concept for the Kunsthaus in Göttingen, a university town in Germany’s state of Lower Saxony. The facade of the cultural centre interprets the building tradition of its neighbours, and colour plays a prominent role.

In the spirit of architectural modernism, London-based architects Wittham Cox looked to Le Corbusier’s colour palette for their overhaul of a Brutalist student housing block in Sheffield, England. Similar to the Swiss architect’s Unités d’Habitations, the balcony reveals are painted in primary colours that soften the building’s exposed concrete surfaces and add to the cheerful character of the residence hall.

What else awaits you in 2022 at DETAIL? In each issue, the new interview series on climate change will highlight its impacts and possible solutions in architecture. DETAIL first spoke with Tatiana Bilbao from Mexico City, who sees the response to climate issues as an opportunity for more diversity and social justice.