Colour Decoration of Architecture

"Colour Decoration of Architecture" by James Ward is a detailed exploration of how color and decoration can be used in architecture, penned in the early 1900s for decorators, students, and craftspeople. The book serves as a reference that investigates interior and exterior color designs, enhanced by historical examples drawn from different European art styles. It encourages a fresh look at the importance of color in buildings, both public and private, in response to the boring tones of many modern structures. The author kicks off the book by stressing the need for color in architecture based on the view of John Ruskin that architecture is incomplete without it. Ward talks about the trends of the past, during which bright décor was celebrated, compared with how color is now avoided, pointing to reasons such as the effect of Puritanism and architects such as Palladio, who rejected color. Through the opening chapters, the book emphasizes the link between nature and color, highlighting how important it is to apply color in a way that is both thoughtful and balanced to improve the appeal, usefulness, and emotional impact of architectural designs.