'Colours of Architecture', new book coming out in August 2006 about what architects and artists are doing with colour and glass. The book is written by Andrew Moor, the architectural glass art consultant, who has not only written two other books on parallel topics but has been managing and creating glass art projects in buildings for twenty years.
This fast-moving area of both art and architecture, where new technology and new applications of existing technologies are continually expanding what is possible and making the costs so much less intimidating, is a huge growth area. Entire facades of buildings can be transformed into huge landscape canvasses. And it is some of the most well-known and admired architects, like Herzog de Meuron and Future Systems who are seizing on these ideas and making them a part of their vocabulary.
Andrew Moor is currently developing a number of projects with architects that are exploiting what can be done with colour and images even in external contexts, such as balustrading and wall-mounted features running up the side of buildings.
In this area, the capacity to make a real contribution to the external built environment is hugely exciting. Buildings can, for very modest sums of money, become landmarks; a five storey stairwell can become a back-lit painting visible at night for miles - for very small sums of money.
Both occupants and passersby can delight in something adventurous and stimulating.
For more information of Andrew Moor's new book, check www.andrewmoor.co.uk, and ask book a copy of 'Colours of Architecture'.