SMART SHADING: COLOURS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES

Abstract

The colours of the architectural surfaces can make an important contribution to improve the environmental quality of manmade spaces. The perception of places, but also the psychophysical state of the users are influenced by the presence of certain colours. The colours of the architectural surfaces can also make an important contribution to the environmental sustainability of the built environment. Lighter colours seem to be more suitable to be used in the surfaces that are most exposed to solar radiation (during the summer), as they have a low absorption coefficient of the light radiation and a high reflection coefficient. Darker colours seem to be more suitable for the less irradiated walls because their absorption coefficient is higher. Furthermore, the reflection degree of a material depends on its surface quality. The research entitled “Smart shading” conducted within Iuav University of Venice, “Colour and Light in Architecture” Research Unit, Veneto Region, Materis Paints Italia S.p.A. (a company that produces colours and finishes for the building industry) and CERT-Treviso Tecnologia (product certification company), wanted to show that it is possible to improve the thermal performance of an external wall by the application of a particular thin layer of finish.