I'm on a UK kick. You read one article, which leads you to another interesting topic, and then another one. All in all, London seems to have really embraced the gradated, colorful facade. It certainly breaks up the mass of a building and catches the eye!
This is the Westminster Academy at the Naim Dangoor Centre, London. Drivers only have a few seconds to catch a glimpse of this school as they fly by along a busy highway. I would imagine this certainly catches their attention, right? "A key aim was to create a new civic landmark in which the pupils, staff and wider community felt a sense of pride and ownership and the boldly coloured exterior reflects the new sense of aspiration."(source) Very citrusy and fresh, I think.
Or how about this one. Question: if you had to live in public housing, where would you rather live: here?
...or here?
Wansey Street Housing is "a gap site between different typologies, the scheme reinterprets the terrace with 21st century requirements for density, flexibility, sustainability, ownership and security. The graduated, striped composition of the façade - a progression from canary yellow to vermilion - links buff-coloured, London stock Victorian terrace and red brick former town hall." (source) I just love the color treatment!
Of course, part of what draws me to these buildings is the bright, saturated colors. But I don't think they would be nearly as successful if the bulk of the facades weren't broken up into smaller parts to break up the massive feeling of the structure. What do you think?
