Finishing - July-August 2022

20 PAINT
Got that vibe
Axalta has published the latest edition of
its annual Vibes colour journal, in which
it outlines a number of developing
colour trends and their impact within the
sphere of architecture and design. A key
theme to emerge is the heightened
preference towards familiar, simple and safe
colours in response to widespread uncertainty
resulting from major global events such as the
pandemic.
The latest edition of Vibes reveals the top
10 most popular colours of the past year
among designers and architects based on
searches via the Axalta COLOURit online tool.
Calm and serious shades ranging from
bronze, gold, and brown, to off-whites and
sombre blues and greys, feature prominently
in the discussion. Above all, these trends
capture the zeitgeist of the tail end of the
pandemic era and are a reflection of the
prevailing mood at this moment in time.
The trend report features expert analysis
from a variety of key names from across
design and architecture, including Stephen
Burks, Carolina Fernández Catalán (Rafael de
la Hoz Architects), and Harbinder Birdi
(Hawkins\Brown). Vibes is also interspersed
with case studies outlining how these insights
have been brought to life on major global
projects in collaboration with renowned
players like KPF Architects and HOK
Architects.
One of the key themes of the report is the
changing role of the home, which has
undergone a profound shift over the past two
years. As multiple lockdowns have forced
people to spend more time at home, many
are now increasingly focused on how certain
rooms make them feel rather than simply how
they look, with colour playing a powerful role
in creating the desired ambiance.
Amid the chaos and uncertainty of an evercomplex
world, colours that establish the
home as a haven and invoke positive
emotions and a sense of safety are in high
demand. According to Vibes, this translates
into an increased preference for neutral
colours that are inspired by nature, in line with
the biophilic design trends that have emerged
in recent years.
In response to the feelings of disconnection
and isolation that have characterised large
parts of the pandemic, Vibes also identifies a
shift towards warmer colour palettes that draw
inspiration from nature, with earthy colours
such as Quartz Glint, Black Steel and
SuprAnodic Terra proving most popular.
The shock caused by the upheaval of the
past two years has, according to Vibes, also
brought about a return to sleek and functional
designs which combine traditional materials
with industrial and crafted ones, favouring
minimalist, austere colour palettes with subtle
blue and dark green tones for facades and
cladding.
The pandemic has sharpened our focus on
sustainability and wellbeing and one of the
themes discussed in Vibes is the role of colour
in creating human-centric urban spaces and
infrastructure which can help foster thriving
communities for generations to come. It also
highlights the growing role of diversity and
how designs now draw on a wider than ever
range of cultural influences and perspectives,
to establish a feeling of exoticism that is
difficult to attribute to a particular region but is
nonetheless reflective of the global, pluriform
world of today.
Sally Put, Global ColourDesign and
Communications Manager, said: “The
pandemic has disrupted every facet of our
lives over the past two years and it’s important
to recognise the emotional impact this has
had on the population. Against an uncertain
and volatile backdrop, humans have been
experiencing a profound need for comfort,
intimacy, and familiarity, something that is
reflected in the key selection of colours that
we have identified within our research. These
colours illustrate our desire for connection,
both with each other and to the planet,
therefore, it is understandable that we see a
renewed focus on warm and neutral earthy
colours which promote a sense of familiarity
and intimacy.”
Finishing - July/August 2022