Quantitative study on the color of traditional dwellings in Jianxi River Basin, Fujian Province, based on the lab color space model

Abstract

ABSTRACT The color palette of traditional dwellings is intricately shaped by the characteristics of the geographical environment and the long-standing lifestyle of residents, thus constituting a vital component of rural culture. However, the rapid development in recent years has resulted in the dilapidation of rural features, including haphazard colors employed in buildings. With the advancement of science and technology, the studies of color have transitioned from a qualitative to a quantitative approach. Through a comprehensive comparison of RGB, HSB, CMYK, and Lab color spaces, as well as an evaluation of color card comparison method, software analysis method, and instrument measurement method; this paper reveals that employing the instrument measurement method in conjunction with the Lab color space enables independent assessment free from subjective influence. This approach facilitates more objective and accurate collection of color data while ensuring seamless and lossless transmission between devices. Therefore, to safeguard and enhance the authenticity of traditional dwellings and preserve the architectural style of traditional villages, this paper focuses on investigating the color palette of traditional dwellings in the Jianxi River Basin. The CM-700d spectrophotometer is employed for color data collection, while quantitative analysis is conducted using the Lab color space to unravel the color logics in this region. The findings reveal that earth yellow (average Lab (50.35,7.40,19.63)) constitutes the main color of rammed earth walls, complemented by dark brown (average Lab (38.72,2.97,8.58)) tiled roofs and gray-brown (average Lab (41.95,4.30,12.75)) stone wall bases as accent color; additionally, gray-yellow (average Lab (49 .82,1 .93,10.98)) brick gatehouses serve as accent colors. The integration between these colors and nature is harmonious; however, the absence of distinct color layers and highlights in the traditional dwellings necessitates incorporating bright architectural decorations along with arrangements of flowering plants. This paper conducted a quantitative analysis on the color of traditional dwellings with three main objectives. Firstly, to establish a comprehensive color database that can effectively preserve and promote regional traditional dwelling colors, while aiding designers in capturing regional color characteristics. Secondly, by collecting precise color data, this paper lays the groundwork for future applications of digital color technology. Lastly, it aims to explore the regional color logic and its potential integration with future studies on color evaluation to uncover preferred color combinations among the public for dwellings.