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An experiment in white

The colour white is popular in all areas and has a unique significance in modern architecture. White is the epitome of clarity, purity and sublimity. White accentuates the geometry of buildings in particular measure. And white orchestrates the play of light and shadow in multifaceted ways like no other colour.

From inspiration to texture

What inspires you when you think of the colour ‘white’ in your work? For our ‘Kaleidoscope’ section, we asked five architects this question and asked them to each send us a suitable quotation and a photo. Without any further input from the architects, our product design team developed an abstract white sample with a unique texture.

This allowed us to trace the process pathway from inspiration to research, interpretation and ultimately the material. Each of these samples represents but one of the many ways of translating inspiration into reality.

An experiment in white: five different render patterns in white in front of a mountain hut
Five samples - five different material interpretations: The samples that our product design team created with the help of inspirational images and quotes from the architects show the many different ways in which plaster can be interpreted and designed as a material. And it becomes clear that white is not just white, but is influenced by many factors.

  • Prof. Luca Selva

    “When researching, we are interested in white in all its forms, a lesson learnt from American artist Robert Ryman, whose entire work focusses on white in all its manifestations on a 1x1 metre square canvas. Our interest also extends in the same measure to artist Rémy Zaugg’s question on the absence of white: where does all the white from the melted snow go?”

    Luca Selva Architekten, Basel, CH,
    www.selva-arch.ch
    Portrait of architect Luca Selva from Basel
  • WhiteWhite render sample on pattern stand, on flower meadow, in front of mountain hut
    Closeup of a white render sample with shadow in portrait format
  • Closeup of a white coarse render sample in landscape format
    An experiment in white, making of a white render sample

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How light shapes render

Luca Selva’s inspiration turned texture

The path from inspiration to the actual built project is a long, but extremely exciting one. True samples are a first step in ascertaining what the end result would realistically be like. Here you can see the exclusive making of the sample that Prof Luca Selva inspired us to create.

Discover how texture, light and shadow interact to transform perception. See how render and light shape the architectural space.

Watch the video now and learn how white surfaces become expressive materials in architecture!

Sample no. 2

We will shortly be presenting the next white sample inspired by a quotation and photo from an architect. Find out more here.

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