2. Palette & textures

Whether designs are expected to reflect or contrast with their context, it is important to understand and survey the colour palette of the building and the surrounding area. There may even be evidence of historic paint colours. There is often an assumption that if colours are close in appearance they will go well together. If in doubt refer to colour palettes widely available on the internet. When colours are too close together in the spectrum, it is advisable to design in contrast with the dominant colours but conforming with the site palette.

Texture is often a difficult concept to grasp, particularly because it can be wrongly interpreted that it only refers to the material porosity. In reality, a small change in the grain of a façade material can have significant impact over time and through the seasons but it can also be very subtle.

View more examples of the use of palette and textures in the Materials Gallery.

Design Criteria

2.1 Proposed colours and textures relate to the palette and textures of the site and its surroundings.

2.2 If contrasting colours are used to enhance the designs, these are in keeping with the site palette.

2.3 If contrasting textures are used to enhance the designs, the effects at different times of the day and through the seasons have been illustrated, and the ageing of materials has been considered.

2.4 Fenestration depth responds to the Nottingham trend of deeper reveals that project shadows onto the framework and glazing.