Is “yellow house” really “yellow”?

Introduction

The article by Justyna Tarajko-Kowalska, titled “Is ‘yellow house’ really ‘yellow’? Survey on determining the range of perceiving the yellow color on building facades depending on the hue, lightness, and chroma”, examines how the colour yellow on building façades is perceived. The study focuses on determining the factors that influence the perception of “yellowness”, with particular attention to hue, lightness and chroma. Yellow hues have been a popular choice in architecture for centuries, but their perception can vary considerably depending on the specific colour properties.

Aim of the Study

The main aim of the study was to investigate which nuances from the four yellowish hue groups of the NCS (Natural Colour System)—G80Y, G90Y, Y, and Y10R—are perceived by people as “yellow”. These nuances differed in hue, lightness and chroma, and were presented on both colour samples and building façades. Respondents were asked to assess these nuances on their “yellowness” and to select the most suitable hues for the term “yellow”.

Method

The study was conducted using an online questionnaire, in which respondents first assessed the colour samples and then the same colours on building façades. A total of 444 participants took part in the survey, the majority of whom (74.9%) were women. The respondents were mainly students and academic staff from Cracow University of Technology and other institutions.