There's a common assumption that art thrives best against white walls. Yet Julia Hausmann, founder of the Cologne-based firm Farbarchitektur, demonstrates that art collections can be equally powerful—sometimes even more so—when presented in thoughtfully colored spaces. For a couple of passionate collectors displaying paintings, sculptures, and installations in an elegant period villa in Cologne, Hausmann created a sophisticated color composition that introduces tranquility to the rooms while establishing seamless transitions throughout.

The design process began with a meticulous analysis of each room's volume, natural light conditions, and specific functional requirements. The villa's inherent elegance demanded nothing less than premium materials throughout. This commitment to quality extended to the paint selection: high-end, artisanal Swiss paints from kt.color were chosen for all public rooms. These exceptional paints owe their remarkable depth to their natural pigments and can only be applied by specially certified craftspeople. Private rooms were complemented by carefully selected shades from German manufacturer Anna von Mangoldt. Surface finishes were tailored to suit each room's purpose—some more durable, others more breathable. The result is fourteen uniquely colored rooms, each with its own distinct character, while select color tones flow across multiple spaces to create an integrated chromatic continuum. All ceilings and decorative moldings were finished in a refined white made from natural pigments, amplifying the reflection and perceived depth of the surrounding wall colors. The dining area glows in a gentle green that echoes the parquet floor and frames the garden view. The soft rose of the living room radiates warmth even under artificial light, creating an elegant counterpoint to dark furnishings. The staircase, rendered in a subtle grey, provides the ideal setting for hanging artworks, while the intimate "Blue Salon" upstairs becomes a showcase for boldly colored furniture. The bedroom and fitness room play with contrasting blue tones: a warm, grounding umber stands alongside an energizing turquoise drawn from a large-scale photograph displayed in the fitness room. The outcome is a refined composition of art and color—one that the client aptly described as "a new life in color."

www.farbarchitektur.koeln

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|20)