How to Construct an Urban Color System? Taking the Historic Center of Macau as an Example

Abstract

This study focuses on the environmental colors of the Historic Center of Macau, seeking pathways to develop an urban color system to construct a high-quality urban aesthetic environment and enhance the overall visual image of the city. Based on Lenclos’s color geography and Shingo Yoshida’s environmental color planning method, this study conducted on-site color measurement, extraction, photographic documentation, numerical analysis, and color cataloging of the architecture, plazas, landscapes, and primary public facilities in Macau’s historical district. Through comprehensive environmental color investigation and analyses, the study aimed to construct a color system for Macau’s historical district, finally identifying 60 characteristic colors emblematic of the area. This study also uncovered issues, such as the lack of a unified management mechanism for environmental colors, insufficient coherence and correlation among regional colors, or the scarcity of striking colors. Ultimately, the proposed systematic approach to urban color can offer effective concepts for planning, design, and management, facilitating the creation of color expressions that align with Macau’s unique characteristics and thereby elevating the city’s overall visual image.