To examine historical exterior colour schemes in rural communities - a method to achieve local identity

Colour is disregarded in the analysis of the grammar of a building façade. Contemporary architecture, as well as traditional historical architecture, is built on a relation between colours. Colour schemes of vernacular architecture is a part of the local regional heritage.A re-established exterior colour scheme in rural areas would strengthen the local identity.
In Sweden the dominating part of vernacular architecture dates to the 19th century. The identity of many rural areas is expressed in these buildings: social prestige, local building constructions, materials and colours. This paper presents a PhD-project aiming at verifying the existence of local colour schemes.
Regional and local authorities supply information about local, traditional building material and constructions, but it is difficult to find relevant information about strictly local traditional colour schemes and the changes of these colour schemes in time. Colour schemes can be reconstructed through the analysis of locally produced and used pigments, one of the goals of this project. The results are applicable also on contemporary architecture. To work with rural houses in small communities is a practicable way to establish a method by which the local public is encouraged to participate in the protection of the local cultural heritage and to relate to the local historical identity. A presentation of the results should be both an inspiring, regional and locally based, antithesis to the global flow of information offering the last “make-over” of your home, and a substitute or a complement for legislators and protection authorities and agencies.