Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Abuse of colour
Frank, a Canarian living in the US comments that the abuse of colour in certain areas of his native island of Gran Canaria - to cover up the deterioration in those nuclei - is a bit strong for his taste.
Certainly, if you been living in or a visitor to the Canary Islands for any length of time, you will have noticed that the colour palette has changed drastically in recent years.
Where once you would find only villages and hillsides dotted with white painted houses with green windows, there is now a relative rainbow of jellybean jollity.
On the plus side, the light takes these brash colours better here than further up the hemisphere.
They fade a lot faster too.
Our understanding was that the earth tones that seem to have come back into fashion for the older buildings, are actually the colours that were used back in the 15th and 16th Centuries.
One will have assumed that the changing palette was otherwise, merely a matter of fashion.
But it was interesting to note that Frank says that, during the 1970s and 80s, only white and a limited palette of pastel colours was permitted by municipal ordinance (this, presumably applied in other municipalities too), "that changed its spectrum historically, as politicians change their jackets."
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3 Comments:
Pamela Heywood wrote (on
February 22, 2008)
He he, yeah it does seem like all wearing the same clothes. The house I live in is one of three that all belong to the same family and they are pink, yellow and white, like sugared almonds.
If you want a decent "excuse" for making the distinction, it is that the colours make sure that any potential thief doesn't think it's one big rich person's house. :)
Those houses with the balconies are an excellent example. They were very pretty green and white, but the overall effect is much warmer now.
Lime & Tequila wrote (on
March 04, 2008)
I've been scouring your blog enjoying the photographs so much. They make my heart flutter and my eyes crinkle. Later, I'll go back and read the text ... I promise.
Peace,
Lime & Tequila
Yes, it was almost all green and white on La Palma, too, and I believe there was a limited range of approved colours. Things are more liberal now, although the extended family still feels that a group of houses should all have the same colour scheme. I feel that's like making us all wear the same clothes.
We ahve some famous sea-front balconies in Santa Cruz de la Palma, which were green and white when I came, and then painted in vivid colours for the town's 500th anniversary.