The blues. That sense of unease and unhappiness. The feeling of dejection and downheartedness. We all experience them at times. A blue mood is one that can pervade our thoughts as summer draws to a close. And yet blue is so much more than a sense of melancholy. As a colour, it is powerfully emotive and will likely evoke a range of feelings and reactions in people. Blue is a primary colour and a psychological colour. It is regarded as an intellectual colour and the colour of the mind, a colour that tends to affect us mentally as opposed to physically. Blue tones can stimulate thought and promote concentration. Blue is typically serene, calming and a colour of great depth.
In art, architecture, nature and design, blue is a colour that excites and arouses emotion, its very being acting to quell those end of summer blues.
Blue Alchemy by Siba Sahabi
Blue Alchemy is a bright blue edition of artist and designer Siba Sahabi’s felt vases. The colour references the first man-made pigment – “Egyptian blue” – and was developed as early as 2600 BCE/BC. The ancient Egyptians held blue in high esteem, believing it to be the colour of life, fertility and rebirth. Sahabi has breathed new life into “Egyptian blue”, using this colour for her Mesopotamia-style vases.
"Blue Alchemy" vases are made by hand from coiled coloured felt strips.
One of seven felt vases in the “Blue Alchemy” collection.
Blue Alchemy “Egyptian blue”.
Panthella MINI
The Panthella MINI, a mini-version of Verner Panton’s iconic 1971 Panthella lamp, is to be launched in September by the celebrated Danish lighting manufacturer Louis Poulsen. Panthella MINI features a painted metal shade in a range of colours taken from Verner Panton’s very own colour spectrum, including this cool blue hue.
Panthella MINI in blue.
La piscina del roccolo
“La piscina del roccolo” is an exceptional indoor pool and fitness extension to an older Italian house by architectural firm act_romegialli. The blueness of the water is accentuated by the use of clean and modern materials, whose combination results in an achingly alluring and balanced backdrop.
La piscina del roccolo.
Sea and sky
It is in nature where we find that brilliant shade of blue, when sea and sky dazzle and scintillate with fiery passion.
The Ionian Sea from Silver House by architect Olivier Dwek.
Blue sky in Berlin above residential apartments and townhouses by Atelier Zafari.
Photos of residential apartments and townhouses by Werner Huthmacher, Christian Dammert and Aviel Adar courtesy of Atelier Zafari.
Metro de Montreal
Canadian photographer Christopher Forsyth captured the brutalist beauty of Montreal’s metro system, the Metro de Montreal, in a series of perceptive, vivid stills. In a number of striking images, it is the flashes and glimpses of blue that especially grab our attention.
Champ-de-Mars, Montreal.
Berri-UQAM, Montreal.
De La Savane, Montreal.
Hagedornhagen
Danish print studio Hagedornhagen’s collection of butterfly, beetle and foliage prints engage the mind, causing one to wonder at their clarity, depth and elegance. The natural blue colour in this butterfly image is particularly winsome.
Papilio ulysses telegonus is from Hagedornhagen‘s classic collection.
Furniture Design
With its calming properties, the colour blue works well in furniture design.
The PROOFF #006 SideSeat by Studio Makkink & Bey is a clever, compact and comfortable self-contained desk, cupboard and chair. The #006 SideSeat is pictured in colour combination #006.07. Image courtesy of PROOFF.
Hans Bølling's designed his classic Tray Table in 1963. A midcentury Danish design icon, the Tray Table is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The Bølling Tray Table is pictured in a Storm Blue colour. Image courtesy of Brdr. Krüger.
The Catch Chair by Jaime Hayon for &Tradition welcomes the sitter with outstretched and open arms, flaunting Hayon’s distinctively playful approach to design. The Catch Chair is pictured in dark blue. Image courtesy of &tradition.