Why are new buildings all black and white? A simple stroll through a new neighbourhood in the city or a visit to a newly constructed building will lead us to notice a rather curious detail. It could be by chance, for architectural or even monetary reasons, but the truth is that cities are losing the touches of colour that came from having buildings of different colours. Gone are the red brick buildings, the grey ones with ventilated panels and those with curtain walls. It is true that we could think that our streets are being reduced to simple construction, to filling the neighbourhoods with almost identical buildings, at least if not in form, then in colour. The chromatic palette has almost completely disappeared, leaving subtle or unnoticeable hints of colour from the outside. Are we constructing buildings like hot cakes or is there a logic to constructing buildings in the same way? all buildings in black and white? A professional in the sector will easily understand this, but on the street the debate can be curious.

Black and white buildings: the 3 keys to success

Aesthetics

One of the points to bear in mind is that nowadays we are living in one of the times in which there is greater awareness of the overall aesthetics of new buildings. The aim is for them to be different but also to form part of a harmonious environment. In other words, to stand out but without attracting attention. Nowadays, building fashions are leading us to create buildings with a modernist aesthetic in which the combination of neutral colours and contrasts is at the forefront, in which we are looking for the new construction has, in particular, a visual harmony with the urban environment in which it is located. All you have to do is walk through premium housing estates or the best neighbourhoods The predominant colour scheme is white with black details.

Materials

We have just witnessed one of the biggest tragedies ever to take place in a building on Spanish soil. The fire in the Campanar building brought to the present day a very particular way of building from a couple of decades ago. The well-known ventilated facades populated the new neighbourhoods of greyish buildings. Those materials are practically history, now the facades have another type of cladding that combines economy in construction with durability and ease of maintenance.

Savings

But if there is one motif that marks the change in the construction trend, it is the interior impact of the colours black and white for the façades. It is not a question of high technology, not at all, but the aim is to take advantage of something as basic as the energy capacity of the two essential colours: black and white.

White reflects sunlight, which is why the façades currently have this colour as their main colour. In this way, what is achieved is that the building does not capture, through its front, energy that can be transmitted inside the houses. White helps to reduce the thermal load, so that inside the building there will be less need, indeed less need, for cooling or any extra energy use to balance temperatures. Also, the benefits are not only internal, as facing the street, a white façade helps to mitigate heat island effects by serving as a contrast to the black asphalt.

But a building should not be able to scare away any type of energy, we do not want them to be 'allergic' to solar energy, but we must know how to make the most of it in its right measure. That is why buildings incorporate the colour black both for aesthetics of contrast and to provide a certain energy comfort to the structure. In addition to this, we will add something essential: the orientation of the dwelling.

Conclusion

In short, we find ourselves in an era in which we know how to combine different factors that are closely linked to 'domestic' architecture. On the one hand, we are looking for efficiency in construction, with a sustainable economic impact and an avant-garde design capable of bringing modernity to any area of the city or villa. At NUWE we have the best team of Architecture to get the best design for your new home.