COLOR CONFIGURATIONS OF JAIPUR PALACES

Saili SONAR1

1Masters in Interior Architecture and Design, CEPT University, Ahmedabad Postal address:

Postal address:163/4, Opal House, Mahatma Nagar, Nashik-422007

sonarsaili@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Color is a vital element in architecture and design. It informs and speaks to us in various

ways, gives expressions to the space and enhances its visual language. The study aims to

identify color shades on the exteriors and in the courtyards of the palaces in Jaipur. The

exterior color is a gesture of the building and courtyards are the most interactive and festive

spaces. Hence, five important palaces are chosen for assessment. The semi autonomous state

of Rajasthan and its political capital Jaipur has creatively used color in the parched landscape

which is elaborately demonstrated in its traditional palaces. The premise of the study is

confined only to the assessment of perceived colors of the palace buildings and does not

include the study of inherent color or the application techniques and methods. In this paper,

the focus is to unfold the attributes of its use in the palaces that have created the resulting

color configurations which is totally studied under natural lighting conditions. It creates a

rationale of colors and factors governing the relation between hues, expounding the play of

colors in the palaces of Jaipur. This can be used in today’s context for the purpose of

conservation and for the architectural colorations, art and other fields of design as an essence

of colors in the palaces of Jaipur.

KEYWORDS: Color assessed in Natural light, Palaces of Jaipur, Exterior Color, Courtyards,

Attributes for use of Color.

1. INTRODUCTION:

India portrays a wide range of colors in architecture which is governed by the regional,

climatic and cultural diversities. The state of Rajasthan and its political city Jaipur is a hub for

traditional crafts and its polychromatic display of color which is known internationally. The

palaces belonged to the royal clans where they used the best possible features of aesthetic

representations, through the fine workmanship of the use of color. The important space

making elements in the courtyards such as walls, columns, gates, doors and openings, semi

open spaces comprising of pavilions inside courtyards are assessed for their colors. Colors in

the palaces are seen as kaleidoscopic visual mix. They show a strong traditional background

and are related to traditional Indian treatise which explains their existence. These colors show

strong relevance with the local crafts in Jaipur, where they portray their metaphor in

architecture. Textiles and paintings are the major contributors to the life style in Rajasthan and

it has been like a trigger to the development of the tradition of color. The surface colorations

in palaces have brought out the metaphors of the traditional crafts in architecture. All these

colors are best sensed as a visual display than described but to understand their interactions,

there is a need of a system that will break down the components of colors and help in a

systematic analysis. There are several colors that human eye perceives and it is difficult to

describe the color verbally. Hence, NCS has helped in plotting the exact color shades which

has helped in analyzing them along with a set of parameters derived out of observations

2. METHOD:

The palaces are identified which are assessed as a visual match with a NCS fan deck of 1,950

colour shades in the natural light in the month of March 2010 in between 10.00 a.m to 5.00

p.m. Extensive photographs have been taken as a part of the documentation. The color

pigments and influences for the use of colors have been identified. Further the analysis

parameters are derived out of overall observations, finally performing a comparative analysis.

3. COLOR PIGMENTS AND INFLUENCES AND ASSOCIATIONS:

Color pigments in Rajasthan have a strong traditional origin and have governed the schools of

painting. In the Vedic tradition, the transformation of mineral stones and metals into colour

pigments is seen as an inherently alchemical journey. They have been identified as primary

colours and secondary colours. The surface colorations show direct influences of the color

shades and designs seen in the crafts of blue pottery, mandana paintings and the colours in the

textiles of sanganer and leheriya fabrics. These are specific to Jaipur and are flourishing

sectors.

Mandana painting Blue pottery Leheriya(wave patterns) textiles

The terracotta brown color, blue pottery color and the wave patterns are a few examples of

the same.

4. ANALYSIS PARAMETERS:

There are two sets of analysis parameters which are clubbed together. The first set is the one

that is derived out of the NCS plotting, where the colors are segmented in their singular

components of hue, chroma, nuance, blackness and whiteness. The analysis parameters

derived out of the observations are categorized as color as massing and color as decoration.

These further are governed by two sub parameters – firstly geometry, motifs and patters and

secondly the relation between hues.

5. ANALYSIS:

5.1 Character of five palaces in Jaipur:

The palaces selected for the study are – City Palace complex Jaipur comprising of the main

palace building, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and other palaces like the fort of Amber and

Samode Haveli.

Entire color palette of the palaces describing the rationale of colors as a comparative

The most prominent color families seen for massing are in the range of Y70R, Y20R, Y30R.

The connotations show the details of the colors as per the plotting done in NCS. The colour

families of all the palaces demonstrate that most of the colours have their blackness in the

range of 30-50% and whiteness in the range of 20-30%. This quantifies the pastel character of

the colours. The colour as massing and as decoration highly falls in the range of off-whites.

The other colour families identified fall between: R70B, R80B, B10G, B90G and G60Y. The

layering and revealing of architecture is enhanced due to the modulations in the use of colors.

6. OUTCOME:

The colors used are not many, but the kaleidoscopic display is an outcome of the geometry

and color compositions. The colour summary of all the palaces show strong coherence. Also

the exterior colours of the palaces are in harmony with the ochres seen in the city. The study

can be used further for the conservation of the palaces in Jaipur in the present time as well as

in the future. Colorations with such a sensitive approach on the basis of precise interpretation

of color shades and color interactions can be imbibed in new contemporary spaces. Palaces

are not very prevalent in today’s context, but the essence of colors extracted from them has a

wide range of applications. They have the potential to give a new dimension to colour usage

for designers and craftsmen in the fields of art, design and interior architecture.

REFERENCES:

________ ______ ________ ___ ______ _______ ______ __ ____ ___ ______ _ __ __

______ _______________________

MA International Architectural Regeneration & Development, ‘Walled city of Jaipur:

Modikhana Project’, Oxford Brookes University, January-June 2007

María L. F. de MATTIELLO, ‘Colour and light in architecture’, AIC Brazil 2004

80

Jutterstrom, Per, Four cities, four colours, Coherent colours of four cities in Rajasthan, India,

The Swedish Research Council for Environment

Dr Smith, Dianne, Colour and Space: An Investigation of Three – Dimensionality,

Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Tillotson, GHR-‘The Rajput Palaces’: The development of an architectural style1450-1750’,

Oxford University press, 1999.

Renner, Paul, Colour: ‘Order and Harmony: A colour theory for artists and craftsmen’,

Germany, 1964.

Saili Sonar has done her PG in MIAD (Masters in Interior Architecture & Design) from School of Interior Design, CEPT University, and is currently working with Canna Patel in Ahemdabad.

Creative Evolution

An argument on paradigm Shift  

What is sign of human existence or presence?

Sign of human existence or presence are man made artifacts and imposed ‘orders’. Human creates and organize. To organize means to impose an ‘order’. Imposition of ‘order’ on both nature and humanity. Another sign is evolution i.e. To ‘live’ is to ‘evolve’. Evolution is related to creation or evolution in ability to create.This essay does not target any specific field of study but tries to develop a general argument on creative evolution. Study targets factors which makes this creative evolution possible and reasons for current apparent stagnation in creative evolution. One might argue on current bombardment of creations but this essay tries to analyze change in base structure of creative evolution not the quantum of created and corollaries.

Framework of study 

An ‘equation’ is a (primarily mathematical) statement that asserts the equality of two expressions. It tries to understand the relations and develops a possibility where both expressions exist in conciliation. Balance in equations are basic human trait and on them depends our existential pattern. The equations are basic component of the structure of the ‘order’.  ‘Order’ identifies what comes before or after or pre defines the probability of behavior of ‘values’ based on equations. ‘Order’ is most important aspect of civilization and human evolution.Evolution is change or shift of ‘order’. ‘Orders’ arrange themselves to create a ‘system’. ‘System’ is a set of interacting or interdependent ‘orders’ (system components) forming an integrated whole. 

‘Systems’ operate on ‘orders’ and equations. These infinite equations define existence.Not every equation is balanced and some time indeterminate equation arise or ‘values’ do not confirm to equations.To exemplify, we can start with very simple equation of division which explains all essential terms and background which will be used in this essay. In equation of division, the dividend is divided by divisor to achieve quotient but when value is not perfectly divisible result comes with ‘remainders’. The behavior of these ‘remainders’ is of prime interest in this essay. Essay uses mathematical terms as tool to exploit multiplicity of meaning. 

‘Remainders’ and Importance 

‘Values’ which confirm to the equation are accepted in the ‘system’ but some ‘values’ don’t confirm.The existence of the ‘remainders’ implies that the ‘order’ accepts the value’s  partial behavior but leaves some ‘remainders’ which can’t be accepted in ‘order’. ‘Values’ which confirm to equations completely are rare. Almost every value has a remainder and this contribute to integrated whole of ‘remainders’. These ‘remainders’ also define and redefine ‘system’ and adds to identity of the ‘system’. These ‘remainders’ adds on to instability which overturns its structure or identity time and again to create a new ‘system’. This new system is based on accommodation of ‘remainders’ as ‘values’ instead as ‘remainders’. The simple relation of the ‘remainders’ goes very complex with interaction in various ‘orders’ and ‘systems’. ‘Orders’ exist on  relation of differences. ‘Order’ needs these ‘values’ of difference as an example but at the same time not valuing the differences.  ‘Remainders’ are the agents of the changes and suppressed aspect of the ‘order’. The imposition of the ‘order’ is opposed in ‘remainders’ and these are which do not confirm to the ‘order’ and wish to prove the existence more than just the ‘order’. Certainly this opposition grows from ‘order’ to ‘reminders’ and then vice-versa but in exponential intensities.

‘Explorations’ to ‘Exploitation’

A new ‘order’ is trying to establish itself.The ‘order’ which is innovative and accommodating difference. One can’t trace a sharp ridge of change in the ‘order’ in every paradigm shift. Some planned revolutions which overturned existing ‘order’ can notice these sharp departures but if one observes these in more broader terms then its almost impossible to trace the exact moments of shift. ‘Remainders’ try to initiate equation which is balanced and accepts it as a value.The sift of the ‘order’ starts with this equation based on an ‘exploration’ which some times contradicts the existing ‘order’ and ‘system’. This exploration grows into an equation of independent existence and some time overturns the complete ‘order’ and structure. This witnesses a rise of a completely radical ‘system’. ‘System’ of a new ‘spirit’ and ‘expression’. The ‘Exploration’ sets up itself as a new ‘order’ and existing ‘values’ are push to margins.The exploration ‘system’ often faces a new set of difficulties which are unprecedented. These difficulties were calculated being in the ‘existing’ ‘system’ but with whole paradigm shift calculations hold untrue. ‘System’ faces difficulties for which ‘exploration’ ‘system’ is not ready. Exploration ‘system’ tries to establishes and evolve but the odds against it also prevail. This new ‘order’ generates more revolutionary ‘remainders’. History repeats itself. When exploration ‘system’ is established, it works as previous ‘system’. It looses degree of exploration and what remains is just ‘system’. The moment which is of prime importance here is when exploration ‘system’ starts exploiting. The existence of harmony is suspended between these moments of exploration to exploitation. The frame of exploration is much less than the exploitation and soon exploitation of exploration prevails.

Innovation-differences and Mediation

Innovation lies in differences. Difference is most valuable property but throughout history one can trace attempts to exploit and abolish dimension on which differences exist. Contemporary practices appreciate neutralizing of differences and mediating them with averages. Differences should not be mediated. Mediation kills innovation. Limits remain constants and thinking shrinks when caged in limits.Thinking has a task of breaking limits, removing boundaries. Hegelian triad which advocates fusion of the singularity of ‘thesis’ to complexity of ‘antithesis’ for achieving ‘organized complexity’ of synthesis is the base of this mediation. This model is not justifiable to thinking paradigm as it advocates synthesis as a tool of settlement and mediation of difference. Here thesis is a stable proposition challenged by antithesis but most thesis establish them as antithesis. Antithesis comes first to thesis and keeps on evolving and synthesis never happens. Organization of complexity is important aspect of Hegelian synthesis which can be seen as new forced ‘order’ which caters as mid-lending and deems stability.This is a negotiation between existing ‘order’ and emerging ‘order’.  This negotiation is creation of fake realm, just a disguise for identity of ‘orders’. ‘Remainders’ keep evolving and differences never die. Existence of ‘remainders’ is preferable over achieving mediation or resolution of ‘remainders’. Resolved and mediated ‘remainders’ are no ‘remainders’, they loose character. Mediation kills ideas and resolution is not solution but a new problem of compromises. Conflict of ‘orders’ and ideas is desirable and should be accommodated to enrich.

Stability of Unstable ‘Systems’

From previous arguments it can be assumed that ‘remainders’ are the most important aspect of a ‘order’. Though ‘remainders’ are undesirable for ‘order’ and system but on contrary are catalyst to evolution. ‘Order’ evolves to accommodate the ‘remainders’. If we segregate these ‘remainders’ from the ‘order’ then we will achieve absolutes which makes no progression possible.Evolution of ‘order’ dynamise the ‘system’ hence ‘order’ contributes to identity of the ‘system’. If ‘remainders’ are abolished, ‘order’ freezes, goes monotonous and hence is marginalized in ‘system’.

Where are ‘remainders’?

Its interesting to analyze current states of equations, ‘orders’ and ‘systems’ to question the current sate of ‘remainders’. It seems if equations have gone perfect or system has crashed or ‘remainders’ are extremely marginalized. Perfect equation means accommodation all the variables and relations to create a balanced in equation which satisfies all variable without ‘remainders’. Perfect equation is doubtable as it manifests Utopia and its for sure that its not Utopia. Anarchism is signified by Crash of system, which is also not evident.  Organization and marginalization of ‘remainders’ is important in this discussion as it relates to evolution wheel. This can be studied in following two possibilities -

Stooged ‘Remainders’: 

Remainder does not exist separate to ‘value’. Its inside value. Identification of remainders is an issue. If we closely observe the new working paradigms, its quite evident that ‘remainders’ are stooged. ‘Remainders’ exist for sake of being reminders. They just fill in space as essentials in equations and staged as real ‘remainders’. The equations are engineered to produce ‘remainders’ and are controlled by ‘order’. These observations can hold untrue in certain cases but what’s important here is evolution of a new ‘order’ and set of equations which stage a complete paradigm. Here its important to notice that these fake ‘remainders’ confirm organization and structure of the ‘order’ more than variables itself. These ‘remainders’ confirm more to system than ‘absolutes’. As variables and entries which confirm to equation and ‘order’ can improvise to generate some ‘remainders’ but these ‘remainders’ loose there this ability in stooging. These ‘remainders’ are inseparable component of the ‘order’ and deem no evolution. So the ‘remainders’ existing in the ‘order’ are no ‘remainders’ but ‘values’ acting as ‘remainders’.

Oppressed Remainders’: 

Phenomenon of oppression is quite natural. Its inherited in ‘order’ to oppresses ‘remainders’ in every possible means and to retain its identity. This age is facing a unique type of ‘remainders’ and that is ‘remainders of identity crisis’. These ‘remainders’ have no idea about there role in the ‘order’ and responsibility to change course of the ‘order’. Main crisis is not physical oppression but loss of senses and understanding. Current oppression works on duality of body and mind. The mental construct of the ‘values’ and relations has an induced passiveness to ‘remainders’. The ability of mind to oppose is systematically ceased which in turn has handicapped physical actions. The essential condition for upturning of the ‘order’ is physical slavery and mental freedom which is vice versa. ‘orders’ always enjoyed physical superiority of structure to ‘remainders’ (which makes them ‘remainders’) for oppression and has created possibilities for ‘remainders’ to act as ‘values’. These ‘remainders’ have no idea of there existence as ‘remainders’.

Conclusion:

This is age of crisis for ‘order’ and ‘systems’. ‘Systems’ have broken base structure and hope to survive. As discussed earlier, base structure of equation and relations are voided. The ‘remainders’ are mediated, stooged and disguised. Possibility of the evolution is ceased. This is not the first time when ‘systems’ are enjoying this supremacy but this flamboyance will shatter. Change is inevitable and more one resists more is the deviation. The tool for initiation of the chain reaction in ‘remainders’ is ‘doubt’. Crisis is ‘remainders’ have ‘doubt’ of ‘existence’ instead of ‘existence’ of ‘doubt’. Deep down ‘remainder’ exists, ‘doubt’ gives it ‘existence’. Doubt in equation, ‘order’, ‘system’, value, value of value, ‘remainders’, value in ‘remainders’, ‘remainders’ of value and way it exist. Acceptance is confirmation and ‘doubt’ is virtue of evolution. 

Start ‘doubting’ and be ‘remainders’. 

References:

-Mathematical definitions used in frame work and concept of Hegelian triad is referred from Wikipedia.