Colour in Urban Spatial Perception and Simulation

The impact of colour on human perception of space is a known fact. Spatial simulation and evaluation without the consideration of colour would be rather simplified, as evaluation and reactions to viewed environments are very much conditioned by the observed colour combinations. As one reaction to this challenge in the last decades we witness the development of various models in colorimetry that try to predict the appearance of colours. These predominantly mathematical tasks however still tell us too little on how to proceed when we need to specify, evaluate or communicate about complex colour scenes in real space with stress on appearance and perceived colour. The question concerns both simulation and evaluation using a variety of tools, as well as the mapping and analysis of exiting environments. Such tools are subject of this EAEA conference, and it is in this context that this contribution aims to put forward some of the challenges that we are still facing in hope, that we may work towards common procedures or solutions. Focus is on both visual and instrumental working methods with the aim to contribute to bridging the gap between theory and practical application, ideas, imagination and reality.