Why are architects afraid of colour? Chromatic Architecture with Adam Nathaniel Furman
Why are architects afraid of colour? Chromatic Architecture with Adam Nathaniel Furman
Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 6:30pm – 8pm
BDP Clerkenwell, 16 Brewhouse Yard, London EC1V 4LJ
Colour is one of the most meaningful and expressive elements that can be used in the design of buildings. So how come students are rarely taught about it and many architects are fearful of it?
Join the C20 Society for a special lecture and book launch celebrating Chromatic Architecture: The Craft of Colour in Design (RIBA, 2026). Architecture-trained artist and designer Adam Nathaniel Furman will present the new book, co-authored with Texas-based journalist Kate Mazade.
Following the presentation, award-winning architecture critic and C20 Head of Casework Laura Mark will sit down with Adam to unpack the architecture’s complex relationship with colour and answer the questions above.
Adam Nathaniel Furman is a London based artist and designer who trained in architecture, and now works in public art, furniture and product design. He co-founded the Saturated Space Research Cluster at London's Architectural Association (AA) School of Architecture (2011-2021) on colour in architecture and urbanism with Antoni Malinowski; taught at Central Saint Martins College of Art, London; has work in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Victoria in Southbank, Australia, the National Museum of Norway in Oslo and the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, amongst others; was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by RIBA for his contribution to the field of architecture in 2024; and with Joshua Mardell, he co-edited the award-winning 2022 book Queer Spaces, An Atlas of LGBTQIA+ Places & Stories, also for RIBA Publishing.
Laura Mark is Head of Casework at the C20 Society. She is an award-winning architecture critic, curator, editor and researcher. Laura worked in architectural practice before joining the editorial team of the Architects’ Journal. She has also held curatorial positions at both Walmer Yard and the Royal Academy of Arts.
The book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
C20 Society Member £11;
Non-Member £16;
Young C20 member + guest Free*;
Student + guest £5 **
Includes a glass of wine and contribution to our casework and campaigns.
*For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
**For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider and is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Cover of Chromatic Architecture: The Craft of Colour in Design (RIBA, 2026) and Hoechst Technical Administration Building, Frankfurt, Germany © 2024 Infraserv GmbH & Co. Höchst KG