Colour has been used to bring joy and character to architecture for hundreds of thousands of years. From early Neanderthal cave paintings using natural pigments to the colourful temples of ancient Egypt and Greece, colour has long played an important role in the way people experience buildings and spaces.

Ancient Rome continued the tradition with structures decorated with colourful marble, while later periods brought new forms of architectural colour through the stained-glass windows of medieval churches and the vibrant frescoes of the Italian Renaissance.

In modern architecture, colour remains a powerful design tool. Bright and reflective surfaces can transform buildings into striking works of art, such as the colourful cube entrance of the Pompidou Centre in Malaga by artist Daniel Buren.

According to designer Adam Nathaniel Furman and author Kate Mazade, colour can elevate architecture and create a greater sense of resonance and delight. Their book, Chromatic Architecture – the Craft of Colour in Design, explores the important role colour continues to play in contemporary design.

From bold façades to imaginative public spaces, these eight colourful structures demonstrate how architects and designers can use colour to transform buildings and create memorable environments.