SikkensFoundation
Projects
COLORS OF DORDRECHT — DORDRECHT 1993/2005 — A plan for the historical study of color in Dordrecht star- ted in August 1993 on the initiative of the Sikkens Foun- dation. Years of research into drawings, paintings and paint spe- cifications, supplemented with a study of the application of color in a number of historic monuments, led to a range of 55 historically inspired colors which were pre- sented by Sikkens in 2002. A color route followed in 2005. This meant that Dordrecht was the first city with its own color range. On the basis of a historical interpretati- on of the colors found on the buildings, the research gra- dually started on composing a color palette. A palette of historical colors developed, arranged over time. These were not the precise colors of the past, but the interacti- on of these with room for modern colors, which have the character of material imitations entirely in accordance with tradition. For example, the color bronze is included in the range, a greenish-brown color based on the des- cription of paint specifications from the 19th century. Hardstone, a gray color, is also based on weathered Bel- gian hard stone. Back to index
Some colors refer to typical businesses or people from Dordrecht, such as Rodermont. This blue color was based on a paint specification for painting the wooden slates of Rodermont crane in 1755. There is also Rutten yellow, an ochre color inspired by the drawings of Johan- nes Rutten (1809-1884). Harbor green refers to the water of the inner harbor of Dordrecht. The color range also indicates on which parts of a buil- ding the colors can be used. For example, Bentheimer Donker is suitable for window ledges, surrounds, other woodwork on 16th and 17th-century buildings, keystones and contrasting colored stone bands. Tower gold can ex- clusively be used on special architectural elements. It is best to use real gold leaf. The application of the 55 Dordrecht colors is based on clear starting points. Buildings acquire an individual iden- tity while the spatial cohesion between the buildings from different periods is retained. The colors correspond to the ageing facades over the centuries. Download text as pdf