Color and form: Influencing the cognitive development of pre-schoolers: A pre-school for Lubbock, Texas

Abstract

Applying the concept of a color and form correlation to an environment geared toward nurturing children aids to evoke the specific behavioral responses which can lead to greater learning in each of the five areas of cognitive development. The importance of color and form as stated by Karl Gerstner spurred the creation of his color-form continuum, whose concept is based upon the works of Wassily Kandinsky. Both theorists believe that colors and forms possess unique qualities of association and influence. Therefore, correlating forms and colors with similar qualities amplifies their behavioral influence on both a physical and psychological level. Using different correlations for each area of cognitive development increases learning by redirecting or focusing attention and activity as appropriate. By targeting children in which color-dominance has reached its peak, the behavioral influences of these color-forms are maximized. It also causes children to more fully develop their artistic ability and integrative functioning during the transition to form dominance by increasing visual sensitivity and by making color a more integral part of the child's thought process. Cognitive development has traditionally occurred in both the home and the school. However, with the increasing demand for both parents to work, much of this responsibility has been delegated to the child care facility. Modern children spend a large percentage of their time in these institutions and are therefore greatly effected by their designs. This fact combined with the increasing emphasis on preschool education makes the child care center the ideal facility for testing my thesis. Placed within a suburban context, this nurturing child care facility will accommodate approximately 120 children and 15 staff members.

Description

Keywords

Architecture, Nursery schools -- Design, Preschool children -- Education, Lubbock (Tex.)

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