Ocher And Plaster

2023 Author: Hannah Pearcy | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-26 11:39

The south of France shines in warm ocher tones, while Paris facades are rock-neutral.

France is a country of many faces, mentalities and color ranges solely because of its size, the climatic and geological differences. So the south can hardly be compared to the north, the west not to the east. This is particularly evident when comparing the Luberon with the Paris metropolitan region. Here, differences can be grasped by hand - even if the two areas have something in common: the penchant for tradition, which is also reflected in the color of the facades.

The Luberon has a wide variety of ocher shades to reddish variants for plasters.

Ocher in the Luberon

The undoubtedly highest quality and most diverse types of ocher come from the south of France and the Loire region. Yellow and red ocher varieties can be found in large numbers in the Luberon - the northern part of Provence - often directly on the surface of the soil. The ocher quarries there are among the tourist highlights today, but are actually the traditional sources of the local color. The ocher museum "undkhra" shows how important these minerals were and are for the region, where the degradation and application of the pigments are documented.

Typical traditional construction in the Luberon: masonry made of sand-lime brick with blue accents.

Excursus pigments

Mineral pigments consist chemically of compounds of metals with oxygen and other non-metals. So these are metal oxides that are extremely stable to external influences - iron oxides are the most common. The pigments, also called earth colors, are obtained by slurrying, drying, grinding and sieving. Since the exact composition of the oxides varies greatly depending on the place of discovery, there are tons of nuances in nature - often in the immediate vicinity. The variety can even be increased by the so-called burning. For example, ocher is based on water-containing iron oxides, the tint of which ranges from light ocher to gold ocher to dark red shades. Red ocher tones emerge during the firing process, such as the well-known Terra di Siena.

All mineral pigments, which also include umber, green earth or champagne chalk, have in common the extremely high light fastness - ideal for use in exterior colors. Because you used to use what was available in front of the door, the different pigment deposits were able to express regionally shaped colors. The new Histolith fan takes this into account. In addition to the classics such as French ocher, Terra di Siena or Goldocker, it also includes pigmentations typical of German regions, such as Odenwälder ocher or the Amberger yellow. In addition to historical pigment colors, regional colors of natural stones and earth are also integrated. The subject is typical of the region on the one hand,but also European in design - and is therefore a practical tool for the design of old buildings or monuments.

Plaster surfaces are usually kept in a harmonious, light-ocher tone.

The love of ocher

Natural ocher pigments can be found in many places, which is why this pigment family is one of the most common - and ocher has a very harmonious and friendly effect. The Ockerton dominates in the villages of the Luberon, which were built between the 12th and 16th centuries. The small-scale villages and buildings consist of limestone sedimentary rocks that were obtained in nearby quarries. The landscape and the building merge into a harmonious whole. The color tone is composed of the light yellowish limestone, brightly colored roof tiles and accents on doors and shutters. The palette ranges from opaque or glazed lavender colors to pastel blue to light green tones or dark glazed brown tones. You can even find strong, classic shades of red. Similar color tones can also be found in other regions of southern France - and even in the old quarter of Lyon, the "Vieux Lyon".

Soils and stones that contain colored iron oxides are the basis for harmonious color designs, not only in the traditional context.

Restrained Paris

The capital is very different from the shining south: Parisian facades are dominated by light stone tones, which go back to the time of Hausmann urban planning in the 19th century. To this day, this reserved, almost uncolored style is mandatory in the city center. Just as important is the plaster of Paris, called "Plâtre de Paris". Since Louis XIII, it has been used to give facades a sublime, stone-like appearance and to realize decorative elements such as profiles or cornices. The color of these plasters is based on light natural stones or lime colors. Color accents are set, for example, by wooden shop fronts, the "devantures" and doors in bordeaux red or dark blue or green tones.

The old facades in Paris are gray: the “Plâtre de Paris” is reminiscent of light natural stones and looks elegant.

Armin Scharf Photos: Caparol Source: Malerblatt 2/2017

practice plus

Around three years ago, the Caparol ColorDesignStudios started this project to explore typical color cultures in European countries. This time the color experts were out with their French colleagues. With a view of France, the series in the Malerblatt ends for the time being.

The website also shows more examples, further aspects in the context of color and materials: www.capraol.de/inspiration