Beyond White as a Neutral Color

This discussion paper explores the complex relationship between color and healthcare spaces, starting with the emerging prominence of white surfaces in early twentieth-century European hospital design. It examines the sociopolitical and sustainability implications of an apparently neutral color preference, noting case studies such as the mining of ilmenite ore in Madagascar, where the production of white pigment for titanium dioxide in paint correlates to ecological habitat degradation. The narrative also examines the global implications of mass-produced design practices and the hegemony of whiteness as something replacing colorful local color traditions with neutral hues. By exploring the interior design, materiality, and sensory qualities of white healthcare spaces, the paper discusses the association with hygiene and global influence on healthcare environments. The paper also examines the role of architectural education in shaping designers' preferences for white and neutral color palettes in general and in healthcare settings, questioning the artificiality inherent in the prevailing white aesthetic. It also questions the latent remnants of racism in the preferential use of white, rooted in its historical association with 1930s modernism and rejection of "primitivism" in design. It further explores the role of color used as bright primary hues juxtaposed with white, in functions such as in wayfinding and a sense of "scientific" precision to how designers use color within these architectural contexts from applying principles from environmental and psychological science. In conclusion, this narrative unravels the historical, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions that led to white as a neutral color in design perceived as objective fact. It advocates for a more nuanced approach in healthcare environments and for design choices that prioritize diverse needs, experiences, and cultural sensitivities. The paper will encourage readers to critically assess the hegemony of white in healthcare design compared to the vibrancy of color in indigenous design traditions worldwide.