Theoretical and Design Developments in the Evolutionary Historical Process Shaping the Color Environment of Public Spaces of European Cities

Statement of the problem. The relevance of the study of the evolutionary process of formation and development of the color environment of public spaces in the city is due to the need to understand its dynamics, determine the stages of activity of architectural polychromy associated with socio-economic and political conditions, with the figurative and symbolic significance of color, the influence of the natural color context on a color pattern of public spaces in the city or identification of color features of the city’s spatial structure. Results. A significant period in the development of theoretical and design developments on color in the architecture of European cities is considered. The factors that influenced the formation of the color spaces of some European cities in the late 18th and early 20th centuries have been identified. The authors have compiled a timeline of the evolutionary process of activity and decline in architectural polychromy in some European cities based on coloristic projects, as well as the well-known theoretical developments in the theory of the interaction of shape and color. Conclusions. The general schemes of the development of architectural and urban color pattern of some European cities, as well as their differences, are presented as the conclusions. The hypothesis is confirmed that the following factors significantly influenced the formation of the color pattern of public spaces in European cities: natural geography and the color of natural building materials; political and socio-economic conditions, changing stylistic trends, artistic and aesthetic views, and color preferences.