Grayness: A Chromatology Study in Urban Perception

This study explores *Grayness* within chromatology, inspired by Peter Sloterdijk’s idea of compromise—where light and darkness intermingle. It marks a shift from previous work with bright colors and urban landscapes, embracing a quieter, more reflective approach to color. Rather than a mere absence of vibrancy, grayness embodies a layered complexity—one that influences perception, atmosphere, and emotional engagement with the city.

The city is not just a physical construct but a sensory and perceptual experience. Much like the *sensitive city*, which examines how the senses shape urban living, this study investigates how grayness mediates between visibility and obscurity, presence and absence. It is a chromatic condition that allows the city to be read in subtle, alternative ways—neither fixed nor absolute but fluid and open to interpretation. Grayness captures the essence of transition, ambiguity, and the interplay of contrasts, prompting deeper reflection on how urban environments are felt and understood.

Moving beyond a rational perspective of urban design, this research embraces the role of a “soft designer,” engaging with the city through irony and absurdity. Inspired by the concept of *scherzo* (joke), it playfully reinterprets serious urban concerns such as mobility and economy. By intentionally distorting perspectives and proposing visual provocations, the study encourages a more poetic and sensorial approach to urban transformation.

Grayness is not a limitation but a space of possibility—where perception, materiality, and imagination converge. It invites an urban sensibility that values subtlety, fluidity, and reinterpretation, redefining how we engage with the places we inhabit.