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نوع مقاله : مقالات پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 فردوسی
2 گروه علوم باغبانی و مهندسی فضای سبز. دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه فردوسی
3 گروه علوم باغبانی و مهندسی فضای سبز دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه فردوسی
کلیدواژهها
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Evaluation of the Effect of Color Harmony Based on Goethe’s Theory on the Visual Quality of Mixed Ornamental Flower Plantings
Introduction
Ornamental flower plantings play a crucial role in enhancing environmental quality and enriching the aesthetic experience of observers in urban and landscape settings. In this context, planting design—particularly in mixed compositions—is a decisive factor governing visual performance and psychological well-being. As a prominent element of landscape design, color plays a defining role in shaping aesthetic appraisal; neglecting chromatic relationships can result in visual disorder, cognitive fatigue, or monotonous layouts that fail to engage the observer.
The complexity of color perception in landscape design stems from the interaction between light, surface reflectance, and human neurobiology. According to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s color theory, color is not merely a physical phenomenon but a perceptual one that affects human emotion and equilibrium. To establish harmonic equilibrium and moderate the perceived visual weight of high-luminosity colors, the surface areas occupied by colors should be proportioned inversely to their inherent lightness (luminosity) values. This principle suggests that high-luminosity hues (such as yellow and orange) possess a high “perceptual impact” and can easily overwhelm a composition if used in large quantities. Consequently, lower-luminosity hues (such as purple and blue) require larger spatial extents within a composition to achieve perceptual balance and visual stability compared to smaller, strategic areas of high-luminosity hues. While modern landscape design often relies on intuitive color selection, there is a significant gap in applying classical, quantifiable color theories to practical seasonal planting schemes. The present study was conducted to empirically evaluate the effect of color harmony, specifically based on Goethe’s inverse luminosity-based proportions, on the visual quality and psychological perception of mixed seasonal flower plantings in green spaces.
Materials and Methods
This field experiment was conducted at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, utilizing a randomized block design with two distinct planting compositions arranged in two replications to ensure environmental consistency. The experimental groups were categorized based on their chromatic arrangement: Group 1 consisted of Zinnia elegans ‘Lilliput rose’, Ageratum houstonianum ‘Blue Danube’, Tagetes patula ‘Hero Harmony’, Tagetes erecta ‘Discovery Yellow’, and Gomphrena globosa ‘Gnome White’. Group 2 comprised Ageratum houstonianum ‘Blue Danube’, Tagetes erecta ‘Discovery Yellow’, Celosia plumosa, Gomphrena globosa ‘Buddy Purple’, and Gomphrena globosa ‘Gnome White’.
For each group, two distinct plots were established to test the core hypothesis: a control plot, where color area proportions were distributed equally regardless of luminosity, and a Goethe plot, where color areas were precisely allocated according to the recommended luminosity-based inverse proportions to achieve chromatic equilibrium.
In-situ visual quality assessments were conducted during the peak flowering period to ensure maximum color expression. Structured landscape evaluation questionnaires were utilized, designed to capture multidimensional aesthetic responses. The assessments were completed by 19 undergraduate students specializing in Landscape Architecture and Horticultural Sciences, chosen to ensure a level of professional familiarity with planting compositions. The evaluated parameters included overall beauty, visual balance, perceived tranquility, perceived density, and color diversity. Data were subjected to rigorous statistical processing, using independent Student’s t-tests for parametric comparison and Mann–Whitney U tests for non-parametric distribution, ensuring the reliability of the results at a significance level of P≤0.05.
Results and Discussion
Statistical analyses revealed that across both experimental groups, plots designed based on Goethe’s theory achieved significantly higher mean scores in color area proportion, perceived tranquility, and overall beauty compared to control plots. Interestingly, a divergence was observed in the “visual excitement” parameter, where control treatments yielded higher scores. In Group 1, the mean tranquility score in the Goethe plot (47.36±10.05) was significantly higher than in the control plot (36.94±8.65; P=0.002), indicating that the moderating effect of balanced luminosity proportions effectively reduces visual clutter and cognitive load. Overall beauty also demonstrated significant superiority in the Goethe plot A2 (85.10±5.48) compared to the control plot A1 (80.47±5.26).
In Group 2, the impact of Goethe’s theory was even more pronounced: mean beauty increased substantially from 82.63±6.09 in the control to 91.26±5.78 in the Goethe plot, and perceived tranquility rose sharply from 42.36±6.74 to 72.36±13.57 (P≤0.001). In contrast, perceived plant density and color diversity showed no statistically significant differences in either group. This finding is critical as it confirms that the observed perceptual enhancements were specifically driven by harmonic color area relationships rather than changes in physical planting density or the number of species used.
The higher visual excitement scores in control plots suggest that random or high-contrast chromatic arrangements, while capable of capturing immediate visual attention through “sensory shock,” do not necessarily lead to a harmonious or restorative aesthetic experience. Instead, they may cause visual tension. These results are consistent with previous literature indicating that long-term landscape preference is governed by perceptual balance and the ability of a composition to provide restorative psychological effects, rather than mere chromatic richness or intensity. By applying Goethe’s theory, the “weight” of bright colors was effectively balanced by the spatial presence of darker tones, creating a more cohesive and calming visual field.
Conclusion
The findings demonstrate that applying Goethe’s color harmony principles, based on inverse luminosity ratios, significantly enhances overall beauty, perceived tranquility, and color area proportion in mixed seasonal flower plantings. While uncoordinated control arrangements may increase momentary visual excitement, they fail to provide the same level of aesthetic stability and restorative quality. Consequently, utilizing Goethe’s inverse luminosity proportions serves as a practical, quantitative, and cost-effective guideline for landscape planting design. This approach allows designers to maximize human visual preference and psychological well-being without requiring additional plant species or increased implementation costs. Future studies are recommended to examine these effects across different seasonal cycles, diverse plant species, and varied cultural contexts to further validate the universality of these chromatic principles.
Keywords
Aesthetic perception, Goethe’s color theory, Landscape quality, Mixed planting, Visual balance.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, for providing the research field and technical support throughout this study.
کلیدواژهها English
