Chapter 56 - Colors of Austria

After being over here for awhile, some things that startled us at first have become commonplace. One of those is the color of houses. Of course you see plenty that are white or cream, but a large percentage of houses over here are brightly colored.

Houses are built of big blocks made of some terracotta-type clay material (don't you just love it when I try to describe something technical). It takes a year to build a house over here, partly because of strict environmental codes, but also because after the outside is built of these blocks, the structure is left alone for (I think) several months to allow it to "settle." Later, plaster is applied and painted.

Here's a house that has been left to "settle."


We wondered why there are so many brightly-colored houses. It certainly is different from the limited choices in Kingwood. And you see the bright colors equally on houses that are 400 years old and on brand new ones. I wonder if it's because the winters are so long and gray. Perhaps like the popular flowers that decorate homes during the summer, a brightly-colored home is cheerier during the long cold months.

And now for the colors. Let's start off with a bang - red! There aren't many, but the ones you do see are this bright crimson.


Various shades of orange










I think yellow is the most popular color. Here are some examples from pale to blindingly-bright.










There are some lovely pink houses, from pastel to hot pink.










Less common are lavender and purple houses.








Green is a popular color.










Blue is another popular color.








I know this isn't a house - it's a club in nearby Sopron, Hungary - but I just had to include it. Too bright to believe!