The Black Book

The Black Book is more than a book about a single colour. It is an in-depth investigation into the colour black, its visual power, material diversity and cultural significance. Arguably, black is the colour where art and science meet. In many ways, black is the ultimate colour.

Featuring 100 materials ranging from charcoal, lava stone, carbon fiber and coal to vegan leather, charred wood, recycled plastics and ‘the blackest black’ paint. The book explores the colour black’s rich significance across architecture, design, fashion, natural sciences, the arts and beyond.

Meticulously researched and collected over the years, each material has been studied, photographed and catalogued by hue, composition, and origin. The book becomes a tool that seeks to unravel the complexities of the colour black through maps, infographics and visual references. It is looking not only at architectural applications but bridging art and science to further unpack the deepest shades of black and its relevance to the field of architecture and design.

Designed as both a reference and a creative tool, The Black Book invites architects, designers and material enthusiasts to rethink how matter really matters and open new future possibilities.

Catalogue of Black Materials is a self-published book by CLOUD.

CLOUD is a multidisciplinary practice based in Rotterdam, that focuses on architecture, research and design with a particular interest in the materiality of architecture. Architecture has been critical in shaping the world we live in today. As the world changes, architecture of tomorrow needs to evolve in a radical new direction.

The book comes as a limited edition. Each book comes numbered with a soft cover including text printed in a special Spot UV coating.

CLOUD Research Team: Paul Cournet, Dominika Kopiarova, Dora Jerbic Oliveira

Photography: Mathijs Labadie

2025