As Pantone crowns 'Peach Fuzz' the Color of the Year for 2024, we’ve rounded up a list of peachy monuments, landmarks and natural attractions for you to add to your bucket list. Picked as the Color of the Year for 2024 to emphasize health, both mental and physical, and value moments of creativity and connection, Peach Fuzz symbolizes community, togetherness, and the joy of both companionship and solitude. And what better way to grow that, than by discovering the amazing world around you.
Now before you come at us with your artistic intelligence, we confess…some of the monuments wear shades of peach and orange with pride. Others, a bit more subtly. So, suspend your palettes a bit, please! From the gentle peach marble inlays of the Taj Mahal to the striking peach of Petra in Jordan, come celebrate the warmth, vibrance and cheerfulness of Peach Fuzz
📍 The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), Kyoto, Japan
Okay, we’ll start with the least orange of them all, and get the slight cheating over with. The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, a Zen temple covered in gold leaf, is renowned for its peace and simplistic beauty. And while it looks strikingly gold in photos, I’ve been here and it genuinely casts a peach-like hue under certain lights. Its historic significance and stunning location amidst lush gardens make it a must-visit. Originally a shogun's villa, its elegant design and historical significance as a symbol of harmony between heaven and earth make it a must-visit. Plus, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site it’s worth going to.
Materials: Gold leaf, wood.
Shades: Orange in the day, but peach hues in specific lighting.
📍 The Taj Mahal, Agra, India
The Taj Mahal, an epitome of Mughal architecture and a symbol of love, features subtle peach-colored marble accents within its predominantly white façade. These intricate floral decorations add a layer of depth and artistry to this iconic mausoleum. You’ll find peach hues adorning the arches, doorways, and cenotaphs. The intricate inlay work, crafted from carnelian and other semi-precious stones, adds a subtle warmth and vibrancy to the otherwise dominant white. Additionally, the orange accents are believed to have practical benefits. They were chosen for their durability and resistance to weathering, ensuring that the intricate details of the Taj Mahal would remain vibrant for generations to come.
Materials: White marble, peach-colored marble.
Shades: Peach accents in floral motifs.
📍 The Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, Mexico
The Palacio de Bellas Artes, a masterpiece of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles, stands out with its striking peach-colored marble exterior. The building's color comes alive against the setting sun, making it a breathtaking sight in Mexico City. The marble is carved with intricate sculptures and mosaics, depicting a variety of themes, including Mexican history, culture, and mythology. The interior of the Palacio de Bellas Artes is just as impressive as the exterior. The building houses a number of art galleries, theaters, and concert halls. The main theater, the Sala Principal, is one of the largest and most prestigious theaters in Mexico.
Materials: Peach-colored marble.
Shades: Peach, especially at dusk.
📍 The Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), Chiang Rai, Thailand
This contemporary Buddhist temple, known for its unconventional and stunning design, features a blend of white, gold, and peach. Its ethereal and whimsical appearance creates a surreal atmosphere, drawing visitors into a world of artistic spirituality. This one will take you a while to see the actual peach but look for some of the sections that feature tiles in a soft peach hue. These tiles are strategically placed to add depth and dimension to the facade, particularly around the intricately carved details and sculptures. The Wat Rong Khun also has glass mosaics in several areas, and some of these mosaics use peach-colored glass pieces. Certain architectural elements, such as the railings around the bridge and some of the statues, are painted in peach.
Materials: Plaster, glass, gold leaf
Shades: Whimsical peach tones.
📍 The Friedensreich Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna, Austria
In Vienna, the Friedensreich Hundertwasserhaus stands as a testament to imaginative architecture. This whimsical apartment complex, designed by artist Hundertwasser, features a kaleidoscope of colors, including vibrant shades of peach. Its irregular, organic forms, and eco-friendly design with rooftop gardens and uneven floors, make it a unique, must-see attraction. The building also features vibrant ceramic tiles in various colors, including several shades of peach. These tiles are used to create playful patterns and decorative elements, adding a touch of whimsy and texture to the facade.
Materials: Brick, ceramic tiles.
Shades: Peach among a palette of bold colors.
📍 The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China, a monumental feat of ancient engineering, stretches over rugged landscapes. While predominantly gray, sections of this structure reveal bricks that have weathered into a distinctive orange hue. The wall's varying colors, including the subtle orange tones, reflect its centuries-old legacy and the resilience of human endeavor.
Materials: Stone, brick.
Shades: Vibrant orange in certain sections.
📍 Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Gaudí's unfinished basilica - Sagrada Familia, is known for its intricate and unique architectural style, featuring a facade with orange-toned stonework. The Nativity facade, in particular, showcases this hue, adding to the building's mystical allure. The intricate carvings and sculptures seem to glow in the sunlight, adding a sense of life and dynamism. While still under construction, the Passion Facade incorporates darker tones with glimpses of orange and peach making it quite dramatic. You’ll also notice Gaudí, a master of using colorful tiles and ceramics in his designs, has used plenty of orange in his mosaic works to add the splash of color.
Materials: Stone, trencadís (mosaic).
Shades: Orange-tinted stonework.
📍 The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA
You’ve seen it in the movies, on TV shows, and some of you might have seen it in read life. Either way, you cannot miss The Golden Gate Bridge. While not true peach, its distinct color falls within the spectrum of peach-orange, contributing significantly to its iconic status. If you thought it was just for aesthetics, then think again! The bridge's specific color is known as International Orange, a shade chosen to stand out against the often foggy San Francisco skies, enhancing its visibility for ships and ensuring safety at sea. It’s also most resistant to corrosion and weathering, crucial for a structure exposed to the harsh marine environment. When you see it up close, notice the bridge's main structure is coated in a deep, rich orange, while the cables are painted with a brighter, more luminous orange. The vibrant color also represents hope, progress, and the pioneering spirit of the American people.
Materials: Steel.
Shades: International Orange.
📍 The Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Practically hidden amidst the narrow canals of Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House sits as a poignant reminder of the atrocities of World War II and the enduring power of human spirit. While primarily built with traditional red brick, the exterior features a subtle peachy undertone that adds a unique and significant layer to the building's historical significance. The use of red brick was a common architectural choice in Amsterdam during the time of Anne Frank. This shared color palette with neighboring buildings helps the Anne Frank House blend into the surrounding environment, highlighting its ordinary appearance and the extraordinary story it holds within.
Materials: Brick.
Shades: Orange-red.
📍 Petra, Jordan
Petra's peachy tones are not a mere aesthetic detail; they are an integral part of the city's history and character. This unique color palette continues to draw visitors from around the world. While often referred to as the "Rose City," its vibrant color palette extends beyond just rose, encompassing a spectrum of hues including peach, orange, red, and even white. The sandstone cliffs that form the foundation of Petra are naturally rich in iron oxide. This mineral, when exposed to the elements, oxidizes and creates a range of colors, including peach, orange, and red. The specific color at any given point depends on the amount of iron oxide present and the degree of oxidation. During sunrise and sunset, the warm sunlight bathes the city in a soft peachy glow, highlighting the intricate carvings and sculptures. As the sun moves throughout the day, the shadows deepen, creating a richer orange and red color palette. Additionally, The Nabataean architects who carved Petra utilized the natural color variations of the sandstone to their advantage. They carefully carved and sculpted the facades, tombs, and temples to enhance the interplay of light and shadow, further emphasizing the peachy tones in certain areas.
Materials: Sandstone.
Shades: Peach, orange, red.
📍 Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
The Hawa Mahal, a remarkable example of Rajput architecture, is known for its unique five-story façade featuring 953 windows. Constructed from pink sandstone, the palace radiates a distinctive peach-colored hue, reflecting Jaipur's royal heritage. It is after all the Pink City! Built in 1799 with red and pink sandstone, it exhibits a stunning façade with intricate lattice work windows that appear peach in the sunlight. Designed for royal women to observe street festivals unseen, this five-story structure combines the Rajput and Islamic architectural styles. Its unique honeycomb-like appearance and the fusion of beauty with practical design make it a fascinating site for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts visiting the Pink City of Jaipur.
Materials: Pink Sandstone.
Shades: Peach.
📍 Uluru, Australia
Uluru, (also known as Ayers Rock) emerges from the ground as a majestic sandstone monolith in the Australian outback. If you have the patience to watch it change color throughout the day, it’s worth it! Sunrise and sunset bathe it in a gentle peach glow, while midday sun reveals its rich oranges and reds. When there, learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Anangu people.
Materials: Sandstone.
Shades: Orange, peach and red at dawn and sunset, brown during the day.
