When I was in Cambridge last summer, my friend took me to see the red front door of a house (bottom left) where Stephen Hawking apparently lived (I’m imagining all the moments of genius that went on in the rooms behind).
Red doors have an enormous amount of symbolism and history attached to them. They are traditionally considered to be lucky and a sign of hospitality and safety: slaves escaping captivity in 19th century America along the Underground Railroad identified safe houses by their red doors.
Episcopalian churches In Scotland had red doors to show that their mortgage was paid off. But red doors also have other more simplistic uses: Albert Einstein apparently painted his front door red so he could find his house. Maybe Hawking did the same?…
What colour is your front door?
Martha, The Colour File x
