In the 21st century, there has been a noticeable move toward the versatility of color in architecture. This can be attested to through an analysis of the color of buildings designed by some of the leading modern and contemporary architects, and a critical review of works written about the colors used in their buildings. This analysis goes on to identify four concepts related to the term versatility: transformation, fragmentation, movement, and novelty. These four concepts help us to understand the way color is conceived and arranged in contemporary architecture. By doing so, we aim to re-establish the importance of color in the design of architecture, overcoming some former theoretical and practical preconceptions stemming from the modern era. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 38, 344-355, 2012