33rd Dulux Colour Awards WINNERS

Courage and sophistication typified the inspired use of colour in the winning projects of the 33rd Dulux Colour Awards, announced at Wednesday night’s Gala event at the National Gallery of Victoria. Attracting a record number of entries – in excess of 430 projects from around Australia and New Zealand across six categories of built work.
Dulux Colour Planning and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr says, “Architects and designers have really set a precedent with their masterful employment of colour to create unexpected, lively, playful and refined interior and exterior spaces.”
Epitomising this versatility, the Australian Grand Prix and Commercial Interior: Workplace and Retail Award winner was a stand out for what the judges described as, “Unexpected sophistication, original interpretation and application of colour, even to the colour of the floors – incredible!” Equally, the NZ Grand Prix winner, Wains Hotel in Dunedin, demonstrated an exceptional level of refinement with subtle colour blocking and contextual references. “Together, these outstanding projects epitomise the value of our awards program, which recognises the most creative and innovative use of colour in the built environment,” Andrea Lucena-Orr says.

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX AND COMMERCIAL INTERIOR: WORKPLACE AND RETAIL – WINNER. PROJECT: GIRAFFE LEARNING CENTRE (NSW) DESIGN PRACTICE: SUPERCONTEXT ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
Judge’s comments: “In a project of its nature, with a low budget and aimed at children, this learning centre may have gone the way of many of its ilk and become either patronisingly cute or just plain bland. Instead, every opportunity has been taken to achieve the opposite. Conceptually strong, the design is accomplished, largely thanks to the strategic use of bold colour. It works hard to delineate zones, between old and new, as well as rooms and transitional spaces; to highlight, rather than hide, exposed building services; and, to assist the visually impaired. Appearing playful while serving multiple functional purposes is the epitome of clever colour usage, and makes this project the clear and deserving winner.” – Rosa Coy, Director of Coy Yiontis Architects

 

WINNER – COMMERCIAL INTERIOR: PUBLIC AND HOSPITALITY. PROJECT: SABLE DROP (VIC) DESIGN PRACTICE: JACKSON CLEMENTS BURROWS ARCHITECTS
Judge’s comments: “Ambition is one thing, execution another, and we commend this project on both. The use of colour is complex and considered, and its precise articulation, particularly the level of tonal matching, is no mean feat to achieve. Balance is key here. It is a large space, but the swathe of seamless green, a demarcation between the external landscaping and the interior, is an innovative device, demonstrating restraint and balance to achieve an impactful result. Overall, this is a courageous design.” – Simon Farrell-Green, Editor of HOME New Zealand magazine

WINNER COMMERCIAL AND MULTI-RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR PROJECT: FLINDERS STREET EXTERNAL WORKS (VIC) DESIGN PRACTICE: LOVELL CHEN Judge’s comments: “Extraordinary investigation and science went into the paint choices here, with the architects undertaking extensive research into the original colours since the late 1970s. In fact, the rigour with which the paint scheme was established is the real story behind this project, with three new Dulux colours being created as a result. The Station’s historic significance and the public’s attachment to it necessitated an outcome that restored the integrity of the original design, and that has been done in an impressive and honourable fashion.” – Matt Gibson, Director of Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

WINNER RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR. PROJECT: CAROLINE HOUSE (VIC) DESIGN PRACTICE: KENNEDY NOLAN
Judge’s comments: “Classic black and white with a punch of colour is eternally effective, and its articulation in this home is especially inspiring. The balanced tonal distribution ensures a subdued spatial feel, enabling detail and texture to come to the fore. At the home’s core is an inspired interation of colour: the near-apple green hue on the stair, including its underside and hand rail, is a central connecting device, mirroring the greens of the pool, itself a focal point of the home, and subtly aligning inside and out. It is timeless and understated or, as the architects state, ‘meticulous and complete’.” – Carole Whiting, Director of Carole Whiting Interiors + Design

WINNER SINGLE RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR PROJECT: ALMA RESIDENCE (NSW) DESIGN PRACTICE: STUDIO GORMAN
Judge’s comments: “From the fabulous front door to the charming extension, the use of many and varied colours in this residence is sophisticated and refined. Anything but conservative, the subtle palette is full of surprising layers and complexity. Dulux colour Linseed takes on a green tinge against the existing red bricks in a beautiful juxtaposition. Soft blues distinguish the exterior extension and are amped up through the interior. Even the impact of shade on colour has been considered. Overall, the quirky combinations create an understated drama and cohesive take on contemporary Victoriana.” – Mardi Doherty, Director of Doherty Design Studio

WINNER NZ GRAND PRIX. PROJECT: WAINS HOTEL DUNEDIN (NZ) DESIGN PRACTICE: YELLOW6 Judge’s comments: “This contemporary but classic design is in keeping with the historic Victorian-era hotel, described by the architects as ‘a grand old dame with quirks and personality’. The subtle use of colour blocking, with soft greys and neutrals on walls to enhance the traditional mouldings, is especially worth noting, as is the choice of Dulux Tuatapere from the Colours of NZ range for the feature wall – a nod to the South Island. Even the clear delineation of curtain lines to define the colour blocks is clever.” – Simon Farrell-Green, Editor of HOME New Zealand magazine

WINNER STUDENT. PROJECT: REIMAGINING RAIL (VIC) STUDENT: DIANA ONG, THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Judge’s comments: “Driven by an ambitious social imperative, this proposal seeks to connect people in public places and employs colour as a unifier in a way that feels real and natural. It truly pushes the boundaries, as students can and should before they are limited by the constraints of industry. Also worth noting is the beauty of the spectacular renderings, which are reminiscent of Constructivist paintings.”– Mardi Doherty, Director of Doherty Design Studio

COMMENDATIONS
THE UNSW BOOKSHOP (NSW) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: SJB
PENTOLINA (VIC) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: BIASOL
CURTIN THINK SPACE (WA) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: ARCADIA DESIGN STUDIO
WALAN (QLD) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: BUREAU^PROBERTS
ELMORE HOMESTEAD (VIC) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: FLACK STUDIO
CAPTAIN KELLY’S COTTAGE (TAS) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: JOHN WARDLE ARCHITECTS
THE BANK, VAUGHAN (VIC) ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN PRACTICE: MARIA DANOS ARCHITECTURE
THE PERFORMANCE TERRAIN THEATRE (NZ) STUDENT: LAUREN GIBBS, AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
THE COMMONS (NZ) STUDENT: ABBEY HALE, AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

CEREMONY: Photographer: Lucas Dawson