Winner: Commercial Interior Public and Hospitality | Wagaya (NSW) by Span Design

This year’s 2018 Dulux Colour Awards looked super.  They do every year.  Seeing new ways to apply and work with colour is tops, and these awards certainly bring out the best of the best!

I’m starting with this blue and pink beauty from Span Design.  Wagaya is a very hip and on-design commercial space which has totally mastered the art of colour AND lighting – thats a hard ask – especially when that lighting is neon.  Balance is key and they have nailed an aesthetic that is very pleasing, ultra modern with a huge helping of flair. Yum.

Winner: Commercial Interior Public and Hospitality | Wagaya (NSW) by Span Design

Get a load of the textures at play here – perforated metal, sumptuous velvets and a texturised tile.  Very cool gang, very cool.

Commercial Interior: Workplace and Retail
Winner – Abbotsford Studio (VIC) by March Studio

OOOOOoooh – Commercial Interiors when they go good.  Having been a judge on this panel I can see how this entry would of stood out immediately but no doubt the judges also had to do the ground work on the why’s and how’s to finally make this commercial interior the winner winner chicken dinner. It’s as much about the story as the flashy images (tip for your entry next year!) and this space has both in spades. Spades I say!

Commercial Interior: Workplace and Retail
Winner – Abbotsford Studio (VIC) by March Studio

Abbortsford Office, March Studio, Colour Palette

A little bit Memphis, a little bit vans-shoe-check and a lot of colour combo goodness.  This makes for an exceptional place to work I would guess.

Commercial Exterior Winner (also the winner of the Grand Prix Award) – Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel (WA) by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

Not only did Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects win the Commercial Exterior Award the also took out the Grand Prix Prize.  Three cheers!

I actually think the judges would say this better than me here: ”An exemplary piece of architecture, whose impact is heightened, and even defined by, the considered use of colour, the Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel is the clear overall winner of this year’s Grand Prix. The nuanced juxtaposition of contextually inspired hues demonstrates an understanding of the strength of colour and its relevance in the Australian landscape.”

See.

Commercial Exterior Winner (also the winner of the Grand Prix Award) – Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel (WA) by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

Commercial Exterior Winner (also the winner of the Grand Prix Award) – Fitzroy Crossing Renal Hostel (WA) by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

Clever clever clever.  Finding the right mixture is such a complex yet intuitive process. It’s like they pulled the colours palette from the rural surrounds?  Yes, I think they just might have.

International Commendation – The Family Bach by Cymon Allfrey Architects

Not a winner but a super commendation (we will take it NZ, we will!).  VERY worthy of a commendation is this Family Bach from Cymon Allfrey Architects.  It’s the use of one colour (and in this case a Dulux Canary Yellow) as a highlighter throughout the architecture.  Nice work.

International Commendation – The Family Bach by Cymon Allfrey Architects

That contrast colour doing it’s job at the front entrance.  Dashing.

International Winner – Crimson Education Office by OPL

The winner of the International Category is (drumroll here) a KIWI!  Yay Yay Yay.  It’s been a long time coming to finally get a NZ winner in these AUST dominated colour awards (They are just so darn clever those Aussies).

International Winner – Crimson Education Office by OPL

Designer Patrick Loo has wow’ed this space with a dichromatic combo of a faded crimson (Dulux Red Rock) and a bright white (Dulux Vivid White and Dulux Mt Aspiring).  It’s incredibly architectural and welcoming at the same time.  The judges said it was “discretionary but deliberate” and I would tots agree.

Multi Residential Exterior Winner – 5 Sam Sing Street (NSW) by Collins and Turner Architects and Environa Studio

This flappy metaly shades of green and grey entry took out the Multi Residential Exterior section.  Nuff said?

Dulux Pale Green Tea, Colorbond Pale Eucalyptus, Mangrove, Colorbond Cottage Green, Storm Break, Intensity Leaf Satin

Multi Residential Interior Winner – North Perth Townhouse (WA) by Simon Pendal Architect

Simon Pendal and team have nailed ‘doing colour strong and well’ in the Multi Residential Interior Category.  That green though (Dulux Celtic Green).  Gutsy and full on in your face and I love it.  Big gestures in colour are often lacking, so to see this kind of throat-punch with colour makes my heart sing.  TKO through that white interior (Dulux Lexicon) with serious amounts of block colour why-don’t-cha.

And now they have done it with this shade of klein blue (Dulux Ahoy).  Soooo good right. So good. You are killing me softly teaming that blue with that chartreuse yellow and orangeyred. Anyone noticed the white cutout on the roof.  Go the deets.

Single Residential Exterior Winner – Albert Park Curved Pleated Façade (VIC) by AdeB Architects

AbeB Architects won there category with a perforated fold metal facade.  Nifty.

Single Residential Interior Winner – Percy St (VIC) by Bagnoli Architects

Pastels dreams do come true.  Loud and proud they are in this category of residential Interior.  I haven’t seen all the rest of the entries but I don’t care.  This wins.  It’s subtle in colour but not in execution.  Check out the application through out each space.  I’ve only given you two images but I could of shown them.  Bravo times a thousand.

Dulux: Percy St – Spanish Olive, Bleached Coral Half, Antarctica Lake Quarter, Duck Egg Cream Quarter, Fair Bianca Half, Antique White U.S.A.

Single Residential Interior Winner – Percy St (VIC) by Bagnoli Architects

Seriously – they also need to get the Miss World Joinery Award too right.  Sexy seeeeeeems right thur.

You reckon you could compete next year?  You sooo should.

Keep posted on all things colour and awardy with Dulux NZ (and Dulux AUST).

Yours in colour, Alex