The 32nd Dulux Colour Awards for Architecture and Interior Design were held at a Gala event at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne last week. The prestigious industry awards programme recognises the most creative and considered use of colour in nine project categories.
With 15 Finalists from NZ architecture and interior design firms celebrating their shortlisted projects, this year’s awards highlighted the impact of colour as an architectural and interior design device; from the warm muted tones of a studio interior to the shimmering metallic finish on a period home extension, the varied application of colour was demonstrated with universal flair.
Courage and innovation typifies the inspired use of colour in all of the winning projects. Excited to share a couple with you today, the first is Percy St by Bagnoli Architects. Winner of the Single Residential Interior category, the Victorian cottage has been transformed with a new home extension, while retaining as much of the original design and history as possible. Lines of sight, light, texture, colour, fixtures, fittings and detailing are custom designed throughout the entire project.
The design connects the old to the new internally via an interplay of floating built-in furniture versus solid and rich brass and marble detailing. Circular forms define and contain moments through the design.
The main living area has one conical skylight, painted yellow, warmly capturing the eastern morning light and a second painted blue capturing and cooling the north/western light, marking time through the space. From sunset the LED lights within the base of the cone provide an evening glow.
Photography by Ari Hatzis
The Dulux colours used is this incredible project are Spanish Olive, Bleached Coral Half, Antarctica Lake Quarter, Duck Egg Cream Quarter, Fair Bianca Half and Antique White U.S.A.
This next project, Elsternwick House by Fiona Lynch, was awarded a Commendation for the Single Residential Interior category. With a storied past, the grand, historic bones of this magnificent Victorian home became the interior design studio's muse as they reimagined the space with respect for its past and vision for its future.
The brief from the client was to celebrate the existing historic features through a respectful palette and to layer contemporary fittings and furniture to reflect the young family's lifestyle. Grand rooms were made more intimate and liveable through playing with scale of carefully curated furniture and fittings. A commanding original fireplace in deep russet marble informed Fiona Lynch's choice of Dulux Elusive Blue for the surrounding walls, whilst the soaring ceiling inspired elegant velvet curtains in unexpected tobacco.
Fiona Lynch delivered an exciting exploration of colour with a considered approach ensuring a wonderfully resolved marriage of new and old. Despite their contemporary aesthetic, the intervention of iconic pieces are at harmony with the homes historic character bound by a timeless reverence for materiality and proportion.
"Integral to the project, and to the client, was to ensure each room maintained its own particular aesthetic - be it dining, study, formal or informal lounges. The architecture and layout dictated much of the flow, however, for us it was also important to create cohesive journey that slowly revealed itself as one moves from space to space, taking an evolutionary approach from room to room" says Fiona Lynch. Soft, earthy Dulux Pipe Clay in the lounge melds into grey Dulux Tristan in the adjacent study; through to a dining room swathed in striking blue Elusive Blue. The bedrooms were calm and enriched in deep Dulux Silkwort, with varying tones in velvet, linen and upholstery completing the calm, strikingly adult rooms.
Such a serene and elegant home!
For information on the Dulux Colour Awards 2018 judging panel and to see the full list of winners take a look here.
Images courtesy of Dulux