The 2014 Dulux Colour Awards winners were announced in Melbourne last week with McBride Charles Ryan receiving the Grand Prix prize for their clever use of translucent and bold block colours on an inner-city apartment building. Alice Blackwood reports.

Above: The Quays by McBride Charles Ryan

Colour is often transformed when used in combination with shape, form and texture – as was demonstrated by this year’s Dulux Colour Awards winners, whose use of primary hues and combination of colour with texture proved to be the winning formula.

Winner of the Grand Prix prize (as well as Multi Residential Interior and Multi Residential Exterior categories) was McBride Charles Ryan (MCR) for The Quays, a Docklands based mixed-use/apartment building which stands proud amongst a growing forest of high-rises. Appearing like an “oversized public art space”, Dulux Colour Awards judges described MCR’s use of translucent colours combined with block colours as “innovative and impactful”.

The Quays by McBride Charles Ryan

“Just like the exterior, the interior of The Quays continues to embrace colour, from hot colours in shared spaces to the muted tones in the pool and spa areas,” the judging panel noted.

The Australian Catholic University – Raheen Library by Woods Bagot was also a category winner (Commercial Interior Refurbishment), judges highlighting it as being a “beautiful modernist take on a traditional library.” Transformative in nature, the library’s colour palettes work together in harmony, colour often coordinating with texture to provide “subtle variation”.

The Australian Catholic University – Raheen Library by Woods Bagot

Among the residential category winners was Bricolage House by Breathe Architecture (forSingle Residential Interior) whose use of colour, judges said, “takes over the architectural language and adds dimension to [the] project.” A combination of matte and gloss paint finishes accentuates form, while the use of graphic art in living spaces creates a sense of “explosion and excitement”.

Bricolage House by Breathe Architecture

The remaining 2014 Dulux Colour Awards category winners are:

Commercial Exterior winner:Bendigo Library by MGS Architects

Bendigo Library by MGS Architects

Commercial Interior winner: The Boston Consulting Group Sydney by Carr Design Group

The Boston Consulting Group Sydney by Carr Design Group

Single Residential Exterior winner: Reach for the Sky by Saaj Design

Reach for the Sky by Saaj Design 

Single Residential Interior Refurbishment winner: 15 Ridley St, Blairgowrie by Austin Design Associates

15 Ridley St, Blairgowrie by Austin Design Associates

Student winner: A Tale of Two Sheds by Lance van Maanen (RMIT University)

A Tale of Two Sheds by Lance van Maanen

The 2014 Dulux Colour Awards Commendations include:

Commercial Interior Refurbishment: Skyline Drive-In Diner by Luchetti Krelle

Single Residential Interior: Westgarth House by Kennedy Nolan

Multi Residential Interior: Sunday Apartments by Woods Bagot

Commercial Interior: Apical Office Fit-out by Duckbuild Architecture

Commercial Interior: Carnivorous Flowers, Shoes of Prey Concept Store by Stukel Stone

Commercial Interior: Bar Testoni by MAKE Creative

 

2013 Dulux Colour Awards
dulux.com.au/colourawards