“It is fitting that this year’s awards were presented at the Sydney Opera House, for it is the embodiment of exceptional design and precedent-setting architecture, qualities that the programme epitomises,” says Davina Harper, Dulux New Zealand Colour Specialist. “We aim to identify innovative expressions of colour in the built environment and, in doing so, to highlight the transformative potential of colour when combined with great design.”

The New Zealand Grand Prix winner, COMMON Architecture + Interiors, takes a simple idea and applies it with great care and deep conviction. “Seven Colourful Little Houses, literally a row of low-cost houses in outer Christchurch, prompts a rethink of the possibilities of urban development,” says Harper. “It sets an exciting new precedent for this typology, highlighting colour as a cost-effective, joy-inducing and highly impactful design strategy.”

Similarly, the Australian Grand Prix winner, Alexandria House, was unanimously applauded for its commitment to a singular gesture in the application of Dulux Cumberland Red, a deep burnished red to the ceiling of the home. The unpredictability of this design strategy redefines the genre and demonstrates the strength of an original idea and the power of colour to transform our experience of architecture says Dulux.

Both Grand Prix winners demonstrate the breadth of this year’s offerings, which saw projects of all types exemplifying outstanding original colour usage, from regional schools to inner-city retail outlets, an underground dining establishment, a heritage leisure club and a tiny gelato bar.

“Although all these projects are quite distinct, there are some strong directions that have emerged from this year’s winning projects,” says Harper. “Colour blocking has been used to great effect across several projects in which spatial boundaries have been defined through colour alone. We are also seeing colour saturation in internal and external applications, which requires a level of commitment, and a deep understanding, of colour.” 

In an exciting move, this year’s awards programme has been expanded to include temporary or installation design as a standalone category in recognition of this growing area of design. The inaugural winning project, Community Hall at the NGV’s 2023 Melbourne Now exhibition, is a brave, visual feast of colour and testament to the sophistication of this genre.

The carnival-inspired colours of the Community Hall were evident across a number of projects and categories, to varying degrees of intensity, indicating a prowess to designing with fun in mind. By contrast, earthy tones were also embraced, particularly deep rusty reds in external and internal applications, as well as dusky blues, warm greys and browns.

“If there is a dominant theme this year, it is the use of colour in all-encompassing ways, from coating every surface of a room in a single shade to painting an entire building in tonal graduations of one colour,” says Harper. “In doing so, architects and designers are transforming our built environment, enhancing the user experience and challenging what we will accept as the traditional norm, especially once we see the potential of colour used in such ways.”

Due to the high calibre of the 83 finalists, this year’s judging panel of respected design-industry professionals undertook a rigorous process of consultation to determine the results. The panel comprised: Sarosh Mulla, Director of Pac Studio; Shaun Carter, Founder of Carter Williamson; Monique Woodward, Co-Founder of WOWOWA Architecture; Eva-Marie Prineas, Founder of Studio Prineas and Nick Travers, Co-Director of Technē Architecture + Interior Design.

“In awarding this year’s winners, who designed an exemplary range of projects, each of which contributes positively to our built environment in a unique way, we also commend all the finalists for lifting the bar so high and demonstrating what it truly means to design with colour,” says Harper. “It is an honour for us at Dulux to collaborate with such exceptional innovators across both New Zealand and Australia.”

The New Zealand winners of the 2024 Dulux Colour Awards are:

New Zealand Grand Prix (Commercial and Multi-residential Exterior):

Seven Colourful Little Houses, Faringdon by COMMON Architecture + Interiors

New Zealand Student:

The Keeper of My Memories by Beth Williams of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington

Click here to view the 38th Dulux Colour Awards finalists.

For further information on this year’s winners, finalists, judging criteria and terms and conditions, visit dulux.co.nz/colourawards