From BlackWhite magazine - issue 11, exteriors
Architects, designers and artists are reimagining our vertical landscapes with creative colour palettes.
From the windswept skylines of Wellington to the sun-drenched towers of Brisbane, the vertical canvas of our cities has been undergoing a quiet but striking transformation. While it once seemed that only the stark greys of concrete, stucco, aluminium and glass defined the aesthetics of multi-storey buildings in our urban environments, we are now witnessing a resurgence in the strategic use of paint. Rather than sticking to predictable palettes of white, grey and black, there’s a rising trend for urban exteriors that make a bold design statement. In the hands of architects, designers, builders, property managers and artists, paint is emerging as both a tool of rejuvenation and an agent of visual storytelling across the mid and high-rise landscape.
Beyond improving the aesthetic appeal of these exteriors, paint offers a highly pragmatic solution for reimagining existing residential and commercial towers. As owners and developers seek cost-effective ways to enhance kerb appeal and extend building life cycles, exterior paint finishes in striking colours provide an economical alternative to more invasive façade overhauls. With advances in durability, UV resistance and weather resiliency, Resene’s contemporary coatings play a part in prolonging the longevity of these structures, a fresh coat of paint delivers a satisfying and immediate visual uplift.
While repainting building exteriors is nothing new, the growing movement away from neutral palettes towards bolder, more expressive use of colour is. Architects across New Zealand and Australia are experimenting with deeper hues, saturated accents and even large-scale mural work to interrupt the visual monotony of our concrete jungles. These chromatic interventions not only enliven façades but also contribute to placemaking – giving unique identity to buildings, breaking down their scale and injecting a sense of warmth and personality into the urban environment. What was once a surface treatment has now become a medium for architectural character, reflecting a broader cultural appetite for vibrancy in our cities.
Here, we showcase some recent multi-story refurbishments with refreshed Resene colour palettes that caught our eye.
Roseneath, Wellington
Situated on a very prominent site overlooking Wellington Harbour, the colourful new windshields on Gateway Apartments have transformed what was once an entirely neutral façade.
The previous windshields on the building’s south-facing elevation had been in place since the project was constructed in 1965. Structurally engineered to withstand the pressure of Wellington’s notorious breezes, the devices reduce ingress through apartment entrances. But after decades of being subjected to harsh conditions, they had become severely deteriorated.
The original intention had been for a like-for-like replacement. The new windshields, fabricated from modified timber, echo the originals in function but are far more resilient. Since the modified timber material alone was not warranted for Gateway Apartment’s intense and exposed marine environment, the project team consulted with their Resene Representative to find a Resene paint system that would be both protective as well as decorative and discovered Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss was up to the task.
Rather than painting the windshields to match the previous ones, Gateway Apartments residents were keen to have colour introduced and move away from the existing scheme – which was described as “very sombre”. A fresh, new palette aimed to add colour in a simple yet playful way was selected, which features Resene Java, Resene Fringy Flower, Resene Wild Thing, Resene Pursuit, Resene California and Resene Gauntlet. Each prefabricated screen is painted in a single colour to reduce the complexity and cost of painting work while still allowing for variation in colour across the overall façade. Designed to be removed and disassembled where necessary, the panels can be repainted and reinstalled whenever maintenance is required – ensuring these new windshields will continue to remain up to the task.
As the installation of the new windshields progressed, complimentary comments rolled in from community members. Gateway Apartments’ transformation similarly caught the attention of the judges of the Resene Total Colour Awards, who recognised the project with a Resene Total Colour Exterior Award. “The joyful colour selections ingeniously revitalise this prominent building, infusing it with life, energy and positivity through the thoughtfully chosen and ever-so-carefully placed colour palette. It has been transformed into a friendly and visually engaging landmark,” they commented. “The clever installation technique ensures both aesthetic appeal and sustainable maintenance, setting a benchmark for modern architectural rejuvenation. A textbook example of how a little colour can go a long way.”
Darwin, Northern Territory
The Darwin Street Art Festival is an annual event held over two weeks in August and September, attracting a diverse array of international, national and local artists to infuse the streets of Darwin with their creative expressions. During the festival, artist George Rose received a special invitation to paint a magnificent 10-story mural on the façade of the iconic Argus Apartments. The timing of the mural creation was particularly notable as it took place in late September, just a few weeks before the onset of the Northern Territory’s wet season. The impending weather added an element of urgency, fuelling motivation to bring the vibrant vision to life against the backdrop of Darwin’s ever-changing climate.
Titled Sand Plains, the mural artfully portrays a captivating depiction of various rare species that are exclusive to Darwin’s distinctive ecosystem. The region – particularly its northernmost reaches – stands as one of the planet’s most biodiverse locations for bladderworts. These small aquatic carnivorous plants thrive in sand plain habitats, which encompass seasonally inundated wetlands near Darwin.
As the tallest mural she has completed to date, this monumental mural represents a significant milestone in George’s career. To complete the installation, George and her painting assistant Jordan maneuvered the large boom lift with three articulation points, navigating the challenging height of over 30m to ensure every detail of the artwork was expertly brought to life.
Featuring her signature street art style and bold use of colour, Argus Apartments has become a standout feature in the community. The design was created using Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen tinted to Resene Paua, Resene Bullitt, Resene Deep Koamaru, Resene Daisy Bush, Resene Canary, Resene Turbo, Resene Aqua, Resene Java, Resene Bowie and Resene Captain Cook. Since the wall was exposed to direct sunlight throughout most of the day, George also made use of Resene Hot Weather Additive to extend the drying time, allowing for optimal application of her colour coats.
Epsom, Auckland
Surrounded by predominantly underdeveloped commercial land and motels, The Vanguard is the first development of its kind in Epsom and has set an exciting precedent for the central Auckland neighbourhood – kickstarting a much-needed urban regeneration in the area that champions the objectives of the Auckland Unitary Plan. The project’s efficient use of its 1000m2 site replaced four rundown flats with a handsome mixed-use building.
Divided into two blocks, The Vanguard’s layout incorporates commercial retail at street level and 34 apartment units boasting plenty of natural light and a range of striking views including Mt Eden, Rangitoto and Auckland’s Sky Tower. Textures and details found on the façades express an abstract representation of the triangular Totara Mileposts historically found along Great South Road.
The Vanguard’s design takes advantage of natural light and ventilation at every opportunity. Apartments are accessed by a visually engaging ‘green wall’ breezeway that encourages airflow, adds to the biodiversity of the bustling urban area and creates a calming and interesting environment for residents. Chosen for their vibrancy and ability to complement the natural tones of the surrounding plantings, four different Resene greens were used to bring the verdant, soothing tones from the landscaping and adjacent green spaces on to the façade with refreshing impact.
The design team took a considered approach to getting just the right balance through their Resene colour selections. Hoping to invoke feelings of abundance, peace and security for residents and passersby alike, they landed on Resene Sushi, Resene Dell, Resene Untamed and Resene Wild Willow as the ideal combination. Not only do these biophilic tones help connect and ground The Vanguard to its site, but they poetically express a vision for the kinds of projects that many hope to see more of in Epsom.
Mt Cook, Wellington
For many apartment buildings, the long-term maintenance plans often dictate how often a building needs to be repainted. While some resource consents may stipulate that the same colours be used, there was a unique opportunity for the body corporation at Quattro Maison Apartments to switch things up.
Constructed in 2008, the resource consent for the building’s colour scheme, which was radical for the time, only required that the new colour scheme relate well to the original design intentions. The name, Quattro Maison – meaning ‘four houses’ – was expressed with four distinct colours. Changing the design to a single colour would not only gone against the resource consent, but it would have abandoned the central premise that gives the building its charming concept.
Quattro Maison's painting subcommittee consisted of an impressive trio: a designer from Weta Workshop, a building scientist and former lecturer at the VUW School of Architecture and a retired owner of a design company. Together, they worked with a Resene colour consultant to brainstorm potential combinations. After some deliberation and tweaks, a new scheme of Resene Chilean Fire, Resene Groovy, Resene Hemisphere and Resene Allports teamed with covers and recesses in Resene Half Fuscous Grey was ultimately selected. In a desert of grey buildings, Quattro Maison Apartments continues to sit as an oasis of imaginative colour that proudly acknowledges its origins and namesake.
Products mentioned in this article
This is a magazine created for the industry, by the industry and with the industry – and a publication like this is only possible because of New Zealand and Australia's remarkably talented and loyal Resene specifiers and users.
If you have a project finished in Resene paints, wood stains or coatings, whether it is strikingly colourful, beautifully tonal, a haven of natural stained and clear finishes, wonderfully unique or anything in between, we'd love to see it and have the opportunity to showcase it. Submit your projects online or email editor@blackwhitemag.com. You're welcome to share as many projects as you would like, whenever it suits. We look forward to seeing what you've been busy creating.
Earn CPD reading this magazine – If you're a specifier, earn ADNZ or NZRAB CPD points by reading BlackWhite magazine. Once you've read an issue request your CPD points via the CPD portal for ADNZ (for NZ architectural designers) or NZRAB (for NZ architects).
Get inspired ! Subscribe 
Get saving ! Apply for a DIY card
Can't find what you're looking for? Ask us!
Company profile | Terms | Privacy policy | Quality and environmental policy | Health and safety policy
Welcome to our World of Colour!™
Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online. See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.
What's new | Specifiers | Painters | DIYers | Artists | Kids | Sitemap | Home | TOP ⇧
