b'blue skyperiod. At the end of that period, the plants, which would haveleft Light, shape, colour and a natural vista bring ambiance to the music room absorbedthedangerouslevelsofcontamination,wouldbein Quns thesis project. The ceiling and walls are painted in Resene SpaceCote harvested and destroyed before a new phase of replanting. DuringLow Sheen tinted to Resene Pumice, Resene Aqua Squeeze, Resene Envy and Qun Zhangsthe remediation, the former gunpowder storage buildings wouldResene Spanish Green to create an ombre effect.be adaptively reused and designed to function as new spacesright: Not only does Quns thesis project challenge the idea of thesis projectrepurposing a contaminated space for community benefit, it for the local community to adopt while other buildings would reimagines abe retrofitted to continually manage groundwater and becomealso beautifully reimagines what the interior spaces could beReseneand examines the effect colour has on their energy. Walls contaminatedresearch and education centres. and ceiling in Resene SpaceCote tinted to Resene HalfHalf Smalt BlueColourisintrinsicallytiedtotheproject,includingtheSmalt Blue with columns in Resene Daredevil.site as an oasisplanting.Speciesofbrassicawouldbealternatedwithother of colour. plants,withtheirvividyellowflowersbloomingintoaseaofResene Resene Resenegold. By contrast, the powerful red orange catwalk in ReseneDaredevil Envy Spanish GreenW henarchitecturalgraduateQunZhangwasintheprocessofphytoremediationtheextractionofpollutantsDaredevil is designed to grant visitors access to this temporarycommunity to come together. The catwalk towering above the site phenomenon and bring awareness to the issue. Strategically lit, midstofcompletinghisMasterofArchitecturethrough hyperaccumulating plants. Current remedial processesthe catwalk would become a landmark amid the landscape andbecomes a colourful screen that loudly proclaims its existence. It programme at the University of Melbourne, bushfiresare cost-prohibitive. However, this project sees the process as asignal the sites renewal, says Qun. draws in curious onlookers and teases at the potential renewal. In were ravaging Australia. But rather than focusing on the horrificcommunity-led initiative that brings people together, and a siteNewbuildingsonthesitearedrenchedinboldResenethis project, colour is used unabashedly to generate visual fields environmental destruction, he was inspired by natures resilience.with a colonial past adapted for present day social needs. colours such as Resene Pioneer Red, Resene Rock Spray, Resenethat seek to impart a meaningful and transcendent experience for His aptly named thesis project, Healing, responds to the scarsBased on his research, Qun says the carefully selected plantsTussock, Resene Japanese Laurel, Resene Horizon, Resene Halfvisitors. Subversively tugging on the senses, primary colours used on the landscape from land mismanagement leading to sites ofwould thrive in the contaminated soil over the 12 year remediationAubergine, Resene Wild Thing and Resene Feijoa to welcomeagainst more complex schemes entice the curiosity of visitors in contamination too damaged for use and now left neglected. visitorswellafterthesunsets.Thejoyfulcoloursbecomeaorder to bring awareness.The site is a former gunpowder store called Jacks Magazine,reef for community activation where opportunities emerge forFittingly,theresearchtopictiesintowhatdrewQun a remnant from when Melbourne was an early colonial settlementperformances,markets,eventsandmeetings.Drawingupontoarchitectureinthefirstplace:theabilitytoshapeour and gold was discovered further afield. It was later incorporatedthe local flora, the buildings borrow colours from the landscapeenvironment and the places we inhabit. Growing up, my parents as part of a larger ammunition factory until the end of the war,to establish a uniquely local sense of place. While the site iswere researchers at an agricultural university. I managed to spend Qun explains. Digging through various environmental audits,vulnerable to fire and flood, the project builds resilience througha lot of time roamingwith plenty of unsupervised climbingHe says that Resenes extensive range of paint colours allowed it became evident that the soil now contains heavy metals atthe healing of the physical and mental landscape. and exploring of agricultural structures. These were landscapeshim to easily pick tones that worked well with one another across levels deemed detrimental to health. This led to research intoQunsResenecolourswereinspiredbythehuesoftheto me with their own world inside. Woven irrigation in the floorhis scheme. In drawing inspiration from nature, I explored the alternativepracticesinsoilremediation,andIlandedontheAustralian bushfires as well as those that can be found in theresembledriversfeedingintoforestswhilelight,shadowandrecommended complementary colours on the Resene website following spring contrasted against a burnt landscape, impartinghumidity imbued each space with an elemental rawness. Now, Ito find soft and subtle tones to balance the stronger hues. I also asenseofresilienceandrebirth.WhenstudyingAustralianam drawn to the ability to create structures that stimulate thelike the ease in which I can find recommended colours on the right: A rainbow of nature-inspired ReseneResene plants, its impossible not to notice the seemingly unconventionalimagination and extend the everyday experience. website, which are often hues that I didnt even know existed.hues colour the sunshade that wraps around the multi-storey building that Qun proposesJapanese Laurel colourcoordinationandjuxtapositions:deepgreensbleedingGoing forward, Qun hopes to work on more projects thatI find the Karen Walker Paints collection is a great starting in his thesis project, including Resene PioneerResene intoreds,darkvelvetypurpleswithbrightorangesandgoldscan be experienced by the wider communityespecially thosepoint to launch the hunt for a perfect colour, even if you do arrive Red, Resene Rock Spray, Resene Tussock,Tussock ablaze. The colours used in this project draw from that energy.thatbringpeopletogetherinasharedspace.Trulysocialat a different choice from another range. I just love Resene Half Resene Japanese Laurel, Resene Horizon andResenePumice,ReseneAquaSqueeze,ReseneEnvyandinfrastructureprojects,suchaslibraries,schools,hospitalsorSmalt Blue; its gorgeously rich in depth and reacts so differently Resene Half Aubergine. The lower adjacent buildingResene Spanish Green embody the renewal of the contaminatedsocial housing are often the interface for a lot of the public and Iwhen you play with light and shadow. Its a great colour to use for houses creative spaces with interior walls and ceilingResene landscape and evoke gum leaves. Resene Daredevil and Resenebelieve are typologies in which architects can offer the most andinteriors where the colour melts away at the edges of perception in Resene SpaceCote tinted to Resene Pumice andAqua Squeeze Wild Thing resemble deep red banksias and yellow myrtle blooms,highlight alternative ways of living. to generate a velvety atmosphere.Resene Aqua Squeeze. imparting a vivid vitality that burns with life. These colours wereabove: Roof in Resene Wild Thing (top) and Resene Feijoa (underside),Because a large part of his project was in the rejuvenation of theWecantwaittoseewhatotherexcitingprojectsQuns Resene Resene Resene important in establishing a strong identity. pillars in Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Pioneer Red and interior wallpublic space currently hidden away, Qun says it was exciting to seefuture holds. Timeless Pioneer Red Horizon Remediatingthesiteonlyaccomplishesonepartofthein Resene SpaceCote tinted to Resene Tango. how much energy and vibrancy can be borrowed by the choices in Resene Resene Resene design,hecontinues.AnequallyimportantgoalistohealResene Resene Resene colours. I am much more attuned now to observing the use versusTo see more of Quns creative work, check out his portfolio on Instagram Pumice Rock Spray Half Aubergine the wound in the surrounding area which lacks spaces for theFeijoa Wild Thing Tango lack of colour on the street, and the potential that colour offers. @qunsworld.40 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 41'