Colour and light

NZ House & Garden, Resene / Colour expert

There’s synergy between the two, says architect Daniel Marshall.

Over time, Auckland-based architect Daniel Marshall says he has come to love the bespoke nature of residential architecture and the emotional connection that people have with their houses. Colour plays a part in that.

Do you have a preference for how to use colour in interiors?

I might use a strong Resene colour as an accent to contrast with neutrals as a way of creating a depth of space.

I look at colour as a material that reacts with light. I think of it as a way of creating a mood as the light bounces off the surface and as the light changes through the day. Much like a theatre uses light to reinforce emotion or drama.

How do you feel colour can be used to complement good architecture?

Originally my mantra on colour was “white, grey, black and sometimes red” but my position has softened over the years and I now experiment with different colourways. I’m quite enjoying pastels at present.

Black is an often-used exterior colour for contemporary architecture – why is that?

I remember photographer Patrick Reynolds saying to me a long time ago that black is the colour of the New Zealand bush, and that really resonated with me. You know, the colour of a mamaku frond or the colour of the mould that grows on the kānuka. We started using black on exteriors so that the architecture would meld with the environment. Of course, black attracts heat so it is important to use it with the right materials and safeguards like Resene CoolColour paint.