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From Habitat magazine - issue 21

Blocks of carefully chosen colour playing off against each other were a feature of this year's awards.

A rainbow of waterfront buildings, sea tones set beside each other on a bach exterior, muted colours used as feature blocks on a home's ceilings and walls, and a magical colour blocked stained ceiling… carefully chosen Resene colour palettes became the highlights across the spectrum of categories in the recently announced Resene Total Colour Awards.

The Residential Exterior category was awarded to Edwards White Architects for a bach inspired by the 1950s and 1960s 'dune-hopper' vernacular in which forms and blocks were treated to a simple related colour scheme of Resene Undercover, Resene Avocado, Resene Gravel and Resene Rice Cake. The paintwork in coastal colours provided a cost effective method to distinguish the respective forms and evoke a relaxed atmosphere suited to the beach.

The Residential Interior award went to Henri Sayes for his own new home where the integration of feature walls and ceilings helped to delineate and define spaces as well as make the space feel playful and considered. As the judges commented: "Subdued and considered, the integration of colour adds an element of surprise. It's not bright or garish yet still adds personality to the space." The colours shown here are Resene Bonanza on the ceiling, Resene Raptor in the study and Resene Friar Grey on the living room walls. Other walls are Resene Black White.

A Residential Interior Maestro award went to architect John Mills for a colour blocked ceiling of stained plywood inspired by the flight of the tui. The judges said: "Ceilings are often neglected yet the sense of colour is spectacular on this ceiling and simply framed by the subtle use of colour on the walls." The stains were customised for the project by Resene; the stairwell wall shown here is in Resene Gulf Stream. Also see our colour blocking feature for another view of this home.

And the winner is…

The overall winner, recipient of the Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale award, and winner of the Commercial Exterior award was the Waterview Wharf Workshops in Sydney. A bright and colourful palette was used to highlight the unique forms of the buildings and reflect their creative tenants. Inspired by similar examples around the world, particularly in Scandinavia, the process of deciding on the exact colours was challenging. The resultant scheme uses, from left, Resene Awol, Resene Clockwork Orange, Resene Biscay, Resene Whizz Bang and Resene Galliano. The judges commented on the "beautiful juxtaposition of colour… solid research has resulted in the absolute transformational nature of the buildings and provides connectivity to its surroundings. The buildings have gone from anonymous, shabby and ordinary to simply extraordinary."

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

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