Dulux Colour Awards 2024

About the project

This Sydney terrace house renovation was designed to feature an element of surprise and amplify the perceived scale of the home. Warm, earthy hues were used through paint, pigments, aggregates and ironbark to achieve a sense of tranquillity throughout.

What the judges said

"To say the success of this project comes down to a singular gesture may deny the skill involved, but it truly is one colour applied in one context that defines this clear winner.

"The secret sauce is in the combination of that specific colour, namely Dulux Cumberland Red – a deep burnished hue, and its application to the ceiling of the home that is in itself brave, clever and, maybe most importantly, precedent setting. Undoubtedly, part of the impact of this painted ceiling is the way it stands out in stark contrast to the Natural White™ walls.

"The consequence of this juxtaposition is that the roof plane articulates and defines the spatial relationships, and the effect cannot be understated. It’s like reading the floor plan, only above. As an architectural move it is so simple, yet it alters the experience within the interior dramatically, highlighting its geometry, during the day at least; at night, the dark ceiling disappears as though there is none there at all.

"Although minimal, there is a warmth in these spaces, enhanced by earthy hues, pigments and aggregates, which combine to satisfy the architects’ goal to create soulful depth through a play of shadows and illumination. Ultimately, it is a ‘catwalk project’ – a creative architectural exemplar that instills confidence to try new things."

Eva-Maria Prineas, judge.

About the project

Petite Retreat is a small, top-floor apartment in a mid-century modern building in Melbourne. Stepping away from white, a soothing pale blue with a touch of green was used on the ceiling, walls and trims to blend seamlessly and amplify the colour. The colour change, especially to the ceiling, has made the apartment feel larger.

The soft hue created the sophisticated background to the soft furnishings in warm reds, pinks and terracotta, mid-century timber furniture and marble floors in two colourways – whites and pale greys for the bedroom and red, black and pink travertine for the living areas.

What the judges said

"Petite but impactful, this apartment is a poster child for using colour to make a big statement on a small budget."

About

This 1880s terrace is a "home in a garden" where colour was used to define function and personality. The project showcased colour and the beauty of traditional materials to create a series of colourful pavilions separated by the garden. Colour was also used to blur the threshold between public and private spaces and the exterior and interior.

What the judges said...

“Colour is front and centre here, and the level of innovation demonstrated is truly inspiring. With a directive from the clients, and references to the palettes of Luis Barragan and the eclectic inner-city location, the architects have used colour in myriad ways.

"Primarily, it has been employed to define the function and personality of a room, distinguishing private spaces from communal ones. The neutral brown hue of Dulux Magnitude flows through the common areas into guest bedrooms, and its universal application, that is, to ceilings, walls, trims and joinery, has a warm, enveloping effect.

"In contrast, the deepest of blues has been used in the private bedroom, again in a saturation of monotonal colour across all surfaces, which enhances its intimacy.

"This strategy is apparent throughout the bathrooms but deviates in the new living area, a garden-facing pavilion where only the ceiling is adorned, here in a night-sky blue, with the aim to enhance the connection between inside and out. In another masterstroke, the kitchen, located in the original part of the house, is saturated in a bright yellow to create a vibrant zone quite distinct in its practical and emotive roles.

"Of note, is the seamless correlation between this bold interior treatment and the exterior where, again, colour has been used to define personality. It is a gift to its neighbourhood and all who experience it."