The 2012 Dulux Colour Awards event was held recently at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne with the Royal Children’s Hospital taking home the Grand Prix title.
Designed by Billard Leece Partnership & Bates Smart, the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne won the award for its innovative use of colour. This entry also won in the Commercial Interior category, with judges commending how the project showed the possibilities of using colour as a key design element.
Room11 Architects’ inspirational and alternative use of colour for the Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park (GASP) in Elwick Bay, Tasmania received honours in the Commercial Exterior category for transforming a mundane access way into an impressive public structure. The application of colours on the walkway modified the overall experience of the bridge.
A house renovation project in Richmond, Melbourne titled ‘Shakin’ Stevens’ was named the Single Residential Interior award winner for its considered use of a singular insertion of colour, providing a dramatic and clear solution.
The Single Residential Exterior category was won by a children’s cubby house, Open House designed by Nixon Tulloch Fortey Architecture P/L for demonstrating how colour could reinforce the strength of design. Open House was auctioned at the 2011 Melbourne Flower and Garden Show to raise funds for the charity, Kids Under Cover.
The Drill Hall Community Housing, located near the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne took out both the newly created Multi Residential Exterior and Multi Residential Interior titles. The building uses a vibrant and attention-grabbing palette of colour on the outside, which also continues into the interior. The Drill Hall Community Housing project has been designed by MGS Architects.
The Sustainable Interior category award went to The Venny, a communal backyard and play space designed for 5-16 year olds in Kensington, Melbourne by the City of Melbourne. The jury was impressed with colour moving from the project’s fabric to an integrated community artwork on the floor.
One of the country’s up-and-coming design professionals, Kiang How Tan from RMIT had an impressive debut with his concept to rejuvenate a Fitzroy-based community housing settlement. Tan’s Urban Renaissance, Atherton Gardens RE commission showed how a different range of colours can be applied to a building to demonstrate identity, a sense of place and community growth.
Award-winning architect and Grand Designs Australia host, Peter Maddison was one of the four judges for this year’s Dulux Colour Awards. The judging panel also included the talented colour guru at Colourways, Kim Chadwick, the creative stylist and founder of www.thedesignfiles.net, Lucy Feagins and Jeff Fearon, a principal and co-founder of the award-winning Auckland-based architectural practice, Fearon Hay.
Judging entries at the 26th Dulux Colour Awards, the panel had to shortlist 111 entries out of 217 submissions received from individuals and organisations across Australia and New Zealand. The final nine winners were selected after a marathon session of deliberations.
The complete list of winners of the 2012 Dulux Colour Awards can be viewed on the Dulux website.
Dulux is a world-leading brand of colour solutions ranging from decorative coatings, powder coatings and protective coatings to texture and timber finishes.
