Dulux Colour Awards 2024

About

This design showcases block colour and traditional materials uniquely by creating a series of sculptural, colourful pavilions in an urban garden of a Sydney terrace house.

What the judges said...

"The work of Mexican architect Luis Barragan is called to mind in this 1880s terrace and its colour-blocked addition, which fit beautifully into the eclectic tapestry of Sydney’s Surry Hills. Encouraged by their clients to use colour as a design tool, the architects drew upon these local and global references to devise the palette and employ it judiciously to define function and character inside and out.

“To the street, the original façade presents an unbroken Aerobus blue, which picks up similar shades in the surrounding neighbourhood and defines the original Victorian elements throughout the home. The rear exterior, by contrast, is a rich exotic red, injecting a vibrancy to the paler buildings sharing the back lane. It also hints at what’s behind, namely a series of new, pink-pigmented pavilions conceived as outdoor rooms and surrounded by garden on this tight urban block.

“These two personalities, distinguishing front from back and old from new, simply with their contrasting colours, add so much joy to their respective streetscapes. They are contextually responsive and highly original at the same time."

Shaun Carter, judge.

About the project

Sunkissed Higgins was designed for a young family enjoying the coastal life in a small surfing community in Middleton, South Australia. The graduated series of pastel pink weatherboard cladding echos the ombre effect of the setting sun.

What the judges said

"This is pure retro joy! With its gelati pink and fresh white exterior, this seaside home pays homage to both the classic Aussie beach shack and ‘80s imagery of Vaporwave sunsets. This palette was derived the study of hues that would render the house ‘sunkissed’ – blushed in the direct sun and bronzed as it sets. The resulting ombre effect across the façade is enlivening – a welcome addition to the local vernacular and a celebration of beach culture."

About

This post-and-beam platform home on stilts in Narrawallee, NSW, imaginatively reinvents the beachcomber-style home to accommodate extended family holiday trips without losing the home or surrounding area’s charm. The new board and batten cladding replaced the replica timber weatherboard cladding in a more contemporary manner, still harking back to the beach shacks of the past.

The cladding, windows, trims and doors were all painted the muted green of Jungle Moss to pay homage to the Australian beach house. The new picket balustrade and structural elements are in the slightly darker green of Willow Leaf to reflect the landscape and coastal surroundings.

What the judges said...

“We know that Architect George has a strong position on colour and this project on the south coast of New South Wales is testament to that understanding; it exemplifies the degree to which colour can impact a design. Overall, it is a subtle, humble yet sophisticated response to the surrounding environment. "