Dulux Colour Awards 2010 Winners

McBride Charles Ryan 'Dulux Colour Awards' Grand Prix canvas Smart colours enrich school learning

The prestigious 24th Dulux Colour Awards last night awarded its Grand Prix title to McBride Charles Ryan and their high school project that sets the standards for intelligent paint choice and application.

McBride Charles Ryan's work for the Fitzroy High School has proven to be the ultimate canvas for colour in this year's awards. The decision followed a robust debate amongst judges who were challenged and stimulated by the particularly impressive, quality collection of this year's finalists.

The announcement was made at a gala ceremony held at The Guildford Lane Gallery, which was transformed for the evening into a world of canvas and colour.

This year's esteemed judging panel - Lyons' Co-director Carey Lyon, Interior Designer Alison Page and contemporary Artist Vincent Fantauzzo - agreed that despite remarkable competition, the Grand Prix and Commercial Interior winner ultimately stood out and delivered "fantastic vibrancy from notably secondary colours to enrich the learning environment."

Judges commended the intelligent use of paint on a limited budget to create an affect that is as functional (for its ability to 'way find') as it is aesthetic. McBride Charles Ryan's deft ability to integrate interior and exterior by using paint as a common connection was highly praised.

The firm has been awarded a return business-class airfare and five nights' accommodation to attend 100% Design Toyko, along with a $2,000 cash prize. In addition, their work will be showcased at designEX.

This year's Dulux Colour Awards welcomed a bold new direction, with entries for the first time from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Despite the competitive pool of projects in 2010, the following were eventually lauded as category winners.

Grand Prix/ Commercial Interior
Winning Entrant - McBride Charles Ryan for 'Fitzroy High School'

Builder/Developer - ADCO Constructions / Painting Contractor - Applied Painting Services
Colours used - Dulux Red Clown, Dulux Tingle, Dulux Feminine Fancy, Dulux Emperor Jewel, Dulux
Velvet Violet, Dulux Energos, Dulux Tropical Light, Dulux Forest Maid, Dulux Ballyhoo, Dulux Garnish

Commercial Interior Commendations
Ryan Russell for Aesop Armadale
Bent Architecture for Campus Colours Swinburne University, Wantirna

Commercial Exterior
Winning Entrant - Suters Architects for 'Churchill and District Intergenerational Community Hub'

Builder/ Developer - W.Parnall Constructions Pty Ltd / Painting Contractor - Baldock Painting Services
Colours used - Dulux Intensity Lime, Dulux Black Satin, Dulux Sulphur, Dulux Fluffy Duck, Dulux Finger
Banana, Dulux Timeless Grey

Here judges praised the positive use of colour to help create a distinctive, exciting presence set within a rural/suburban context. Using the palette as a visual magnate, the choice of vibrant colours works to draw one towards and into the building. The grades of yellow give the building a sense of movement whilst contrasting reds are striking and dynamic.

Residential Interior
Winning Entrant - SJB Interiors for 'Prahran House'

Painting Contractor - Nova Painting and Decorating
Colours used - Dulux Teahouse, Dulux Juvenile, Dulux Scarlet Ribbons, Dulux Blue Velvet, Dulux
Princess Blue, Dulux Berkshire White

Judges applauded this project's ability to introduce and apply a bold, contemporary palette to original, period details. The overall result delivered a dramatic, striking space.

Residential Exterior
Winning Entrant - Clare Cousins Architecture & Interior Design for '342 Apartments'

Developer/Builder - CBD Contracting
Colours used - Dulux Protective Coating in Natural Grey and Natural Steel Grey, Dulux Black, Dulux Berkshire White and Dulux Powder Coating in Wineberry, Flame Red, Rivergum Beige, Precious Onyx Pearl, Night Sky, Shoji White.

The depth of colours used in this project delighted judges. A vivid tonal gradation of pink and red shades creates beautiful rhythm, with external slides no doubt changing colour slightly with the shift of natural lighting throughout the day.

Residential Exterior Commendation
Troppo Architects Queensland for Horseshoe Bay House

Sustainable Interior Winning Entrant - Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects for 'Public Transport Authority (PTA) Perth Underground Information Centre'

Builder/Developer - Lakis Constructions / Painting Contractor - Mills Painting
Colours used - Dulux Sago Quarter, Dulux White on White, Dulux Duralloy in Shoji White, Dulux Protective Coating in Orange, Bright Blue, Lime Green, Ruby and Vivid Yellow and external cladding in Dulux Emeralda

Judges agreed that colour here is used to influence mood and help allay any anxiety that might correlate with being in an underground environment. Here, colours are uplifting and positive, creating momentary spectacles for commuters and working wonderfully to distract from any sense of enclosure that might be felt as commuters descend. They also work superbly to reflect transport network lines.

Judges commended this category for rewarding specifiers' growing trend to embed sustainability into all aspects of projects, not least of all paint finishes.

Student Years 1 - 6
Winning Entrant - Joyce Pang from the International School of Colour & Design for 'Savaterre Vineyard'

Colours used - Dulux Rattle Snake, Dulux Mud Pack, Dulux Calf Skin, Dulux Grey Pebble, Dulux Charcoal Chintz, Dulux Precious Silver Pearl, Dulux Brazilian Bean, Dulux Raku, Colorbond Ironstone

Judges were impressed by this project's ability to draw on and complement its surrounding landscape.

All professional category winners were awarded a Dulux Colour Awards 2010 trophy and $1,500 cash, whilst student winner Joyce Pang received a trophy and $1,000 cash.

Those who did not walk away with a prestigious category title will nonetheless benefit from Dulux's sponsorship of the Interior Designer Awards Colour in Commercial Interior Design and Colour in Residential Interior Design. All DCA finalists will automatically be considered in the Interior Designer Awards, and their projects displayed at designEX.