Last night, the 31st Dulux Colour Awards were held in the Touring Hall at the Melbourne Museum.

The 2017 winners included standout architectural firm, Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith, who took home the prestigious Grand Prix prize, in addition to the Commercial Exterior award for their work on the North Bondi Amenities. With its innovative use of colour in the service of public provisions, the project gained the unanimous approval of the judging panel.

Student entries similarly impressed, their diverse, experimental approaches highlighting an artistic fearlessness among the growing international talent pool of up and coming creatives. Dulux Colour Planning and Communication Manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr, said the 2017 finalists presented works that delivered an entirely unrestrained skew on colour use, in line with this year’s theme of ‘Bold, Forward, Tilted’: “The Dulux Colour Awards looks to uncover the most inventive use of colour in built environments across Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Each year we look for the submissions that take creativity to new heights and this year’s award winners broke free of all tradition to deliver concepts that truly represent the future of colour and design.”

The 2017 Dulux Colour Awards winners are:

Grand Prix Project: North Bondi Amenities by Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith
Featured Dulux colours: Khaki, Straw, Teal, Opaline and Cootamundra

Photo by Brett Boardman.

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Student Winner Project: Carrara Baths by Taylor Chan from University of Auckland 
Featured Dulux colours: Osso Bucco, Tranquil Retreat, Fresh Lemon, Still Yellow, Window Blue and Brilliant Red

Render courtesy the student.

Commendation Project: Arched – A Civil Union by Jun Chang from RMIT University
Featured Dulux colours: Hidden Depths and Fiery Glow

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Commercial Interior – Public Spaces & Hospitality Winner Project: The Pool by Aileen Sage Architects with Michelle Tabet
Dulux colours: Water Raceway, Orchid Orange, Claypot, French Blue, Admiralty, APO Grey and Storm – Metallic Grey

Photo by Brett Boardman and Alexander Mayes.

Commendation Project: Karratha Super Clinic by CODA Studio
Featured Dulux colours: Natural White, Alpine Landing, Antarctic Blue, Mini Blue, Credo, Reed Green, Stella, Klute, Kelly’s Flower, Galaxy Blue, Turquoise Sea, Persian Belt, Pale Daffodil and Plunge

Commendation Project: Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives by studioplusthree
Featured Dulux colours: Black, Drive Time, Royal Battle, Unforgettable, Captive, Da Blues and Metro Mars

Commercial Interior – Workplace & Retail Winner Project: Financial Services by Futurespace
Featured Dulux colours: Silkwort, Natural White, Colorbond Shale Grey, Navy Gloss, Brume Half, Zeus Charcoal Satin and Gunmetal Kinetic Satin

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Photo by Sharyn Cairns.

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Commercial Exterior Winner Project: North Bondi Amenities by Sam Crawford Architects with Lymesmith
Featured Dulux colours: Khaki, Straw, Teal, Opaline and Cootamundra

Photo by Brett Boardman.

Commendation Project: Byford Secondary College by Donaldson and Warn 
Featured Dulux colours: Vivid White, Ghosting Half, Orange Keeper, Colorbond Dune, Golden Banner, Jubilation, Persian Belt, Fiji Palm, Celtic Green, Egyptian Enamel, Full Of Life, Kings Canyon, Colorbond Woodland Grey, Zeus Charcoal Satin, Black, Encounter, Stravinsky Pink, Red Box, Blue Mosque, Malay Grey, Murray Red, Xtreme White Satin, Eternity Citi Silver Pearl Matt, Xtreme and Black Satin

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International Winner Project: Antarctic Heritage Trust – Hillary’s Hut by Antarctic Heritage Trust
Featured Dulux colours: Pram point, Snow Cat, Ponder, Transmission, Heke, Dieskau, Underbrush, Rose Pink Villa, Sceptre Blue, Dusky, Fanlight, Murray Red and Vivid White

Photo courtesy Antarctic Heritage Trust.

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Single Residential Interior Winner Project: Footscray Apartment by BoardGrove Architects
Featured Dulux colours: Natural White, Black Caviar and Colorbond Dune

Photo Haydn Cattach.

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Single Residential Exterior Winner Project: Burleigh Street House by ME
Featured Dulux colours: Melon Baby, Ginger Crunch, Stella, Black Water, Duck Egg Blue, Night Life, Indian Summer, Mondrian Blue and White Watsonia

Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones.

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Multi-Residential Interior Winner Project: Coppin Street Apartments by MUSK Architecture Studio
Featured Dulux colours: Sulphur

Photo by Ben Hosking.

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Multi-Residential Exterior Winner Project: RMIT Bundoora West Student Accommodation by Richard Middleton Architects
Featured Dulux colours: Electro Mid Bronze

Photo by Dianna Snape.

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The winners were selected from an overall 286 entries and subsequent shortlist of 89 finalists, by a judging panel of design leaders, including Ryan Russell, director at Russell & George; Maurice Terzini, restaurateur and fashion designer; Fiona Lynch, director at Fiona Lynch Interior Design; Timothy Hill, director at Partner’s Hill, and Shelley Ferguson, editor in chief of Your Home and Garden (NZ).

Lead photo by Brett Boardman.

See the winners of last year’s Colour Awards here.