From mammoth to miniature and vibrant to subdued, the incredible breadth of projects expertly coloured with Resene paints, stains and wallpapers were truly a thing for the judges to behold. 

A co-led collaboration between Te Kāhui Toi and Athfield Architects was honoured with this year’s Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale Award as well as the Resene Total Colour Education Award. Their exquisitely coloured Te Rau Karamu Marae project offers a warm welcome to students and guests alike at Massey University’s Pukeahu Campus. Rich in detail and meaning, the marae invites visitors to come together, engage and rejuvenate as they are immersed in the knowledge and values of te ao Māori. The interior configuration, integration and Resene colour palette connect it with the surrounding landscape and the greater natural environment while facilitating learning, engagement and a sense of identity.

Resene has a long history of colour and today’s colour range of thousands of hues is a far cry from the handful that was available when Resene started 76 years ago. The Resene Total Colour Awards were launched to encourage and celebrate excellent and creative use of colour; to showcase striking colour palettes and combinations and provide fresh inspiration.

Resene Total Colour Lifetime Achievement Award

Megan Harrison-Turner

Megan’s love of all things colour is evident as soon as you meet her. It’s a love she shares enthusiastically and generously – with clients, companies, students and through her styling work. As well as an innate knowledge of the power of colours and how to combine them into palettes to make the most of each space, Megan also has the rare ability to be able to articulate what the hue brings to a space and why it works so that others can share this same knowledge. Megan combines the artistry of colour with the technical knowhow of colour theory, which makes her colour selections and teachings all the more apt and valuable.

Megan’s work has added colour to a huge number and range of projects over the years and led to an ever-expanding list of grateful clients. Megan’s energy and enthusiasm for colour is infectious. Her work has encouraged clients to become more confident in their colour choices and embrace new hues. And for her students, Megan’s colour teachings have set each on a colour journey of their own.

We look forward to seeing even more of Megan’s colourful work in the future.

Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale Award and Heritage Award

Te Rau Karamu by Te Kāhui Toi + Athfield Architects.

The judges said: “Breathtakingly beautiful and undeniably sophisticated, this marae combines the power of colour, artistry and light, exuding calm and peacefulness to draw you in. With painstaking attention to mesmerising and elegantly finished details, the sheer depth of love and passionate effort wrapped into this project is undeniable. This project draws on the past, celebrating history, yet sits beautifully in the present with an eye toward the future. Courageous use of lighter colours helps to give levity to the internal space. Within an urban environment, it gives the campus a heart with a colour palette that is inclusive and designed to bring people together. Incredibly beautiful and elegant.”

Resene Total Colour Education Colour Maestro Award

Footsteps Preschool by Craig Burt, Parsonson Architects 

The judges said: “Harnessing a refined colour palette, the combined effect is cheerful and uplifting to match the exuberance of the children who learn and play there. The project showcases an innate understanding of the power of colour and how it can be cleverly manipulated to integrate and define zones in a space.”

Resene Total Colour Rising Star Award

Identity Redefined by Varna Berriman

The judges said: “A classic example of one space many ways, this project role-models how we should all think about colour in spaces. Physical and emotional needs have been taken into account to lead decision-making when choosing and placing colour to ensure they support each user’s identity. A toolkit of colour is unlocked to adapt the project to enhance and celebrate individuality.”

Resene Total Colour Residential Interior Award

Beach Barn by Alex Fulton, Alex Fulton Design + Nott Architects

The judges said: “Colour brings personality to this home. Creatively executed, this palette is holistically designed and draws attention to feature spaces with relief and neutrality, allowing the carefully curated accent colour choices to lead the colour story. Colour selections and curations of treasures are interwoven with care so that each supports the other.”

Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior Public + Retail Colour Maestro Award

SoYo Frozen Yoghurt by Hierarchy Group

The judges said: “Colour is used to push the boundaries of what we have come to expect from mall retail. The placement of hues at mind-bending angles redefines the sense of space to stretch the definition of its limits. The design is innovative in its use of the client’s branding colours, in a way that wholeheartedly embraces them. An ‘Instagrammable’ destination.”

For all the Resene Total Colour Award winners and full citations, visit resene.co.nz