An inspiring transformation of the Strathmore Park Community Centre in Wellington by Etch Architecture was honoured with this year's Resene Total Colour Master Nightingale Award as well as the Resene Total Colour Commercial Exterior Award.

Now known as Te Tūhunga Rau — Strathmore Park Community Centre, the upgraded centre features sliding doors of art designed by Pokau Te Ahuru painted in bold Resene colours, providing a strong and enriching focal point to the public face of the building, welcoming visitors while rooting the centre into the strong heritage of the area. The bold palette of Resene colours is based on hues that hold prestige in te ao Māori and can be enjoyed as a shared experience from inside or out, welcoming all to gather, be nurtured and share values.

The judges said: "From ugly duckling to beautiful swan, this building was once a simple white structure that would barely raise a glance. Now, it has become a talking point, a local beacon and a celebration of the local community. Innovative and creative, this project is a moving feast of pattern and colour, with a corner of colour that can be moved and viewed in so many different ways. The judicious use of colour celebrates the hero colours to perfection with the rest of the building deliberately dark as a backdrop. Flashes of red on edges are the perfect finishing touch to connect all the elements together. The sliding doors so cleverly integrate bold colour and movement, allowing the hues to be viewed from the inside and out — an enduring gift of colour and design that can be enjoyed by all."

This project is finished in Resene Alabaster, Resene Double Foundry, Resene Element, Resene Flashpoint, Resene San Juan and Resene Supernova.

This year’s Resene Total Colour Awards received the highest number of entries into the annual awards, eclipsing the previous year and making for much heated debate and discussion among the judges in the quest to crown the best of the best.

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 77 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.