Seventy six projects have been announced as finalists for the 2014 Dulux Colour Awards, selected from 197 entries in the search for the best application of colour to transform a space.

As in previous years, the Commercial Interior category was the most popular, with 20 finalists selected. Single Residential Interior followed closely with 12 and Commercial Exterior with 11.

There are a total of eight shortlisted projects in both the Commercial Interior Refurbishment and Student categories; five with Single Residential Exterior; and four in the Multi Residential Exterior, Residential Interior Refurbishment and Multi Residential Interior categories.

According to Dulux Colour Planning and Communications Manager Andrea Lucena-Orr, volumes of bright yellow, orange, blue and greens dominated the Commercial Interior entries.

There was a strong reference to the 80s, with a mix of bold, clashing colours and geometric shapes. Most entrants experimented with the use of colour for ceilings and door frames.

Colour blocking was less obvious in the Commercial Exterior submissions, although a shaded spectrum with a variant of bright and saturated reds and oranges still made this category colourful.

“The Commercial Interior Refurbishment and Student categories referenced their environments as their inspiration and creatively used combinations of colours,” says Lucena-Orr.

“Similarly, an earth-inspired palette was popular in Multi Residential Exterior submissions. Olive green and variations of green were strong dominant colour themes, along with the use of tonal variation.”

Block reds, greens and greys were prominent in the Single Residential Exterior category, while the Single Residential Interior Categories used colour as a strong focal feature.

The 2014 Dulux Colour Awards finalists will now be reviewed by a panel of judges. This includes architect and director of Elenberg Fraser Callum Fraser; contemporary artist Geoffrey Carran; musician and entrepreneur Daimon Downey; director of 6 Hats and UNO Daniel Dalla Riva; and Claire Sullivan, publisher and editor-in-chief of Denizen & Design Folio.

A total of nine winners will be announced at a gala event in Melbourne on Thursday 27 March 2014.

Full list of finalists:

Commercial Interior

CWW Operations Building – PTA Architecture P/L (VIC)

Apical Office Fit-Out – Duck Build (VIC)

Escala Partners – Molecule (VIC)

Charles Perkins Centre – Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp + Building Solutions (architects in association) (VIC)

Classic Cinema – ITN Architects (VIC)

JWT Presentation Space – MAKE Architecture (VIC)

LaTrobe Institute for Molecular Science – Lyons (VIC)

Mango’s – Lombard and Jack (VIC)

PEGS – Infinity Centre – Mcbride Charles Ryan (VIC)

PEGS - Infinity Centre by Mcbride Charles Ryan. Image: freshome.com

Swanston Academic Building RMIT – Lyons (VIC)

The Boston Consulting Group Sydney – Carr Design Group (VIC)

Bar Testoni – Make Creative (NSW)

Move Store – Ideaworks (NSW)

University of Canberra – Sinclair Knight Merz (NSW)

Shoes of Prey Concept Store – Tobhiyah Feller (NSW)

Perth Arena – ARM Architecture + Cameron Chisholm Nicol (WA)

Wangakura Stadium – ARM Architecture (WA)

8 Leek St. – Outline Design (NZ)

Astrolabe Wines – Alex Fulton Design (NZ)

Harbour City Centre Upgrade Studio – Pacific Architecture (NZ)

Commercial Interior Refurbishment

Altus Fitout – Edwards Moore Architects (VIC)

Australian Catholic University - Raheen Library – Woods Bagot (VIC)

Australian Catholic University, Raheen Library by Woods Bagot. Image: woodsbagot.com

Deakin University Geelong Accommodation Relocation – Woods Bagot (VIC)

Hamer Hall – ARM Architecture (VIC)

Pabu – Architects EAT (VIC)

Le Passe Temps – habitat living(NSW)

Skyline Drive In Diner – Luchetti Krelle (NSW)

TNS Sydney – The Bold Collective (NSW)

Commercial Exterior

Albury Multi Agency – Depot GHD (VIC)

Bendigo Library – MGS Architects (VIC)

Bendigo Library by MGS Architects

Cloud Canopy – Maddison Architects (VIC)

CWW Operations Building – PTA Architecture P/L (VIC)

PEGS - Infinity Centre – Mcbride Charles Ryan (VIC)

Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Carpark – DesignInc (VIC)

Upper West Side – Mim Design (VIC)

Pathway ECI Childcare Centre – Raw Architects (NSW)

Pitt Water Animal Hospital – Elisabeth VanDyk (NSW)

St Luke's Catholic Primary School – Terry Farrell (WA)

Taylor Primary School – SQC Architects (ACT)

Residential Interior Refurbishment

15 Ridley Street, Blairgowrie Austin – Design Associates (VIC)

Wallflower House – Gardiner Architects (VIC)

Wallflower House by Gardiner Architects. Image: gardinerarchitects.com.au

Residential Colour Selection – Louise Sullivan Design (NSW)

Victorian Workers Cottage – Danny Broe Architect (NSW)

Single Residential Interior

19 Vincent Street, Glen Iris Austin – Design Associates (VIC)

Bricolage House – Breathe Architecture (VIC)

Bricolage House by Breathe Architecture

little red riding hood – Nexus Designs (VIC)

Our daggy little weatherboard – Key Piece (VIC)

Westgarth House – Kennedy Nolan (VIC)

St Kilda Hill Renovation – Grant Amon Architects (VIC)

Birchgrove House – TFAD Pty Ltd (NSW)

Coogee Residence – Alexandra Kidd Design (NSW)

Single Residential –  Brooke Fogarty (NSW)

The Stables – Karen Akers (NSW)

Pearl Beach House – Brett Mickan Interior Design (NSW)

Murphys Road House – Alex Fulton Design (NZ)

Single Residential Exterior

Floating on a Hill – Saaj Design (VIC)

Reach for the Sky – Saaj Design (VIC)

Hamersley Road Residence – Studio 53 (WA)

Grand View on Moreton – Hackett Architecture (QLD)

Zero Carbon House – TS4 Architecture (SA)

Student

A Tale of Two Sheds – Lance can Maanen (VIC)

Common Ground – Ashleigh Briggs (VIC)

The New Backyard – Ashleigh Briggs (VIC)

BEE A BEE cafe/bar – Nazanin Orani (NSW)

Bondi Metro – Mitchell Say (NSW)

Osklen’s Headquarters – Renata Estrela (NSW)

Forage – Vanessa Orr (NSW)

Multi Residential Exterior

Roseneath Clifton Hill – V Arc (VIC)

The Quays – Mcbride Charles Ryan (VIC)

The Quays by Mcbride Charles Ryan. Image: Mcbride Charles Ryan

11 Bong Bong Street, Kiama - Dartanyon (NSW)

Riccarton Road Apartments – Stufkens + Chambers Architects (NZ)

Multi Residential Interior

Sunday Apartments – Woods Bagot (VIC)

Sunday Apartments by Woods Bagot. Image: woodsbagot.com

The Quays – Mcbride Charles Ryan (VIC)

Bupa Baulkham Hills – B2 Property Solutions (NSW)

Bupa Sutherland – B2 Property Solutions (NSW)