Haymes Paint colours Corten and Claystone, drawn from the brand’s Colour Planet Heritage Palette, form the defining paint palette for a residential project by MRTN Architects, designed by studio principal Antony Martin as a home for his own family.

Applied throughout in Ultra Premium Eggshell finish, the two colours were selected to sit within the house’s broader material palette of custom-pigmented concrete block and terracotta flooring. The aim was to ensure paint, texture and changing light functioned together as a unified whole.

“The house has an inherent palette created by the materials it is built from,” says Antony Martin, principal, MRTN Architects. “The paint colours needed to belong within that palette, allowing colour, light and materiality to work together as one.”

Material-first design

Material selection guided the design from the outset, with key specifications established early to allow architecture and detailing to evolve around the inherent qualities of each material. A custom-pigmented concrete block was used throughout the house, valued for both its visual character and its sustainable credentials. The block is manufactured using chipped timber pallet offcuts as aggregate and requires minimal energy during production, a consideration that aligned closely with the project’s environmental objectives. Terracotta flooring was selected for its warmth, longevity, and capacity to develop a patina alongside the building over time.

“The terracotta flooring is a centuries-old building material which will not only stand the test of time but will also patina with the house while creating a sense of warmth in tone,” says Martin.

Interior of MRTN Architects family home with Haymes Paint Corten applied to walls | Credit: Marie-Luise Skibbe

Colour as spatial differentiator

Within this material context, Corten and Claystone perform distinct spatial roles. Corten, the deeper and warmer of the two tones, was applied in private areas of the home to introduce depth and intimacy. Claystone, a softer neutral, defines shared living spaces, providing a quieter backdrop against which the warmth of the terracotta flooring and the texture of the concrete block can read clearly.

“Private and public areas share the same natural materials, but a spatial differentiation is created through the use of colour,” says Martin.

Colour selection was verified using Haymes Paint Colour Swatches, with testing carried out against surrounding materials and across varying natural light conditions throughout the day. The house’s orientation means light shifts considerably from morning to evening, and confirming consistent colour behaviour under those changing conditions was central to the specification process.

“Our projects are always very material driven,” Martin adds. “Material selections are made early and the details are crafted to suit the material rather than the other way around.”

MRTN Architects family home with Haymes Paint Claystone in shared living spaces | Credit: Marie-Luise Skibbe

Photography by Marie-Luise Skibbe.

Haymes Paint Corten and Claystone anchor MRTN Architects family home in colour and materiality

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