Remarkables Primary School

External colours and materials are muted and natural to blend into the environment, executed through cedar and black cladding, Resene Pearl Lusta and dark grey joinery.

Once inside the main roof entrance however, the vibrancy of the interior becomes apparent. Resene Poprock in the main stairwell draws the visitor down to the school’s reception and staff areas where it is joined by highlights of chilli red, storm grey and black, the predominant colour theme through non-teaching areas. The inspiration was a response to the teaching and leadership at the school, which is fresh and modern, and the interior reflects that energy.

Within offices and staff rooms, calm walls, doors and ceilings in Resene Coconut Cream and Resene Alabaster are the perfect foil for the stimulating greens and reds that punctuate the spaces through pinboards, splashbacks and furnishings. This colour combination even extends to the green roof where green and red sedums sit within white chips and the library with its additional injections of colour from Resene Limerick and Resene Pohutukawa on the bespoke shelves and computer stands.

The colours of each teaching pod are inspired by its theme:

• Ahuwhenua/Flora – greens
• Whenua/Earth – ochres
• Wai/Water – blue-greens
• Irirangi/Sky – grey-blues
• Pohutu/Rock – golds

In all teaching spaces Babbage Architecture has used Resene Half Pearl Lusta for walls and Resene Alabaster for ceilings with nero carpets to enhance each colour theme. Two complementary pinboard colours enrich each space with the appropriate tones – avocado and lime for Flora, sea green and spearmint for Water, burnt orange and dark gold for Earth, dark and light golds for Rock, and mid- and sky-blues for Sky. The decoration enhances the identity that pupils feel for their pod and makes easy wayfinding for the young students.

The hall, where the whole school comes together, has doors and architraves of Resene Fahrenheit to complement natural and chilli walls. These colours stream from the lit interiors after twilight, reflecting the liveliness and enthusiasm of the pupils and teachers inside.

Colours used: Resene Alabaster, Resene Coconut Cream, Resene Double Pearl Lusta, Resene Fahrenheit, Resene Half Pearl Lusta, Resene Limerick, Resene Pearl Lusta, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Poprock.

Products used: Resene Enamacryl, Resene Lustacryl, Resene Quick Dry, Resene Sureseal, Resene Zylone 20.

Architectural Specifier: Babbage Architecture
Building Contractor: Naylor Love
Painting Contractor: Craig McIlroy Painters & Decorators Ltd
Photographer: Marina Mathews Photography
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2011

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