ColourDesign Library

Modelmaking and architecture

Thinking through making with Atelier La Juntana

Atelier La Juntana is an architectural design and making studio on a mission to ensure that thinking through making retains a place in our digital age. We talk to Armor Gutierrez Rivas about the work of the studio.

Creating inspiring workspaces: an interview

Exploring the design of b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos’ offices

Founded by Fermín Vázquez and Ana Bassat in 1997, b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos is based in Barcelona and Madrid. The architecture practice has been instrumental in shaping both cities, such as Torre Agbar and El Mercat dels Encants in Barcelona, and the La Matriz campus and the VP Hotel in Plaza España in Madrid. Partner Pablo Garrido explains the thinking behind the interior design of the firm’s two offices.

This is where we work with Park Associati

From a Milanese apartment to a functional mid-century studio 

Filippo Pagliani and Michele Rossi set up Park Associati in 2000 in a Milanese apartment. In 2014, they relocated to a converted telephone factory in the residential Città Studi neighbourhood. Their designs and notable projects include the headquarters of Salewa in Bolzano, and Milan headquarters for Luxottica, Nestlé and Accenture. Examples of their ongoing projects are Palazzo Sistema, a new workplace for Regione Lombardia, and MI.C., an urban design, landscape and architecture project that aims to regenerate the multi-faceted polarity of Stazione Centrale in Milan.

A playful design process

Blå Station’s Johan Lindau tells the story of the Jackson easy chair

In this article, we’ve travelled to Sweden to hear Johan Lindau, of furniture brand Blå Station, tell us how the easy chair Jackson came to be.

Embracing the power of playful design

Office S&M on their approach to playful architecture: a colourful journey in design

Office S&M co-founder Hugh McEwen explains his practice’s approach to colour and unpacks the notion of ‘playful’.

Complementing and contrasting colour in a historical setting

Architects Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés on their recent project in Clichy

In the Parisian suburb of Clichy, a pair of buildings from the Haussmann period stand on two corners of a triangular site. Paris-based architects Brenac & Gonzalez et Associés were tasked by developer Ogic with densifying the site. They did this by designing a pair of office buildings, which complement and contrast with their 19th century neighbours.

Modern Craftsmanship

Craft and colour in furniture design

ColourDesign Library talks modern craftsmanship, circularity and hackable interiors solutions with product designer Charles Bramwell of UK furniture makers sixteen3.

Based in the historic industrial heartland of the UK’s North West, sixteen3 design furniture systems for workplaces, hospitality and university settings. Established in 2009 with a focus on soft seating, the company has expanded into modular, customisable systems for breakout spaces and open-plan offices.

Colour choice in furniture design

Two design teams explain their approach to colour

We talk to two style-conscious furniture manufacturers about decision-making around colour in the design process. How do their designers approach hue, and do they apply colour psychology to choice of palettes?

Workplace design for neurodiversity

Savannah Willits at PLP Labs discusses the role of colour in designing offices for all

“Employment is one of the key routes to accessing income, which, in turn, is the pathway to many wellbeing factors, such as healthcare, self-care, nourishment, housing, mobility and security. Therefore, it is imperative that, as a society, we create an ecosystem that supports people through the employment life cycle.” 

Age Friendly Living in China

Exploring GN Architects’ Shanghai Jingxian Nursing Home

Nursing homes in China have very strict requirements when it comes to construction materials and decoration elements. It’s important that materials, furniture and finishes are environmentally friendly, so that they do not negatively affect the health of staff, visitors and – above all – patients. These considerations were taken into account by GN Architects, when they were commissioned to design the 270,000 sqm Shanghai Jingxian Nursing Home.

Our connection to nature’s palette

Why we are embracing natural colours and textures in design

What’s behind our current fascination with all things natural? Sally Put, editor of Axalta’s ColourDesign Library, reflects on why the colours and textures of nature are flourishing across our built environments.

Biophilic Design

Nature and Wellbeing in Cities

The basic principles of biophilic design may be old, but our understanding of the scientific links between mental wellbeing and nature in cities is relatively new. We take a look at some of the growing evidence.

Children, Colour and Learning

No Architects nursery in Prague uses colour to signal activities

Located in the Karlin neighbourhood of the Czech capital, this colourful 120 sq m day nursery was created by Prague-based No Architects from what was once a deep-plan office. The design uses colour to identify the functions in the daily lives of babies and toddlers, employing an unexpected palette of saturated darker hues contrasted with flashes of bright colour and the pale, neutral tones of birch ply.

Five of our favourite architectural features

Powder coated elements on buildings across the world

At Axalta, it always feels like a privilege to help bring to life the visions of architects and designers – here are some of our favourite architectural features from recent projects.

Create an identity with colour

Communication design and colour

We talk to Leah Harrison Bailey of communication designers Thomas.Matthews about colour, culture and the built environment.

Reinventing Minimalism

Creating spaces that are meaningful and sustainable

Explore the revival of minimalism with softer aesthetics allowing us to be intentional when it comes to creating a meaningful & sustainable lifestyle.

The look of new minimalism

An aestetic and an ethos

Developed in collaboration with international colour consultant Hilde Francq, New Minimalism is one of four directional themes in our ICONICA range of super durable powder coatings. We talk to Hilde about the thinking behind the colours and textures of New Minimalism.

Digital colour

Appreciating colour in real life and via a screen

Colour expert at Axalta Dami Babalola and furniture designer Stephen Gaull discuss the impact that the digital world has on our appreciation of colour in real life (IRL) and vice versa.

Designing a city

Developing colour palettes for street furniture

We sat down with John Theewis of Eurolacke Powder Coatings, Axalta’s distributor in The Netherlands, to find out about their City Collection which features coatings in the official municipal colours for 12 cities across the Netherlands.

Liquid coatings for buildings in the Americas

The Global Color Palette: Durapon70® 

Colour, texture and character feature across Axalta’s product ranges – from matt to metallic and from powder coatings to liquid. We chat to Ben Mitchell, Axalta’s Architectural Business Development Manager in North, Central and South America, to find out about the preference for liquid coatings in the Americas, and current colour trends.

Getting the corten look

How powder coatings can deliver the organic look of weathered steel

Once associated with industrial plants and urban neighbourhoods, weathered corten steel now features in a diverse range of settings and applications, from university campuses and rural residences to public artworks.

Letters from Madrid: Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos’ impact

Skylines, facades and colour nuances 

Founded in 1920, Rafael de La-Hoz Arquitectos is a third-generation firm, with major projects in sectors from commercial and civic to residential and leisure, in Spain and beyond. Architect Jesús Román, based in the architecture studio’s head office in Madrid, talks to ColourDesign Library about how the city influences their work, and the studio’s approach to colour.

Letters from a city: Barcelona

Axalta’s Mercè Berengueras on colour trends in Spain

Innovations in technology and transport make it easier than ever to take a whole-world view. However, local factors such as climate, culture and history preserve the richness of regional identity. To find out more about colour trends in Spain, we asked Barcelona-based Mercè Berengueras, EMEA Specifications Manager at Axalta, to share her thoughts. 

The world of colour consultancy

Insider view

What is colour consultancy and how does colour trend forecasting work? We talk to Vienna-based international colour consultant Alina Schartner to find out.

The allure of metallics

Exploring the ever-evolving SuprAnodic Collection

Since the first Axalta anodic-inspired powder coatings, The Anodic Collection, launched more than a decade ago, the SuprAnodic Collection has flourished. We caught up with Sally Put, Axalta’s Global Communications Manager, to find out what has inspired the collection.

ICONICA Natural Crafts

People, Place and Patina

As we strive to find ways of living that are better for the planet and its people, the colours and textures we intuitively surround ourselves with are changing too.

Colour and cities

Artist and placemaker Cath Carver on transforming urban spaces

ColourDesign Journal talks to artist and placemaker Cath Carver of Colour Your City about using colour to transform urban places and spaces in conversation with communities.

Creating a joyful museum

Co-design and colour

AOC Director Gill Lambert tells ColourDesign Library how colour is shaping ‘the most joyful museum in the world’. 

The evolving landscape of architecture and design visualisation

5HT talks to us about the role AI is playing in visualising and illustrating design concepts

We find out what’s next in architecture and design visualisation from 5HT’s Philip Buckingham and Raj Lutchman – including the role of artificial intelligence.

Representing colour and texture digitally

An interview with virtual prototyping agency Eclat Digital 

How are the colours and textures we see online in virtual product libraries like Axalta’s COLOUR it tool created? And how accurate are they? We talk to Louis Dellieu of Eclat Digital to find out.

Anodic-effect powder coatings

How do anodic-effect powder coatings compare to chemical anodisation?

The luxurious feel of metallics has for decades influenced architecture and design. Walk through any world city today and you’ll be dazzled by pearlescent building facades glinting in the sun. 

Three reasons to love Dubai’s architecture

A look at some of the ingenious design that is shaping how we live

As one of the most exciting cities in the world, Dubai is home to architectural projects that continue to grow in ambition and scale. Here are three reasons why Dubai is a trailblazer in construction.

Interview with GCA Architects

Sustainable design that honours the past and shapes the future

In 2022, GCA Architects completed one of their most ambitious projects to date: the Smart22@ building. Located in GCA’s home city of Barcelona, Spain, the building sits in the former industrial barrio of Poblenou. As Spain’s first intelligent building, Smart22@ sets a new standard for responsible, sustainable urban reinvention. Founded in 1986, GCA has won international awards and acclaim for its projects, which champion responsible architecture.

Keeping buildings cooler with POLAR

A darker shade of cool

Axalta’s new POLAR coatings reduce surface temperatures of buildings by up to 20ºc. We spoke to EMEA specifications manager Mercè Berengueras to find out how.

Early years colour perception

Understanding infant colour perception

ColourDesign Journal talks to the researchers at Sussex Colour Lab and Baby Group to find out how babies perceive colour and why they might prefer looking at cities.

Fun facts about colour psychology

Five lesser-known stories on how colour affects mood

Five fun evidence-based stories on colour perception and mood

This is where we work with Squire & Partners

From an old department store to a modern architecture studio 

Chris Simmons, Associate Director at London-based architecture practice Squire & Partners, explains the use of colour and historic elements in the transformation of a dilapidated Edwardian department store into their new office.

Creating new homes in an English conservation area

Office S&M explore the design details chosen for Red Cow Terrace

Introducing strong colour into historic settings is perceived as risky. But that didn’t stop Office S&M at their project Red Cow Terrace in St Albans, the English town with ancient Roman roots and many listed buildings. Office S&M co-founder Hugh McEwen explains his thinking behind the design of three new homes in a conservation area.

The unforgettable 90’s

Five trends from the decade that we’ll never forget...

From minimalism to inflatable seating, we explore five unforgettable design trends from the 90’s.

The most durable of urban furniture

A celebration of the park bench

For many of us, public parks and urban spaces took on a whole new significance during the pandemic – offering a rare opportunity to experience a sense of community in real life. The effect was to cast a spotlight on the street furniture that helps transform urban spaces into civilised outdoor living rooms for all.