Colour possesses the unique ability to shape human emotion, guide physical movement and establish a meaningful connection between people and the built environment. This understanding was the focal point during the fourth edition of the Creative Colour Awards in Bangkok, where the architecture and interior design industries gathered for a live international finale held concurrently with the AYDA Awards. Welcoming 257 submissions from 16 countries and geographical locations, the platform showcased how global practitioners are increasingly relying on hue and tone to solve real-world design challenges.
Evaluating the Depth of the Colour Narrative
Beautiful is never enough when it comes to great design because colour must actually solve a problem. It acts as a fundamental building block alongside light, proportion and physical materials. The international judging panel did not simply look for visually striking spaces. They looked for projects where colour was part of the core thinking from the very beginning. Reflecting on the intense deliberation required to evaluate the professional finalists, CCA Jury Hideji Kanamori noted that the exceptionally high standard sparked passionate debate among the panel. He shared that the most successful projects proved his core belief that colours truly change values, create unique experiences and ultimately change lives. By holding the industry to this rigorous functional standard, the awards highlighted that colour is the very language giving a space its meaning.
A Vision for Communities and Cities
Before the category winners took the stage, key leaders shared their perspectives on the growing influence of the platform. Group Marketing Lead Arzu Uludag emphasised the ongoing mission of spreading the message of colour in people’s lives across the region. General Manager of Nippon Paint Decorative Coatings Thailand Watchara Siriritthichai expanded on this vision by highlighting the broader social impact of the competition. He noted that the platform contributes significantly to the profession and the nation. Watchara proudly stated that as a collective, the industry is making colour and design a core part of life, helping communities and cities to build a more beautiful and enriching world.
Stories of Colour and Creativity
The awards celebrated these outstanding projects across five categories:
Architectural Best in Corporate and Commercial Exterior
Tasked with transforming a former 10-storey school building into a 250-bed accommodation for workers, OWAA Architects from Singapore claimed this category for HHOM Nurse Hostel. The team turned to colour to reflect the specific sleeve, collar and button details found on various local nursing uniforms. This thoughtful application turned the sprawling facade into a vibrant visual symbol of unity that celebrates the merging of diverse cultures and nationalities in the healthcare sector.
Interior Design Best in Corporate and Commercial Interior
Türkiye’s KONTRA won this category with Epoca. Designed for a young and energetic audience, the space draws heavy inspiration from the layered culture of Latin America. The team deployed a warm and rhythmic colour palette that harmonises flawlessly with the surrounding mall architecture while ensuring the venue stands out as an inviting hub for communal gathering.
Architectural Best in Residential Exterior
Grounding a new development in local heritage, Sansiri Public Company Limited took home this honour for Flo in Thailand. The designers beautifully anchored the condominium in the vibrant Khlong San district by acknowledging its history. Because brick was historically the dominant local building material, the team translated this legacy into a signature brick-orange palette that pays functional homage to the neighbourhood’s roots.
Interior Design Best in Residential Interior
Kaizen Architecture from Singapore earned top honours here for Matou House. The firm expertly used colour as an active architectural device inside an existing semi-detached home. By introducing a striking terracotta-red stairwell void against a neutral living space, they physically guided movement and transformed standard circulation into a highly emotional and chapel-like core.
Best in Public Spaces
Bringing The Harvee School to life, India’s Murali Architects captured this category. Their brilliant use of vibrant blues, corals, yellows and greens actively animates the classrooms and central staircases. Balanced by the warmth of a brick facade, the carefully selected colours act as a playful and practical tool to help children joyfully navigate their learning environment.
A Celebration of Unprecedented Excellence
Inspired by the exceptionally high calibre of entries this year, the jury made a bold and unprecedented decision to forgo crowning a single Grand Prix Winner. Every winning project demonstrated such a masterful and unique approach to the purposeful use of colour that comparing them against one another would simply not fully capture the diverse excellence on display.
Looking towards its next chapter, the competition continues to prove that colour acts as the very foundation of how we experience the world. This expanding platform serves as a catalyst for the industry, inspiring an ever-growing network of global practitioners to rethink their spatial narratives and build more meaningful connections.
