Case study
The Waterview Court project involved tailored specification support for Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities—the agency providing public housing for New Zealanders in need.

Developer: Kāinga Ora / Housing NZ
Architect: Ashton Mitchell
Builder: Latham Construction
Across 12,000m2, including surplus land leftover from the Waterview tunnel project, Dulux® worked closely with the client to meet their colour and design ideals. The site is surrounded by a busy arterial route (Great North Road) running along the western boundary, the Oakley Creek Reserve and stream to the east.
The design encompasses 120 dwellings, from two-storey townhouses to five storey apartments, as well a community room and office. Set to a backdrop of buildings and concentrated around a pocket park, it fosters an urban lifestyle while embracing the diverse identities of the community.
The key challenges were to find a colour palette that would align with the vibrant surrounding and mixed community, while providing a durable, quality finish.
Appealing to a cross-section of identities, each block has a unique identity with over 40 Dulux® colours utilised within the development. Drawing inspiration from its surrounds—including the liquidambar trees and clays found in Oakley Creek reserve—the palette features a variety of warm shades with earthy autumnal undertones. To further create cohesion, colours adopted on neighbouring buildings such as clay brick and terracotta were also weaved throughout.
Specifiers were able to order physical samples, textures, colours and finishes so they could be viewed on site prior to application, assisting with decision making.
All Dulux Colours are presented in one place, giving the Architects an opportunity to choose, mix and match the colours. Dulux Colour Atlas gave the opportunity to browse, visualise and compare thousands of different combinations in almost every colour, shade, tint and hue.
A range of diverse yet complementary materials were selected to differentiate the building scales. For example, a mix of brick veneer and timber framing were employed for the two-storey townhouses. By contrast, precast concrete construction with varying textures, as well as formwork patterns, was selected for the larger buildings for a robust yet cost effective solution. Both paint and clear sealers were utilised to enhance the natural state of textures.
In order to withstand a range of external elements— including temperature variance, humidity, wind, rain and hail—high-performance protection was essential. Dulux Weathershield® was used to provide durable barrier protection against dirt and UV damage for home exteriors. It provided an aesthetically pleasing outcome while improving surface washability.
Finishes, fixtures, and fittings were high-quality and enduring, efficiently reducing repair and maintenance requirements. Dulux products were used across all exterior facades to provide lasting visual appeal, support consistent usage and offer protection for years to come.
Contemporary homes were created that integrated harmoniously with their low-density residential surroundings.
“The use of colour was extremely important in this project to provide visual interest and break down the scale of the buildings. We found the Dulux Colour Atlas to be a really useful design tool to select multiple shades of complementary colours.”
Ben Sando, Director, Ashton Mitchell Ltd.


Precast Concrete – Walls
Dulux 1Step® Prep
Dulux Weathershield
Steel – Balustrade, Canopies
Dulux Durebild GPE ZP
Dulux Weathermax HBR
Timber – Doors
Dulux 1Step Prep
Dulux Aquanamel®
Timber – Fences
Cabot’s® Deck & Exterior Stain Oil Based
Concrete – Foundations
Dulux AcraTex® AcraPrime® WB 501
Dulux AcraTex AcraShield® Advance
Plasterboard – Walls & Ceilings
Dulux 1Step Prep
Dulux Wash&Wear® Plus Kitchen & Bathroom
Timber – Doors, Trim, etc
Dulux 1Step Prep
Dulux Aquanamel
Image Credits: Sean McCabe
