Master of architecture (professional) student Hudson Ross, 22, won the 2026 New Zealand Student category.
But the success did not stop there.
Fellow master of architecture (professional) student Ryno von Wielligh, 23, was named runner-up in the same category.
Mr Ross was delighted to win the student category with his outdoor project, Hot & Cold.
His design consisted of a four-day walking trail across Dunedin, from Smaill’s Beach to the Bull Ring, which incorporated nurseries, boardwalks and coloured modular huts with tools, which encouraged walkers to regenerate the landscape by teaching them how to plant native trees, set pest traps and actively restore local ecosystems.
The Dulux Colour Awards were judged by a panel of five design and architecture experts, including Auckland-based Buster Caldwell.
"Colour is introduced in small built elements with the lightest of architectural footprints dispersed along the route — a vivid yellow boardwalk, burnt-orange stripes within a rest platform, rust-red on a viewing tower and warm beige interiors within accommodation huts.
"These moments form a considered, sequential language, with each hue carefully specified to respect both the sensitivity of the site, and the intellectual rigour of the project.
"The result is a quietly powerful synthesis of landscape, colour and environmental stewardship."
Mr Von Wielligh was named runner-up in the 2026 New Zealand Student category, for his project titled The Lighthouse Entertainment Precinct.
His master plan spanned performance and study spaces, hospitality venues, and a multi-use indoor skatepark and nightclub, all located in Parry St.
