Exterior colour upgrade for The Chelsea, in Sussex Street, Sydney.

The 18-storey apartment building is located in a heritage-listed precinct of the CBD overlooking Darling Harbour. It was previously painted a dirty shade of beige.

The owners were open to a complete change and wanted a timeless colour scheme that was sympathetic to the local environment.

I anchored the building with a heavy colour and ran it up balcony spine walls to accentuate their form and reinforce a cantilevered feel.

Three soft contrasting colours are used in a repetitive pattern in the balconies running up the eastern facade. This creates a subtle play as they bounce off each other.

The feedback from tenants has been very positive. The changed colour scheme has breathed a new lease of life into the building.

The Chelsea now sits comfortably in its surroundings, and creates a complementary and engaging presence in the skyline.