Oamaru’s Design Federation has coloured itself successful, taking out a national award for the The Business Hive colour scheme.

Design Federation director Annabel Berry and fellow designer Meghan Nockels were awarded the Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior Office Colour Maestro Award, for their scheme, which involved the use of 26 Resene colours.

In awarding the prize, the judges said the Hive was “buzzing with earthy and cheerful colours”. 

“This honeycomb of hues is uplifting and undeniably apt for a busy working space brimming with personality.

“Harnessing the power of colour psychology, each hue is used deliberately to enrich the use of the office space for all, combining the best of working from home, away from home.”

The Business Hive is the brainchild of Cara Tipping Smith and Alex Regtien, and is a building which offers communal workspaces, bookable desk and screens, private offices, and meeting rooms. The Thames St premises opened in January this year, after starting up in Ribble St.

Annabel said she was “absolutely thrilled” with the recognition.

“It’s always lovely to win a national award, to show that what you’re doing locally is up there nationally, so I’m so proud of my team, and a special mention to Meghan who is now on maternity leave, but she had a huge part to play in that.”

It was a bold move making the entire stairwell yellow, adorned with honeycomb and bee murals. PHOTO: Ashley Smyth 

The renovation was a “community project” and the finished product was a success due to the input of “so many different people”.

“First of all, it was amazing working for Cara and Alex. They are so incredible, they had this vision to . . . just really develop a space where people could gather, and people could come, and I just think their whole vision is so good for the business community, but also start ups and innovators, and people that want to connect with other people.” 

Annabel described it as “a dream job with a dream client”, who was supportive, open to ideas, and understood what she and Meghan were trying to achieve with the space.

Architect Virginia Barlow also worked closely with the two women, making key architectural changes to the building to open it up, let more light in, and create different zones and options.

Colour was used to bring a different energy for each space, Annabel said. Cara wanted each area to have a different feel, but still work cohesively as a whole.

Inspiration was drawn from the North Otago landscape - moody greens reference the Waitaki Valley, heritage colours are a nod to the Victorian precinct, and coastal blues draw on the colours of the sea.

“Also of course the brand colours, through the buzzy-ness and the energy of the Hive itself. So the beautiful yellow, black and white, which is the core colour palette.” 

The boldest decision was to make the stairwell all yellow, including the ceiling, with the work of local artists Matthew Wicks and Luzette Crossan “elevating” the space with bee and honeycomb murals, Annabel said.

“We needed something to draw people up the stairs, and together with the yellow paint and that mural, we believe it really does that . . . people want to explore upstairs.” 

Alex said Annabel and Meghan really captured the vibe of the environment he and Cara wanted to create. 

“A bit funky, professional but not too corporate - a really welcoming comfortable space that would appeal to a wide variety of people,” he said.