Kings Cross Residence

From Techno Blue to pastels, the colour blue combines modernity and nature
Bold and light-reflecting, Techno Blue is a colour that radiates energy. It’s not surprising that this luxurious vivid blue with a metallic edge was chosen by the Axalta automotive division as Colour of the Year. As a clean, efficient and future-focused tone, it reflects the spirit of the modern world.

Today’s design industry is fluid: disciplines interconnect and take inspiration from one another. In architecture and design we also see the influence of blue, a colour that brings to mind the potential of smart tech, the solidity of glass and the tranquillity of water.

Bringing energy to architecture
Two custom shades of high-gloss powder coatings – Glass Light Blue and Glass Mid Blue – were used in the refurbishment of a residential building in London’s Kings Cross, a historic quarter that has been injected with new energy. On the facade, cladding in lustrous blue tones reflects the forward-looking ethos of the area. The revitalised exterior also pays homage to the blue glass that once defined the building. The powder coatings were formulated to echo the shades and gloss of glass shards saved from the original facade. As well as bringing a modern edge to objects and buildings, blue shades have underlying tones inspired by nature. The rarity of blue in the natural world has led to it being highly prized by humans for centuries; we instinctively value shimmering lapis lazuli or the iridescent blue plumage of a bird of paradise. This organic appeal can also be found in blue tones from Axalta’s ICONICA range, such as Archival Blue, Nordic Lichen and Blue Workshop.