Where Architects Live | Rob Mills

Where Architects Live | Rob Mills

Architect Rob Mills | Photography Mark Roper | Words Sophie Lewis

An integral part of experiencing award-winning architect Rob Mills’ own home is the latte he makes using his trusted companion; an E61 FAEMA coffee machine. Crowning the ornate brass kitchen bench, this barista’s jewel infuses the open space with the aroma of fresh espresso. The sound of frothing milk is the only interruption to an otherwise quiet and reflective space in this inner-city locale.

Swaying tree branches in the adjoining park are the only connection to the outside world, creating a play of light and shadow across the Fior di Pesco Carnico marble floor. This was once an old cardboard factory; Rob admits, “you wouldn’t expect this kind of natural light in an old warehouse.”

Within Stuart Street, there are spaces that are calm and reflective and there are spaces that are inspiring.

– Architect Rob Mills

We sit at Rob Mills’ dining table; his favourite place to work during the day. This is where Rob conceptualises ‘great living’ through the design of original homes. “I designed this home for my family and I, to reflect who we are and our aspirations,” Rob says. “We hope there’s an honesty to the design, crafted from raw materials.”

Rob’s home is magnificent in scale on a small footprint, featuring a 3.4-metre ceiling height in the living space and his signature, curved stucco staircase. Yet the home also carries a familial warmth, which Rob describes as the opportunity to be able to “cocoon yourself”.

Rob says he seeks refuge in the cosy, timber-lined study, reminiscent of an English manor house. “There are timber shutters that allow you to cocoon yourself within and watch a movie or read a book by the fire,” he says. “I love doing that in winter after dinner.”

Rob explains that he feels equally nurtured in the master suite, with floor-to-ceiling glazing on three sizes. “This space has the most beautiful curtains on three sides, so acoustically, it’s a quiet space and thermally, it contains heat,” he says. “It’s a warm place to be in winter and cool in summer.”

Both the living and the bedroom levels open onto the park like a treehouse looking through the treetops.

– Architect Rob Mills

As with the entire home, the master suite is a lesson in layering luxurious materials and finishes, down to the brass-lined door frames. “We’ve chosen materials that sit quietly beside each other,” Rob says. “Your eyes travel across each space uninterrupted because there’s no strong colours or dramatic changes in materials.”

Rob also ensured this would be a healthy place to call home by prioritising ventilation and selecting organic and low-VOC paints and glues. The result is a true domestic sanctuary for himself and his family.