Firm continues to design excellence

Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors, the team behind some of the Great Ocean Road’s most iconic homes, has again been shortlisted for the Australian Interior Design Awards.

Now in its 21st year, the prestigious awards celebrate interior design excellence and are widely considered the pinnacle of Australia’s design industry-based accolades.

Mills’ own former Lorne residence, known as the Ocean House, received recognition at the awards in 2012.

Built as a beach getaway for his family and friends, the residence has been designed to function as either one home, or two acoustically separate dwellings, and stands as a bold expression of Mills’ design philosophy.

In a challenge to convention, the home juxtaposes a timber and glass coastal pavilion with lower floors built from concrete – the home’s unique positioning between the coast and forest, as well as the climatic conditions of the surrounding landscape have informed the design.

A tall cylinder forms the home’s southern end and creates a dramatic contrast with the pavilion’s sharp lines, which along with the home’s circular windows and angled balustrades, calls to mind the image of a boat.

“The two personalities of the house work together as one,” Mills said.

“The concrete section, which houses the bedrooms is very purposeful, sheltering the house from the storms and deadening sound, in contrast to the connections with nature in the living section.”

The structure’s subdued natural palette, carried through to the interior, blends with the surrounding forest.

Before the home’s sale in December 2020, the residence was decorated with furniture from Mills’ favourites artists and designers.

Rounded concrete walls provided a restful sanctuary, while softness was maintained through minimal interiors and neutral fabrics.

For Mills, the house epitomises the approach that sets his architectural firm apart: the architecture and interiors are considered as one.

“It is our holistic approach which gives the residence, and ultimately the resident, a true sense of belonging,” he said.

A similar approach was employed by Mills in the design of the Great Ocean Road Residence, a home built for the future and positioned on a prominent cliff face nearby.

With accolades from the American Masterprize, Built Design Awards and more recently, the Muse Design Awards already under its belt, the home stands at the forefront of Australian coastal design.

“I love designing for Australia’s coastline, and Great Ocean Road Residence embodies the spirit of everything we do at RMA – great living, inspired by the landscape,” Mills said.​​​

“I believe what sets great coastal residences apart is minimal interference.

“The experience should be just you, the sky, and the sound of the ocean through the trees.”​​​​​​​​

As such, the home’s large, light-filled living areas offer dramatic views over the coastline.

These outlooks carry through to the bathrooms, informing their design, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and large-scale mirrors reflecting the home’s surrounding beauty.

Built to withstand a coastal environment, the home has been embedded within the cliff it sits on top of, complementing rather than dominating the landscape.

Outside, geometric forms, clean lines and solid masonry walls sit beneath a floating roof while natural materials connect the home with its surrounds – its limed walls and timber ceilings aligned in tone with the trees that lend it privacy.

A firm believer in the value of a quiet space, Mills said homes that are calm and serene have the capacity to “enrich your quality of life” while “a deep connection to nature” was “intrinsic to achieving that serenity”.

He said there were hidden skills within the architectural practice that are not conveyed when you look at images, and this was particularly the case with the Great Ocean Road residence.

But for the owner, the home has been created to last, crafted to host meaningful family moments and designed to house a growing family for generations to come.

This year’s winners of the Australian Interior Design Awards will be announced on June 14, along with the recipient of the accolade’s top prize, the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design.

For more information, head to robmills.com.au