The Armadale Residence is the ultimate expression of Rob Mills’ ability to integrate architecture with a highly resolved interior design.
The original warehouse at Armadale Residence, in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale, has been a central building for Rob Mills, as he connected profoundly with its expansive interior space while residing there himself, before embarking on its renewal as his family residence.
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As it is a personal interior design project, renovating the space has been challenging. “When you design for yourself there are no frames of reference,” says Mills. “I was keen, however, to ensure that there is enough light, that the materials push a strong design ethos and, moreover, that it becomes a family home as opposed to a bachelor pad.”
The building has been divided in a way that is functional and inspiring. There is a complete two-bedroom minimalist apartment on the ground floor, which can be rented or used for extended family, while the main living area on the first floor – in the European tradition – has expansive ceiling heights of 3.4 meters.
There is a sense of minimal luxury, not only in the space but in the selection of refined materials and modern furniture, how they are used and interact. The walls are rendered and velvety stucco, the stone floors are from a sixth generation quarry in Verona, while the tour de force of the brass contemporary kitchen evokes a spirit of art rather than domesticity.
The spiral staircase, a signature Rob Mills element, sits under glazing, while the soft rendered wall surface allows the eye to glide, unimpeded, to the sky above.
The flourish of a restored grand piano is a counterpoint to curated furniture pieces and objects
Door frames are deep and brass-lined, while the cocooning “winter room”, influenced by his studies of the traditional English house, with its timber panels and recessed windows, takes on another character entirely.
Source: Robb Mills Architecture
