Toorak Residence

by Rob Mills Architects

From The Designer

Paul Bangay designed the landscape. The client wanted a Palm Springs look and feel to the landscape. Paul balanced this out with his more European style. The client had a vision for two palm trees at the front and a home surrounded by landscape, which was a challenge given the size constraints of the block and the expansive brief. However, Paul and Rob worked closely together to ensure landscape was incorporated and developed with the architecture. The result is full perimeter planting to screen neighbours, 12.5m pool, grass area, exposed aggregate outdoor entertaining area, rooftop terrace surrounded by planting, front façade with incorporated planter to screen master en suite, large elevated built in planter boxes on arrival and the two very important palms at the front.

The client came to Rob Mills (Architect) with the brief of a two story home with basement and roof terrace. Equip with two car basement garage, gym, open living dining area, separate sitting room (winter room), kitchen, pantry, powder room, cloak room, lift, laundry, 4 bedrooms, 3 with en suites, separate family bathroom, storage room and master suite with walk in robe. The external area was required to have a pool, with area to sun bake, lounge, eat, bbq and play and a roof top terrace surrounded by landscape, city view and ability to listen to music or become an outdoor cinema. Rob was able to fit 530msq of internal floor area and 200sqm of usable outdoor space on a 500sqm block.

I love the winter room (pink room). It was an area that we decided to have a lot of fun with and unleash both my and the clients more adventurous side. We were able to really amp up how the 70s inspiration translated in this room and satisfy our clients initial vision in a more contained way. I love the way the pool hugs the window in this room. When the sun hits the pool it reflects up and creates beautiful and soothing dancing light on the ceiling. It’s the room you go to when you’re feeling a little bit extra ?

For Rob it was the sheer size of the brief that was at odds with the block. Squeezing it all in is one thing, but Rob’s challenge was to fit it in without compromising on his high design standards. These include; high ceilings, generous room sizes, concealment of services, poetry of space, creating views through to landscape as well as ensuring adequate light and ventilation throughout.

For me it was finding the balance between creating something that is vibrant and luxurious, as well as liveable and timeless. The client was brave in their desire for colour in the interior. We carefully built a rich but neutral base palette full of honest natural materials to use to ground the interior. Then we started to think about colour and where to use it. We decided to be more adventurous with our stone choices, using the Ice Green and Calcutta Vagli marbles from Signorino in the main spaces. We created a “pink room” and played with the idea of tone on tone with shifting textures. This room is treated as an expressive space and with the intent to refresh it every decade or so, if the desire arises. In thinking of it like this, we were able to have more fun and freedom with our decisions and expression. It is a true folly and indulgence. We used Karaman Pink marble, Dulux half Pink Tulle stucco walls and wool/silk blend hand tufted carpet in Granite from RC&D. Separate from that we introduced colour carefully selected furniture pieces. Lastly, we bravely decided to treat the low central robe unit in the master as a jewel and selected a gorgeous duck egg blue high gloss 2pac for the unit. The material we selected as a thread to weave through every element is a brushed raw brass. This elevates the interior finish and gives the extravagance and personality the client had envisaged from the outset, while the honest nature of the material ensures a sophisticated and timeless finish.

Flowing light filled spaces, enveloped in landscape, grounded in natural material and iced with the client’s authentic character – all this woven together with a gold thread.

The clients were very involved in the build process and the home unveiled itself to them slowly. They are a cultivated client who appreciate quality and detail. As the finishing pieces came in bit by bit they took their time to review them in great detail, really appreciating and understanding all the hard work that went into their design and delivery. This home has been a labour of love for our clients. they take much joy and pride in the way the live in the spaces, choosing to entertain often.