This was a rather unprepossessing 1960s brick building – an industrial shell – that had been a garment factory, which we turned into a bright and airy contemporary office space.
Rob Mills
From the outset, RMA could see the potential of the building in terms of fantastic volume, combined with intimate spaces, which would work well for an office space for the expanding practice.
Inherently, there were some great existing features – the terrazzo in the stairway and the impressive trusses which, once exposed and painted white, gave a sense of refined industry to the space. However, what is now Rob Mills’ office was once a tearoom with bricked-up windows and consequently low light, as well as low ceilings. These were opened up and replaced with steel-framed windows, which alter the experience of the space.
The generous floor plan is divided with freestanding pieces of furniture and some custom joinery, such as the reception desk by Andrew Lowe.
“We wanted to add a sense of residential space, with a solid wood floor coloured with Japan black and key pieces of designer furniture that say something about our aesthetic,” explains Mills.