Anderson Residence | Portfolio | Rob Mills Architects

RMA is proud to have the opportunity to design a major apartment building on this rare and tightly held site opposite Melbourne’s celebrated Royal Botanic Gardens.

Rob Mills

The challenge for this site was that it was flanked on either side by heavily glazed buildings that overlooked the property – hence the design had to deliver privacy as well as responding to the view of the gardens.

Drawing on the lessons from Armadale Residence, Rob Mills introduced massive blade walls to act as blinkers and brought light in from above through the use of generous skylights.

The three apartments facing the park have deep, protective balconies, which direct views to the greenery beyond, while the massive penthouse roof terrace is complete with pool and garden.

The building code, which allows for architectural features above 12 metres, has been maximised to add to the quality of the building design and what it gives back to the street.

In addition, a rear mews allows access to a four-storey apartment building to be sited adjacent to the main three park-facing apartments.

For the mid-level apartment, roof windows bring light and space within, while residents also enjoy views towards the treeline of the Botanic Gardens. Beneath, the ground floor apartment delivers a more direct relationship with nature, connecting seamlessly to a private garden.

The graceful lines of the exterior and the sculptural design of the interiors feature curved walls that allow light to travel easily. Steel-framed glass doors soften transitions and enhance the volumes of spaces that feel both generous and enveloping.

The material selection connects visually with the natural world outside, such as in the richly-veined natural stone or the textures of the polished plaster walls. Lush rugs and flowing fabrics introduce softness, while the timber flooring laid in a plank style is finished in hard wax oil to heighten its organic, earthy quality.

Even within its tightly held urban context, the design was carefully considered to connect residents to greenery—whether a private garden or views to the stately treelines of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens—and ultimately to encourage a life lived more mindfully.