The design world descended on Milan for the annual Salone del Mobile, 2019 and one of Australia’s renowned architects Rob Mills presented the purpose and design principles of Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors (RMA) to an international audience.
As one of Australia’s most successful architects, Rob Mills is unafraid of making a robust contribution to the design discourse. While work is luxurious, daring and dynamic, his guiding philosophy has always been surprisingly elemental, which will be explored at this exclusive event.
Before heading off to Milan, Rob Mills said “This international event will heighten the global perspective of our brand’s aesthetic and style, while continuing to raise the bar,” The event took place on Tuesday 9th April at Contraste. One of Europe’s most acclaimed restaurants, this venue is widely known for its experimental gastronomic fare which fuses the cuisine of different cultures into one inspired menu.
Contraste’s Head Chef and owner Matias Perdomo, originally from Uruguay, is a Michelin starred chef, fast becoming one of the most fascinating young chefs in Milan with his cutting edge food. “Creativity must be stimulated, motivated. We continually try new wild and outrageous concepts which instantly identify the sensations they transmit, similar to any other creative – artists, architects, interior designers,” says Perdomo.
The restaurant setting is simultaneously modern and retro, once home to a fur showroom that has since been renovated and restored but still boasts ornate door frames, ceiling decorations and original fireplaces, sitting alongside cutting edge artwork by artists such as Matteo Pugliese and Alessandro Busci.
In addition to hosting Australian and international media and customers, the event saw the official launch of Rob Mills’ new short film, The Search. The film explores and encapsulates the practice’s mission to work with great land – the foundation of all great architecture.
At RMA, when land is not presented as part of the design process, the practice searches for rare and unique land that will satisfy the client’s needs and inspire design, whether located in the wilderness, by the coast, within the countryside, or even surrounded by an urban environment.
This is a service not commonly offered by other practices, however it is fundamental to the RMA methodology. Mills himself is passionate about the connection between luxury and land. “For us [at Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors], luxury means living a gentle life. Our clients share our belief that when you are connected to the land, you are energised, restored, and at peace. This is rare, and hence for us, this is luxury,” says Mills. “This is our purpose. To unlock value – in the land, in the brief, in the collaborative journey, and in our own expertise of luxury residential design.”
In addition to the film, one of the practice’s latest architectural projects will be unveiled, a ground-breaking residence in Byron Bay which incorporates Mills’ signature use of drama, curves, lines, light and a reflection of the qualities of the land.
You can see more of the event in the gallery below.
Visit www.robmills.com.au to see more of the work from Rob Mills Architecture and Interiors