RESIDENTIAL DESIGN
CONCEPT TO COMPLETION
Melbourne's leading architect for boutique residential design service
Rob studied architecture in Glasgow, Scotland and Eindhoven, Holland.
With Extensive travel experience throughout Europe, North America,
India, the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia, his eye for design has matured with his years of experience.
Rob moved to Melbourne in 2002 and after several years working for
architectural practices in the city, he started his own residential
practive, Elements of Home in 2005.
Rob specialises in the design of residential renovations, new homes
and sub-divisions in and around the South Eastern suburbs of
Melbourne, inspired by his own personal projects and the eclectic mix of architectural styles he has experienced through his travels and ongoing study.
Together with a carefully curated team of consultants, Rob ensures
every aspect of the design is managed professionally and effectively
Our Latest Projects
01. CAUFIELD SOUTH
01. SCOPE
Renovating and extending a 1920s California bungalow in a heritage overlay zone.
Modernizing the interior while preserving key original features, including a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and formal living spaces.
Adding an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area with seamless indoor-outdoor integration.
Creating a dedicated children’s zone on the first floor.
02. CALLENGES
Heritage overlays in this particular area are characterized by the deep setbacks and beautiful lush gardens.
One of the things we do when designing on a heritage overlay is we have to keep the front of the house.
In this case the first four rooms and the facade.r
03. DESIGN SOLUTION
Renovated and extended a 1920s California bungalow within a heritage overlay zone, ensuring careful consideration of the existing architectural character.
Modernized the interior while preserving key original features, including a master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, and formal living spaces.
Demolished and extended the rear living area, transforming the home into a contemporary family residence.
Designed the home to take advantage of deep setbacks, creating a lush garden at the front that enhances the property's curb appeal.
Added a first floor for the kids, which includes:
- Two large bedrooms
- Rumpus room
- Large bathroom
This design provides the family with the individual living zones needed for everyone to have their own space.
Incorporated a carport for convenience and accessibility.
Positioned the mudroom centrally within the layout for easy access from the carport, enhancing functionality for family life.
4o mini
02. ORMOND
SCOPE
Restore a dilapidated 1940's weatherboard home within a heritage overlay, retaining the original front façade.
Create a family-oriented living space with an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area.
Design a carport for practical use.
Include a master bedroom with a spacious walk-in robe (WIR) and an ensuite with skylights for natural light.
Design two children's bedrooms: one with an ensuite and the other with a walk-in robe (WIR).
Landscape the garden, integrating a large pool seamlessly with the home and maintaining ample garden space for family activities.
CALLENGES
The home was in poor structural condition, with floors collapsing and plaster falling off, but due to the heritage overlay, the front of the house had to remain intact.
Balancing natural light in the west-facing backyard was crucial, so we designed extra-large eaves to maximize winter sunlight while blocking the harsh summer sun, ensuring a comfortable living environment year-round.
Ensuring the pool placement did not dominate or restrict the usable garden space.
DESIGN SOLUTION
To meet heritage guidelines, we retained the original façade and reimagined the rest of the house with a modern design.
The open-plan kitchen and living areas featured varied ceiling heights to create distinct zones while emphasizing the outdoor connection.
Skylights in the master ensuite enhanced natural lighting.
The children's bedrooms were thoughtfully designed with functional storage and privacy.
For the west-facing backyard, we added large eaves (1-1.2 meters) to:
- Shield the interiors from intense summer sunlight.
- Allow the winter sun to flood the space.
The pool was positioned in alignment with the kitchen and living areas to:
- Ensure a natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Maintain a large garden for family activities.
A muted material palette of timber, aluminum, and tile tied the design together, creating a warm and cohesive environment.
Why Choose Us
We offer a free, no-obligation review of your project to understand your vision and needs for your dream home.
We will prepare a fixed-fee proposal for the entire project with no hidden charges or extra costs We will also include all potential expenses such as arborist assessments and soil reports in our statement and additional consultation fees.
We understand the importance of timely progress; thus, we aim to deliver concept designs within 2 weeks of measuring your property
As we handle everything for you, from council queries to potential objectors, we ensure that you are informed at every stage. Each design decision is presented to you with its pros and cons, equipping you with the knowledge to make informed choices.
Thanks to our established relationships with external consultants, we ensure a seamless transition throughout the permit process.
The foundation of our service lies in our excellent communication and professionalism. Your satisfaction is paramount, and we continuously strive to deliver the finest service.
HOME EXTENSION
SUBDIVISION
RENOVATION
DRAFTING
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“What impressed me most was Rob’s open communication and quick turnaround time with the original drawings and subsequent amendments. I would highly recommend Rob to anyone looking to get a design for their building project.”
Gregor,
Caulfield East
"Rob was great at helping us engage with the building surveyor and our local council – this meant we met pressing deadlines and ensured all our paperwork was approved by the time our builder was ready to commence works.
His calm and practical approach was just what we needed throughout the process!”
Jess
Hughesdale
“Rob has been brilliant to work with from the moment we engaged him. We have really appreciated his honest feedback and guidance – where he believes one of our ideas won’t work he has explained why and worked with us to find a solution.
Thanks for a great job Rob.”
Matt and Sarah,
Port Melbourne
Thinking Of Renovating Your Home?
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Location:
Caulfield South, Melbourne VIC 3162
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