Ocean House

Ocean House

The modern Rob Mills aesthetic in its purest essence, Ocean House is a study in harmony. Raw concrete and polished timber blend seamlessly with the forest behind and create a calming retreat inside. Visual beauty is matched by thoughtful interiors that allow friends to gather and take refuge by the beach, while floor to ceiling glass and nautically-inspired terraces take your gaze across Loutit Bay to the Great Ocean Road.

A rare blend of architectural ingenuity and aesthetic beauty, Ocean House rises from a steep slope to offer a series of experiences that change as you move from the lower floors constructed from concrete to the timber and glass pavilion above. These natural materials allow the landscape to become one with the interiors, conjuring a unique wilderness experience.

Chalk-rubbed Australian hardwood and polished concrete floors form a delicate balance with the soft colours of the forest. Stucco finishes on the walls of the cylindrical tower comprising one element of Ocean House elevate the interiors to another level, adding a sophisticated velvet like quality. In the circular master bedroom, natural dyed curtains divide the sleeping area from bath, basin and storage, recalling a Mongolian yurt or Bedouin tent. Suede leather handles made by a saddler add to the warm, natural feel throughout.

Amid the minimal palette are subtle flashes of abstract art from Todd Hunter and furniture from some of Mills’ favourite designers. A Piero Lissoni couch and Andrew Lowe table take centre stage in the pavilion, while a Patricia Urquiola bed features in the master bedroom.

On the acoustically sealed middle and lower floors, furniture by De Padova, Jardan and Eero Saarinen add to the sense of Ocean House as a collaboration not just between architecture, interior design and nature, but between Mills and his contemporaries.