"Having been referred to Rob in 2016, we invited him to submit some concept drawings and a proposal for our home.

During our initial phone call, I was most impressed by his positive attitude when I discussed our early redesign thoughts. He listened and carefully considered before confirming "I'm the man for you!".

This positive attitude was an attribute that continued throughout the whole process - from conception, through to the end of construction with the builders.

Our property in Albert Park was a difficult project in that it was an 1880s former grocery building on an unusual triangular site, complete with a range of heritage issues. With this in mind, Rob's design was always respectful of guidelines and gained no objections from council or neighbours, to which we commend him.

Rob's communication on all levels was always second to none.

Rob's talented design managed to blend the 1880s building to incorporate a new contemporary addition (integrating a lift and potential wheelchair access to all areas of the house), whilst still retaining the original features. 

All this in a seamless transition of old to new!

As the proprietor of Cameo Memorials for over 50 years, I am fully aware of the emotional attachment of clients and their ideas. Rob's ability to transform ideas into practical solutions was exceptional and without fuss.

Projects such as ours of course come with a considerable financial commitment. Rob's billing process was timely and always in accordance with our agreement. 

The final result of our home is stunning in both form and function. We are more than delighted to continue to recommend his services wherever possible and without hesitation. "

"Rob Davidov designed our St Kilda home in 2017. After a lengthy wait for a non-heritage site to become available in St Kilda, we found the perfect site and began the process of designing and building a new home.

Our brief was very specific as we had a small block and wanted to utilise as much of the site as possible. We wanted a house with clean lines, industrial in its style, with lots of natural light, and easy to maintain. That wouldn’t stand out as a new build in the street.

We needed offsite parking, three bedrooms, and large open spaces for entertaining. After seeing a home in Caulfield designed by Rob Davidov, it became obvious that his design style was in parallel to our own and we began the journey of having a bespoke house designed.

Rob fulfilled our brief and then some – we have exactly wanted we asked for and a lot of extras we didn’t know we wanted or would enjoy.

Rob listened to what we asked for and worked out what we needed. The first draft was nearly perfect and with some small massaging became our perfect home.  

As novices it was hard to see the hidden design elements on paper and as the rooms evolved during the building process, it was a delight to see the elements come to life and make rooms interesting, enjoyable, and beautiful.

We have had much positive feedback from neighbours, St Kilda residents, and professionals in the building industry. The home demonstrates Rob’s immense skill in making exquisite designs effortless."

"As a third-year student of Architecture at The University of Melbourne, I first met Robert in May of this year through the Melbourne School of Design ABP Mentoring Program, and since then, he has been a continual source of encouragement and invaluable support.

During the period of this program, I met with Robert many times at his offic, and was always made to feel welcome and valued, leading to productive meetings where he displayed a genuine interest in what motivated me as a young designer and how he could connect this passion with my future plans and ambitions. 

Despite the recommended meeting time of thirty minutes, Robert consistently stayed back for more than an hour each time, answering my many questions, discussing architectural precedents and history, and pouring over my university work to help me compile a design portfolio for my Master of Architecture application and for future employment. 

Moreover, I am also extremely grateful for Robert’s time and energy outside of these meetings, for it was never a problem for him to call me to offer to advice on my university work and job applications.

Through Robert’s unwavering encouragement, I have advanced in my application for Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne and have just been offered a full-time position at an award-winning architecture studio, and believe that this kind of mentorship exhibited by Robert is a quality that is rare and ought to acknowledge

It is for these reasons that I believe Robert would be an asset to the Dulux Study Tour 2020 and offer my highest recommendation for his selection."