Kathryn Robson & Chris Rak from Robson Rak
The creative duo share their work journey, how they navigate working together as a husband and wife team, their intrinsic understanding of each other’s design language, and more.
Photography: Shannon McGrath, Felix Forest & Mark Roper.
Kathryn Robson & Chris Rak from Robson Rak, are partners in life and work.
Spanish Queen House by Robson Rak. Photo: Felix Forest
Hello Kathryn and Chris, take us back to the beginning—could you share your story of how you first met? How and when did you realise that you could work together as a couple?
Kathryn: I was living and working as an architect in London in the late nineties and moved to Melbourne in 1999. Having grown up in Perth, I didn’t have my family to stay with so I searched the classifieds for a share house, Chris was my share house mate! At the time he was a practicing sculptor creating the most incredible large and small scale sculptures in steel. He later went back to study as an interior architect, while I started my own architectural practice. By the time Chris graduated we were married and and not long after that, a baby was on the way so it made sense to join forces and share the work and parenting load. This happened organically rather than either of us having a light bulb moment; however we both come from families where our parents ran their own businesses together so it was quite natural that this is what would work for us and our growing family. In 2011 we rebranded our business as Robson Rak and the rest is history!
Chris: Kathryn tells the story of how we met quite well. Post graduation, working as an Interior Designer in Melbourne for a few years whilst giving Kathryn a hand with her practice led to the conclusion that I’d rather be working and raising a family with my partner; hence Robson Rak was born when child number 1 was born.
Do you have any creative rituals or routines that you follow separately or as a couple when starting a new project?
Chris: More often than not, it begins with a glass of red wine followed by intense excitement about the project where there’ll be loads of talking, debating and generally fleshing out the brief.
How do you mutually inspire each other?
Kathryn: We work and create well together and this symbiosis inspires us to continue. We’re quite pragmatic about our role creating homes for our clients, and we balance each other’s moods and roles when needed. We automatically switch on if the other is having a hard time—it’s a silent communication between two people who intrinsically know each other.
In what ways do you differ most?
Kathryn: I am an architect and passionate about space, proportion and materiality. I focus more on the macro and adore the jigsaw puzzle of space planning. I’m also highly organised and meticulous in the way I work. Chris can get lost in the details and I’ll often find him lost down the rabbit warren of an art movement that has inspired our latest space. Having said that there is no real distinction between the way we work and there is constant overlapping and inspiration between us when putting pen to paper.
Chris: I do get lost in the details and at times a little too so. Our differing personalities is our greatest strength.
What does it mean to be an architect/interior architect in the current Australian interiors and design landscape?
Kathryn: Well, there are certainly a lot of us! The pool of incredible designers in Australia is so large and I’m often amazed that we’re all able to continue to thrive in this country. I think the outlook for Australian design continues to be so strong and rewarding despite the challenges of inflation etc.
Chris: We’ve definitely matured as a design nation. We feel relevant to the rest of the world and this keeps the pressure up as designers to keep pushing our ideas further.
Stone Soul House by Robson Rak. Photo: Shannon McGrath
Spanish Queen House by Robson Rak. Photo: Felix Forest
“We’re quite pragmatic about our role creating homes for our clients, and we balance each other’s moods and roles when needed. We automatically switch on if the other is having a hard time—it’s a silent communication between two people who intrinsically know each other.”
‘I don’t think any of our clients fully grasp the architecture and the interiors we design until they have the opportunity to live in them and see the way the light moves through spaces, feel the soft breeze on their faces, and connect with the pockets of landscape designed within our buildings,’ says Kathryn Robson. Pictured: Spanish Queen House by Robson Rak. Photo: Felix Forest
The most rewarding part of your job is…
Kathryn: I often dream about walking through the completed spaces that I’m currently designing and details are resolved during sleep to be refined when awake. I feel completely intimate with every corner of our buildings. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these spaces come to life at the hands of our talented builders, with the spaces finally unveiled to our clients. I don’t think any of our clients fully grasp the architecture and the interiors we design until they have the opportunity to live in them and see the way the light moves through spaces, feel the soft breeze on their faces, and connect with the pockets of landscape designed within our buildings.
Chris: I’m still in awe that after so many years we’re now able to work with the very best builders, craftsmen and trades to realise our visions. I can’t stress enough how important this is for the kind of projects we do.
And the most challenging aspect…
Kathryn: Managing clients expectations!
The most valuable piece of advice you would give to emerging architects and interior designers looking to break into the industry…
Kathryn: Don’t just fall from one job to the next until you’re in a position you don’t want to be in when it may be too late. Immerse yourself in the design world and seek a studio where you can learn, be nurtured, find inspiration, and feel part of something based on passion. This may not be the highest paid position you can find but it will lead to much a much more fulfilling lifelong love with life.
Chris: As for starting out in your own business—a valuable piece of advice, which was given to Kathryn many years ago, was that your success will be based on the projects you say no to, not the projects you accept. This continues to be true for us and we seek to work with people on projects where we know we can make a real difference and our combined skills will be put to good use.
The best lesson you’ve learnt since starting Robson Rak?
Kathryn: Be true to yourself and look to history for inspiration, not your peer’s Instagram accounts! Balance your work life with personal life so that the inspiration and passion for design remains at the forefront of every decision in life.
Chris: If you think it’s worth fighting for, fight like hell.
Are there any dream projects or collaborations you both aspire to undertake?
Kathryn: I’d like to build my university thesis project, which was an art gallery embedded into the cliff face of the Swan River in Mosman Park, Perth. The gallery projected out over the river and acted as an anchor for a house boat that was to be an artist’s residence for a time, and a travelling gallery. If anyone wants to invest in this idea you know where to find me!
Chris: A villa on a Greek island would be a dream job… with a clause in the building contract allowing us free use for 30 days every year.
What are you most excited about that’s coming up for Robson Rak?
Kathryn: Our excitement lies in the next unknown project, the next challenge, putting pen to paper and starting our journey with a new family.
Chris: There’s always something amazing coming up. It often begins with a call to the office from a potential client wanting us to build them their dream home.