Tim Ross

The comedian, media personality and self-confessed “design nerd” has parlayed his love of architecture into a career as design aficionado and advocate.

I grew up in Mount Eliza, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. I think living in a bush suburb full of interesting houses had a huge impact on my passion for architecture and design. As a kid, I’d ride my bike around the area and admire the streets filled with houses by great architects like Robin Boyd, Kevin Borland and Roy Grounds.

My change of career began when I did some live comedy shows in architecturally significant buildings, and then was asked to do a few talks about design. Then I made Streets of Your Town for ABC TV – and that was it. It’s been amazing to be able to travel and meet so many great people and visit incredible houses and buildings.

My wife, Michelle, and I have lived in our home [a Mid-Century property in Sydney] for 15 years. It continues to evolve with our family and it’s a testament to Modernist design that it still works so well. It’s flooded with light, which sets you up for a great day. I love that it’s modest in size but works perfectly well today.