Riverlee Workplace creates a vibrant, people-centric HQ for Melbourne-based property group, Riverlee, fostering an atmosphere of warm hospitality and authentic connection. The new workplace sought to echo Riverlee’s values as an innovative, family-owned business, renowned for delivering leading urban design outcomes that bring communities together. A series of thoughtful design moves echo the company’s design-led ethos, offering an uplifting employee and client experience, and an opportunity to attract like-minded partners.

On arrival, Riverlee’s hospitable identity is reflected by a welcoming lounge, rich in colour and texture. A bespoke two-sided sofa accommodates small groups and individuals, bordered by a luxurious kitchen that blurs the boundaries between client and visitor domains. High quality appliances, a large pantry, glass-fronted cabinets, and a striking bar lined with striated red travertine allow Riverlee to comfortably host and entertain guests, elevated by café-style booth seats and lush hanging planters. The unusual positioning of the kitchen and breakout space unlocked the floor plate, eliminating unnecessary circulation and allowing us to accommodate Riverlee’s functional needs within a relatively compact floor plate.

Studio Tate utilised the floor plan’s east wing to host a boardroom, meeting rooms, collaboration space, quiet rooms and chairman’s office, finished in deep, moody finishes. Beyond, the longer west wing accommodates a light-filled open-plan workspace and Managing Director’s office, each afforded striking views across the bay. Adjacent joinery elegantly conceals lightboxes, white boards, pin boards, storage, and meeting booth utilities – highly functional, yet thoughtfully detailed to engender warmth, and encourage staff collaboration.

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It was an absolute pleasure to work with the team at Studio Tate on our new head office fit out. A boutique personable studio with a fresh creative approach. They took the time to understand our business and needs, and their adaptable, client driven nature made it possible to create an incredible design outcome that has set a new benchmark for Riverlee. The entire team were a delight to work with and are all very hands on. They nailed our brief, and we are thrilled with the result. I couldn’t recommend Studio Tate more highly and we look forward to collaborating with them again soon. — Kristine Lee Pratt, Marketing & Sales Director, Riverlee