Warmth in the Workplace – Riverlee by Studio Tate

On the top floor of a commercial building in Collins Street, Melbourne, a former plant room has been transformed by Studio Tate into a sophisticated control centre for property developer Riverlee. Now housing a team of almost 50, the project harmonises the requirements of a busy head office with a desire for comfort and hospitality, largely through its elegant palette of materials including Eveneer Even Walnut timber veneer by Elton Group.

It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of a home but in a commercial property, it is less commonplace to encounter culinary accoutrements in close proximity to the reception area. A proposition to separate the two only by an open-plan staff breakout and visitor waiting lounge was, admits Studio Tate Director Alex Hopkins, a risky one that was necessitated by the office’s unusually shaped floor plan. The atypical solution was enthusiastically endorsed by the client, Riverlee’s Development Director David Lee, himself no stranger to approaching design challenges from all angles. “David actually challenged us by asking if they could have in the waiting area these little pockets of smaller spaces where someone could sit and wait if they’re a visitor or alternatively, which could be used by the team to activate the environment day-to-day,” Alex recalls. “If no one’s waiting there, why not use it?”

“There’s something about the walnut veneer finish that is very sophisticated aesthetically, but it’s also super luxurious and cosy; it almost envelopes you and gives you a hug.”

Functional considerations aside, this convivial attitude is equally emblematic of Riverlee’s approach to business, says Alex. “It’s a family-owned business and a very happy, inclusive and warm environment. They wanted an office space that reflected those values, while still providing an energising and vibrant place for the team to be.” Eschewing traditional cues around distinct areas for meeting and working, there was a desire for a more fluid and hospitable approach that supports both collaborative and focused working styles.

Studio Tate’s projects have become synonymous with a certain quality of finish and Alex believes the deep, warm hue of Eveneer Even Walnut timber veneer best captured these intangible considerations of the brief. “There’s something about the walnut veneer finish that is very sophisticated aesthetically, but it’s also super luxurious and cosy; it almost envelopes you and gives you a hug,” she enthuses. This walnut embrace stretches from one end of the office to the other, spanning joinery, desktops, wall panelling and ceiling details. “There’s a wall running through the space from the boardroom to reception and the way that it is detailed, it’s crafted as if we would be crafting joinery or panelling in a high-end residential project,” Alex explains. “The wall partitions feel like they’re part of the joinery and there’s a real sense of craftsmanship in the space.” Elegant and stately, the classic ambience imparted by the Eveneer Even Walnut also gave Studio Tate licence to introduce patinated leather, natural stone and jewel-like hues in textiles and other details. “The colours and tones are something you might find in Europe from a space that was designed hundreds of years ago.”

Sustainably produced from timber grown in European plantations, the FSC-certified veneer is colour enhanced and predominantly even in tone and pattern, addressing the need for large-scale applications with minimal waste.

Elton Group’s Creative Design Manager Tanya Hillman echoes this sentiment, pointing to the timeless quality of the Even Walnut, which lends the project gravitas and versatility. “It’s a classic tone and can be used in a contemporary setting or in a more traditional setting,” she says. Sustainably produced from timber grown in European plantations, the FSC-certified veneer is colour enhanced and predominantly even in tone and pattern, addressing the need for large-scale applications with minimal waste. “This was important for the client,” notes Alex from Studio Tate. “Being a developer, they did challenge us to use materials or work with suppliers who have the right ESD credentials.”

This “challenge” only serves to underscore the genuine care and consideration with which every decision on the project was made. “I do feel like people are increasingly looking for spaces that feel like home,” observes Tanya. While it is no mean feat for a space that now accommodates a team of almost 50, in this case the objective has been realised. “What resonates with me is an idea of hospitality, of walking into that space and feeling comfort.”