About the project
The River Room (former Lady Thiess Room) is located on the River Level of Customs House, adjacent to the Restaurant. In its original capacity it was a store room, and over the years has served various functions, culminating in its transformation into a Bookstore and Art Gallery in the 1990’s.
No longer performing those original functions, the room was operating as a secondary function space for the building.
The former Lady Thiess Room had become an underutilised space, despite its prime location within the building with direct adjacency to the river terrace and restaurant. This was chiefly due to the fact that it was never designed to be a function venue. The lighting, finishes, fitout and mechanical services were all suited to its former use, not suitable for large gatherings of people. Combined with the fact that the previous fitout was over 20 years old, the visual appeal and functionality of the space was greatly reduced.
Conrad Gargett’s new refurbishment capitalises on the potential of the space, by transforming two distinct spaces into a singular, dedicated ‘state-of-the-art’ multi-function room, complete with an overhaul of the mechanical, lighting and AV services.
The design has provided for an expansion and upgrade of the back of house facilities, enabling the function space to be serviced independently of the Restaurant.
The refurbished River Room provides Customs House with a new function venue, offering a complimentary experience to the Long Room – a strikingly contemporary refurbishment befitting of such a unique location.
