Cloudland Function Rooms

Reimagining an Icon

Full of Fun

Engaged in 2011, Alison was commissioned to transform the long-standing institution that was The Empire Hotel Nightclub into a series of unique function rooms with accompanying amenities across two floors. These new rooms were to compliment the adjacent complex, Cloudland, owned by Brisbane nightclub heavyweights The Katarzyna Group.

As Katarzyna were growing their wedding reception offer, they made the shrewd business decision to re-purpose The Empire Hotel to form adjoining function rooms, bars and amenities to the highly successful Cloudland development.

Alison was tasked with creating uniquely beautiful spaces that were versitile yet playful and fun, setting them apart from any other function space on offer in the Brisbane market. With that brief, the Art Deco inspired Moon Room, the dramatic Heritage Room and the quirky and colourful Mad-Hatter's-Tea-Party-esque Alice Room were born.

With restrictions on the Heritage listed facade and one of the rooms, three highly bespoke spaces were designed to provide a variety of aesthetics yet embody the luxurious and quirky feel of their bigger sister, Cloudland.

Traditional details such as oversized crystal chandeliers, parisian plaster wall treatments and a picture frame wall were employed in the Heritage Room to accentuate the existing features and add layers of luxury and intrigue to the proposition.

The existing bar and beautiful heritage stained glass windows in the Heritage Room were retained which informed the bold colour palette updated with crystal chandeliers to compliment the new additions to the dining room.

Following the success of this work, Alison was asked to complete the ground floor refurbishment of The Empire Hotel into a rustic, masculine and atmospheric sports bar.

Cleverly adapting surplus materials from the upper floors, the space was layered with texture and lighting to create a rich and inviting guest experience.