The River & Rowing Museum was designed by David Chipperfield Architects to a brief which set out to establish an astonishing Museum. The building is raised on columns above water meadows beside the Thames and is built of exposed concrete and glass with a terne coated steel roof, clad in green oak.
The Museum has won numerous awards for its architectural design and innovative galleries including The Royal Fine Arts Commision Building of the Year 1999 and National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year 1999.

The Museum has three News & Informationgalleries devoted to the River Thames, the international sport of rowing and the town of Henley. There are also three special exhibition galleries, the Riverside Café, shop, Education Centre, library and function rooms.

Here is a museum that sets new standards in presentation, making brilliant use of sound and film as well as static exhibits, showing that absorbing displays depend not only on good design but on first class writing skills.