By
Alex Smith |
Miami-based design firm Studio DADO has designed several key public spaces onboard Norwegian Prima, the newest ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) fleet.
Norwegian Prima was christened in Reykjavik, Iceland, on 27 August in a ceremony featuring performances by godmother Katy Perry and Icelandic band Daði og Gagnamagnið. The ship then departed on an eight-day cruise to Amsterdam, Netherlands, with guests experiencing the spaces onboard the ship for the first time.
Studio DADO was one of five design firms responsible for creating interiors onboard the ship, and concentrated on a number of key public spaces, including the Penrose Atrium, six of the ship’s dining venues, and staterooms and suites. The company was responsible for the largest number of spaces out of the five firms, encompassing the highest percentage of the total public area.
“NCL challenged us to raise the design bar,” said Yohandel Ruiz, one of the four founding partners of Studio DADO. “And we love to hear that from a client. Our response was to focus on every detail and to really elevate and enrich the guest experience.”
The studio has previously led refurbishment and newbuild projects onboard NCL's ships, including for spaces onboard Norwegian Encore. It began work on Norwegian Prima from the initial planning stages, helping to set the design tone for the ship.
“When a cruise line embarks on a journey to develop its next class of vessels, to be invited to participate in the conceptual design phase is quite an accolade,” said Ruiz. “Our team was honoured to be considered such a strong voice in Norwegian’s most luxurious vessel yet.”
Studio DADO surveyed successful public spaces around the world for inspiration, including the Burj al Arab in Dubai, Piazza San Marco in Venice, and a range of Michelin-starred restaurants. The firm deconstructed sought-after elements of these spaces to be included in its designs for Norwegian Prima.
“Our team thoughtfully designed each venue, restaurant, and suite class to have its own language, its own story, and its own feel,” said Greg Walton, founding partner of Studio Dado. “A distinct architectural language has been carried throughout – from the retail experiences into the Grand Atrium, and beyond into the dining spaces. We set out to design spaces that not only elevated and enriched the guest experience but redefined the idea of what a cruise could be.”
The signature Penrose Atrium is the central space onboard the ship and was based upon research into some of the world’s most popular gathering places and plazas. The space features a chandelier created by Czech lighting design firm Lasvit, which was inspired by the points of light visible in a star formation. A custom-cast, high-gloss wood grand staircase ascends over three levels, leading to a reception featuring a display of antiques interspersed with contemporary art pieces and a custom lighting element that resembles a topographic map of the ocean. Shopping venues are spread across the three levels, including a beauty and fragrance section on deck six, an upscale shopping area on deck seven, and jewellery, souvenir, technology and alcohol outlets on deck eight.
For more information on other spaces designed by Studio Dado onboard Norwegian Prima, read our exclusive report in the Autumn/Winter issue of Cruise & Ferry Review.