6 1 Combining expedition and luxury 3deluxe developed the exterior design of Celebrity Flora by combining the traditional façade of a cruise ship and yacht with the rugged appearance of a research vessel. To give guests a direct onboard link to nature, 3deluxe designed the ship to make the most of its surroundings, the Galapagos islands. Celebrity Flora’s uncovered aft and marina are the focal point of the exterior design, while the asymmetric overlapping terraces are another key architectural feature. From the private terraces with glass balustrades to suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, the ship’s features enable passengers to easily observe nature in the epitome of comfort. of the animals, to the colours of the flowers and the marine life,” explains Francesca Bucci, president of BG Studio International. “We also explored the geology of the islands, which has been defined by the lava that flowed from the volcanos over the years.” The resultant ship reflects all these aspects of the Galapagos. “The spirit of the place (known as the Genius loci) was an overarching design philosophy and it inspired me to incorporate principals of nature: the intersection between water, sky, earth,” says Peter Guelle, project architect at BG Studio International. “For example, the outdoor restaurant on the upper deck has an organic canopy that is shaped to look like water washing onto a beach. We’ve also used timeless natural materials, such as wood, plaster, metal, stone, glass and leather throughout the ship.” Architecturally speaking, every part of the ship offers a connection to the environment – from the Sunset Lounge, Seaside Restaurant, the outdoor Ocean Grill dining venue, to the glass-enclosed Observatory Lounge at the front of the ship, the central exploration hub named Darwin’s Cove, the education Lab and the Stargazing Platform. “All windows span from floor to ceiling, every bed faces the sea and all the furniture is designed and positioned to make you connect with the exterior,” says Bucci. Public spaces have also been designed to create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The Vista open-air hideaway on the top deck, for example, has comfortable cocoon-style loungers and private cabanas to enable guests to unwind in comfort. “A visit in the Galapagos is a rigorous adventure, so [when guests] come back to the ship after a long day, they have a lot of rejuvenating venues,” said Kelly Gonzalez, vice president of Newbuilding Architectural Design at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, in a Celebrity video highlighting the ship’s new features. “The Vista is an opendeck environment with a hot tub, sun loungers and alcoves. The Discovery Lounge is like the ship’s living room where everyone can congregate, take in the panoramic views around them, have a drink or even watch a movie.” Photo: 3deluxe The Observatory is a casual lounge and includes a library dedicated to the Galapagos Islands
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