9 7 The art deco-inspired suite onboard Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery then focus on the volume requirements and the size of a space. “Different room types require different interior volumes and seating capacities,” he says. “The richness of a vessel also needs to be considered. The volume of space can, when designed correctly, be perceived as luxurious, however if a space is too big then it can very easily lose atmosphere. No one likes to sit in an empty restaurant or theatre.” For this balancing task, Stewart refers to SMC’s comprehensive database, which currently holds information on over 70 newbuild ships. “This helps us to ensure that the area size per passenger is sufficient for the room’s purpose and, using such comparative data, we can always give our clients the reassurance the area size meets expectations,” he says. At this point of the process, Stewart says it’s paramount that he understands the brand he is designing for. “Whether it be adult-only contemporary Scandinavian, or our brightly coloured family vessels, understanding brand values and the target passenger demographic is essential to the success of a project. “Each space we design requires solid narrative. And this is not only for our more themed interiors – narrative should always be used at the beginning of the design process as this conveys the style and personality. Such definition is absolutely essential before we even start to think about the creation of a new room.” These processes are quite unique to the cruise industry. “When designing for passenger ships, there’s many considerations – restricted free heights, the classification of materials, fire-loads and even evacuation requirements,” Stewart says. “The wonderfully challenging aspect of the cruise industry is the amazing variety of design that is required. With SMC’s extensive understanding of the market, we are able to continually create unique and interesting areas. There’s no question that architecture on passenger vessels can lead to dynamic and challenging environments, but that’s what excites us.” CFI “Understanding brand values and the target passenger demographic is essential to the success of a project”
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