120 DESIGN LEGENDS Kai Bunge and Siegfried Schindler Rebecca Gibson asks Partner Ship Design’s founders how they have transformed the concept of cruise ship interior design over the past 35 years Kai Bunge grew up in Germany fascinated by seeing ideas become built reality – both his father and grandfather were architects, and he helped to construct his family home as a young boy. He chose to study architecture himself and has since remained riveted by the combination of creativity, craftsmanship, design and construction it offers. Elsewhere in Germany, Siegfried Schindler decided to become an interior architect at the age of 14. He went on to study architecture and graduated with a Master’s degree in 1977. Both men spent several years separately gaining interior design experience before joining forces to open Partner Ship Design (PSD) in Hamburg, Germany, in early 1991. The firm rapidly developed a reputation for delivering high-quality, innovative design and consultancy services for newbuilds, refurbishments and conversions of cruise ships, yachts and ferries. Spearheaded by Bunge and Schindler, the firm successfully completed 310 diverse projects for major operators including AIDA Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises and National GeographicLindblad Expeditions. Now, as Bunge and Schindler pass leadership over to long-term employees Stefan Seidenfaden, Timo Hoogestraat and Silke Förster, they share an insight into their career highlights, the evolution of the industry and more. How did you first get into cruise interior design? Bunge: After my studies, I wanted to gain international experience. First, I worked for an architect in Hamburg, where I participated in a project in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Next, I freelanced for Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, which was constructing Homeric for Home Lines and needed an interior designer to process information from the plans drawn by shipowner’s architects for the steel construction and fit-out teams. I’d never done these tasks before, but Meyer Werft hired me because I had an architecture degree and spoke English. Everything went well, so I was asked to work on the next cruise ship – Royal Cruise Line’s Crown Odyssey. When I stood under the bow in dry dock in autumn 1987, I knew that my future should be planning and building cruise ships. Schindler: My passion was furniture design and I worked successfully in that field for two years after graduating university. I then moved to Hamburg, where Howaldtswerke shipyard was constructing the first passenger vessels for the German market. I took my first steps into shipbuilding there in 1979. I was so fascinated by cruise ship construction that I never left the field, and after 47 successful years, I can say it was the best decision I ever made. Shipbuilding has shaped my life for almost half a century. Which fundamental design principles have underpinned your work? Bunge: American architect Louis Sullivan said: ‘Form follows function.’ This has always been essential to me and our work at PSD. It’s especially important when designing cruise ships where we need to optimise the limited onboard space. It’s also critical to develop an individual design language for each cruise brand. Schindler: Nature, everyday life and my surroundings are my greatest sources of inspiration. Observing them closely and reflecting on them fuels my creative “ People in shipbuilding are exceptional because they’re always solution oriented” Siegfried Schindler
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