Marine architecture

One of the most interesting and challenging sectors of luxury design is that of cruise ships, a field in which architects and interior designers have to overcome problems of limited space and distribution constraints with solutions that deliver a high level of comfort together with all the functionality and elegance typical of the most sophisticated living spaces. This is a task that the Helsinki-based practice Aprokos tackled with excellent results when commissioned to carry out the retrofitting of the sister cruise ships Silja Symphony and Silja Serenade, whose interiors were recently renovated with the use of ceramic mosaics from Appiani. Both owned by the Estonian Tallink Group, the Silja Symphony and Silja Serenade provide a direct service between the cities of Helsinki and Stockholm. Passengers enjoy a first-rate guest experience thanks to a series of on-board amenities, including a shopping mall occupying one of the ship’s decks, high-quality dining, the Sunflower Oasis Spa fitness and wellness centre, and a wide range of accommodation options including the luxurious Executive and Junior Suites. All cabins have a contemporary interior design, with meticulous finishes and detailing in even the most confined spaces. Dominated by the fresh airiness of the white and cream colours, the interiors stand out for their custom-made furnishings that maximise the functionality and liveability of the spaces without compromising on style, along with materials such as the natural wood of the profiles, mouldings and panelling chosen both in warm cherry tones for the furniture and in sober oak boards for the flooring. Exceptional care was devoted to the bathrooms, which in the larger cabins are equipped with whirlpool baths and wellness areas featuring the textures and colours of Appiani’s Anthologhia and Metallica mosaic ranges, also used in the Spa. Part of the Colore Appiani single press firing collection, Anthologhia offers a variety of colour tones ideal for creating pleasantly vibrant backgrounds, a semi-gloss glazed surface, and a production process capable of creating small elements with excellent flatness and high aesthetic appeal and durability. Anthologhia mosaics in the Calla and Fiordaliso colours, a standard R9 version and 1.25×1.25 cm or 2.5×2.5 cm sizes were chosen for the walls and exteriors of the whirlpools and swimming pools in the spa, while the R10-B and R11-C non-slip versions were used for the steps of the whirlpools. The Anthologhia collection was again chosen for the profiles and decorative details, in this case in the Tulipano Nero shade, along with Riflessi from the Metallica collection, whose unique surface finish is ideal for creating mosaic backgrounds with special light and reflection effects. All the elements were also used to create customised geometric wall compositions in the cabin bedrooms and bathrooms.