By
Alex Smith |
Holland America Line’s new flagship, Rotterdam, debuted on 20 October 2021 with a 14-day sailing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, featuring several interiors designed by Norway-based architecture and design firm YSA Design.
In addition to lift lobbies and cabin corridors, the firm was responsible for venues it had previously designed onboard Rotterdam’s sister ships, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam. These included the World Stage theatre, with a two-storey, 270-degree wraparound LED screen, and the Observation Deck, which features interactive tables. However, YSA chose to divide both indoor and outdoor open areas into more compact spaces onboard Rotterdam, allowing guests to spend time in smaller groups.
“With its Pinnacle fleet, Holland America Line wanted a fresh and contemporary aesthetic and Rotterdam is its latest inspiring example,” said Trond Sigurdsen, senior architect and project lead for YSA Design. “The ship is designed at the ‘human scale’, with smaller private spaces being central to the relaxing atmosphere onboard. Although the basic layout of the ship is the same, Rotterdam is very much reflective of modern times.”
The firm also curated a collection of art to feature in public spaces, featuring depictions of animals and nature. The spa area of the ship features aquatic-themed artwork, while music-inspired pieces such as hand-carved vinyl records, unwound cassette tapes portraying the faces of musicians and a world map spray-painted onto a set of speakers appear on walls, halls and corridors throughout the ship.
Meanwhile, pan-Asian restaurant Tamarind features East Asian-influenced artwork, including a traditional Japanese dress made of satin ribbon and two fibreglass sculptures depicting China’s terracotta warriors.
“Art is a powerful medium for conveying emotion and setting the mood in any public or private space,” said Sigurdsen. “Generally, architecture informs our choice of artwork, but on Rotterdam, artwork inspired the architecture. In the spa’s Hydro Pool, for instance, the large glass sculptures resemble windows into the ocean and provided the starting point and frame for the rest of our design work.”