Cruise & Ferry Interiors 2020

1 1 3 INTERV IEW Capitalising on missed opportunities Garroni Design’s Vittorio Garroni tells Elly Yates-Roberts how the Swiss lakes are inspiring his latest cruise innovation “The aesthetics will emanate warm Swiss minimalism” I f you could create the ideal cruising experience, what would it look like? Vittorio Garroni, an award-winning ship designer and the founder of Garroni Design, has a clear image of his version of cruise perfection and he’s in the process of turning it into reality. His latest concept will see yacht-style vessels take to the Swiss lakes to offer guests a combination of traditional sailing and modern luxury. Although it is still in the development stage, Garroni has high hopes for this new project as he believes it will showcase some of Europe’s missed nautical opportunities. “There are no cruise ships operating on European lakes because people often think that lakes are too small for this kind of operation and, historically, it has not been easy to build ships in situ,” he says. “However, many lakes are more than 100 kilometres in length and constructing vessels remotely is now quite common. Unlike river cruise operators, those wanting to provide cruises on lakes have no restrictions on width or height, which means their vessels can feature catamaran hulls for larger public spaces, and masts for quieter and more environmentally friendly sailing.” While Garroni’s new vessel concept could be developed for any lakes in Europe, his vision for the interior design has been heavily inspired by the Swiss landscape and culture. “The aesthetics will emanate warm Swiss minimalism through wood in contemporary shapes, softened wool and leather, and matte metals,” he says. “There will also be a three- deck-high tree in the main lounge theatre and a planted vegetable garden on the terraces, which will provide fresh lettuce for chefs.” These visuals will be present throughout the onboard spaces, which will include all-suite accommodation with verandas and French balconies, two restaurants and cafeterias, several bars, a piano lounge, a shopping arcade, a dance floor, spa and gym facilities and a semi-enclosed patio with whirlpools, an outdoor pool, a paddle tennis court and sun terraces. CFI