Cruise & Ferry Review - Spring/Summer 2021

3 9 Studying the world’s most popular gathering places – like the Spanish Steps in Rome, Times Square in New York and St. Mark’s Square in Venice – gives Walton and his team valuable insights into people flow, and why they linger or congregate the impact of individual design elements – such as the colour palette, patterns, textures, lighting, flooring, furnishings and the shape and flow of the space – to understand how they all work together to evoke a particular mood or atmosphere. This allows you to experiment by changing certain elements or combining them in different ways to work out how they can be used most effectively in the space you’re creating.” Looking back at historical architecture can also help designers to derive insights into how they can develop engaging spaces that serve as a platform for cruise operators to deliver a certain type of experience for their guests. When Studio DADO designed the atrium on Norwegian Cruise Line’s upcoming Project Leonardo ships, for example, it started by analysing some of the world’s most popular “gathering spaces”, such as Times Square in New York City, St. Mark’s Square in Venice, and the Spanish Steps in Rome. The team also looked at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Georgia, USA, which was designed by John Portman in 1967 and introduced a contemporary new atrium concept that revolutionised hotel design. Noting that the atrium will be the “literal and figurative heart” of the Leonardo-class ships, Walton says: “We wanted the atrium to be more than just a nice space that guests pass through on their way to somewhere else; we wanted it to be a space that draws people in and encourages them to congregate and enjoy socialising together. “Places like St. Mark’s Square and the Spanish Steps have been enthralling people for centuries, so we wanted to pinpoint why they are so popular. We looked at everything from the overall shape of the spaces to the entry/exit points, how they are connected to the buildings around them, which elements of the design encourage people to linger and which help to keep people flowing smoothly to prevent bottlenecks.” Studio DADO then took a risk, presenting its insights to Norwegian’s executives before it had developed a detailed design concept for the atrium. Fortunately, they were intrigued by the design firm’s unorthodox and effective approach. “After we explained how our research would help us to create a unique atrium unlike any other seen on a cruise ship, Norwegian’s team were thrilled,” says Walton. “Like us, they realised the benefits of taking a high-level view of the space, defining the type of experience we want to curate, and then diving down into the finer details such as the colour palette furnishings and lighting.” Walton champions the idea of taking an unconventional approach to design. “You must always be aware that your ideal design might not be achievable in a practical or financial sense, but if you limit yourself with these constraints at the beginning of the project, you’ll never be innovative,” he explains. “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and push forward with your ideas, even if you know that they will likely have to be reworked in future.” Working in this way means that it is vital for designers to develop patience. “The old adage that patience is a virtue is very much true because cruise ship projects involve multiple stakeholders and design changes happen frequently,” Photo: Unsplash/Ilnur Kalimullin