3 7 Maritime Organization, fire safety and other requirements. “Currently, sustainable products are more expensive to produce and buy, but the demand is there, and the more we promote life cycle analyses and grow suppliers’ understanding of the types of materials we’re specifying, the better the situation will become. We’re confident that with hardcore CO2 emission figures behind us, we can push the sustainability agenda forward.” While many shipowners are also embracing the move towards sustainability, some are concerned that choosing sustainable products and taking a data-driven approach to design may prevent them from creating innovative and inspiring interiors. Medelbye Hansen disagrees, saying: “If we had a client who only chose the most sustainable materials possible, we’d still be able to deliver an exciting and highquality interior design that would be aesthetically appealing and functional for both guests and crew members.” Steen Friis Design shows shipowners the impact of their design decisions on the passenger experience via its virtual reality tool, which enables key stakeholders to walk through a 3D, lifelike virtual model of the ship. “Walking through a 3D model gives clients a true sense of the depth and scale of each space, as well as a real insight into what it will look and feel like for passengers,” says Ørgård. “It’s much more effective and engaging than traditional drawings, particularly for those who do not have technical backgrounds. This allows us to have more meaningful and productive design discussions at a very early stage in the design process.” Crucially, Steen Friis Design can also seek feedback from crew members who will be operating the vessel and serving passengers too. “We invite targeted user groups to virtually test the layouts of spaces such as the bridge, galleys and engine rooms to ensure our designs will meet operational requirements before we begin the building and outfitting processes,” says Ørgård. “We’ve recently used it with both Stena Line and P&O Ferries to keep projects moving forward at a steady pace despite Covid restrictions.” The design studio’s flexible and technology-driven approach to design makes it a popular choice of partner with some of the world’s biggest cruise and ferry operators. “Our clients appreciate that we have the skills, knowledge and experience to develop high-quality designs that meet and exceed their expectations,” says Ørgård. “They also love that Steen Friis Design has tremendous synergy with OSK-ShipTech, which means they can come to us for naval architecture, marine engineering and interior design services all in one go. We always aim to offer a personalised service and build long-term relationships with our clients – more than eight of our partners have been working with us for over 25 years. “Despite disruption during the pandemic, we’ve continued serving our clients and are thrilled to have secured new projects from multiple customers that want our help to prepare for a greener future. We’ve still got a long way to go before we achieve true sustainability and zero-emission vessels, but we’re excited to work with shipowners and the supplier community to ensure we make this goal a reality over time.” CFI Bente Medelbye Hansen of Steen Friis Design, and Anders Ørgård of OSK Group are working hard to drive environmental changes across the passenger ship design industry Photos: Steen Friis Design
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