46 offers in-built durability, enhanced performance, greater colour consistency and increased design possibilities.” Forest Group also uses stringent production methods to manufacture products that can easily endure constant use onboard passenger ships. “Our curtain rail systems are crafted from premium, highly stable aluminium to ensure superior quality for both indoor and outdoor use,” says Dion Bosch, international business developer for hospitality and marine at Forest Group. “An essential part of the production process involves applying a bonding layer to facilitate the application of highquality, elastic powder coating so the rails can be bent seamlessly. The rails are also ultraviolet-resistant and carrier testing involves subjecting them to 100C temperatures for two years without any colour alteration, allowing Forest to offer a 10-year warranty.” Collaborating for change Despite a growing number of companies designing products to meet shipowner’s specific requirements, there are still very few available in the market, says My Nguyen, director of interior design for cruise brands Holland America Line and Seabourn. “In these instances, we collaborate with vendors to create custom products that meet our criteria,” she says, explaining that Holland America has worked with Italian firm Manifattura Testori to create durable wall coverings made of recycled flame-retardant polyester fibres for guest corridors on its ships. “When we replace the wall coverings, Testori will take the material back to keep it out of landfill. We want to establish these kinds of partnerships with vendors of carpets, textiles, furniture and more. To us, designing to last isn’t just about making products durable, it’s also about the vendor playing a role in the circular ecosystem and being willing to think outside of the box with us.” Independent design firms, such as Miami-based Studio DADO, are partnering with product manufacturers to drive innovation in the passenger ship interior design sector too. “We specify materials that are durable, sustainable and easy to maintain, and also deliver on design and visual appeal,” says Yohandel Ruiz, founding partner of Studio DADO. “We were frustrated with what was in the market, so we partnered with wall covering manufacturer Omexco to design and deliver a high-performance product that achieved all of this. Together we’ve created a PVC-free, IMO-certified, high-performance wall covering that can be easily cleaned with bleach.” Make it modular Changing design preferences and the frequent daily use of products and onboard spaces means that ship interiors are refurbished every few years. To keep costs, refit work and waste to a minimum, shipowners should aim to use products that can be easily updated. “If the shipowner wants to change the style often, then it’s important to have items in a space that are easy to change and replace, such as textiles, artwork or loose cushions,” says Helena Sawelin, partner and business director at interior design firm Tillberg Design of Sweden. To make this easier and minimise waste, shipowners can choose modular FEATURE “ We need to develop design practices in which we consume fewer resources when creating products” Siu Lie Tan Exsulting Studio DADO worked with Omexco to create a PVC-free, IMO-certified, high-performance wall covering that can be easily cleaned Photo: Omexco
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