Form meets function in Tillberg Design of Sweden’s latest project

When the most recent addition to TUI’s cruise ship fleet set sail for her maiden voyage this summer, she did so with a modern interior from Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS), part of the Viken Group.

The 316-metre Mein Schiff 7 features real mosaic flooring, intimate Asian dining and a new line of cosy single cabins, all straight from the drawing board of the pioneers of the ‘cruise yacht’.

As a methanol-ready, nearly carbon neutral ship, Mein Schiff 7 pushes technical boundaries, but she also challenges design norms as well. The most intensive work was around the iconic glass diamond at the aft of the ship’s superstructure, where a two-deck atrium offers huge volumes and multi-level dining. Named GroßeFreiheit, after the street in Hamburg’s entertainment district which propelled the Beatles to fame, this space has been turned into an Italian piazza by TDoS.

“The piazza floor is made of a ceramic mosaic,” explained Malvina Guarnieri, Design Director of Tillberg Design of Sweden. “We provided the design and the arrangement of the tiles in the different colours. In combination with the aft glazing, the idea was to enter a piazza, and imagine a restaurant which had, even if all indoor, an outdoor feeling in the design elements.”

The effect is heightened by the golden Vespa scooter parked in the piazza and comfortable outdoor armchairs, giving the La Spezia restaurant a real sense of laid-back Italian living. Nearby, TDoS has created a radically different sense of styling in the Hideki restaurant, which encapsulates the essence of Asian dining. Traditional wooden beams combine with rice-paper lanterns and an organically patterned carpet to add atmosphere, while the volume has been broken up into lots of smaller spaces.

“We wanted to create different seating groups and seating arrangements, to provide passengers with different types of dining experiences, from the private room to the fixed banquette with the wooden pergola above it for privacy,” added Guarnieri.

With a passenger complement of nearly 2,900, Mein Schiff 7 has to offer a mind-boggling number of dining possibilities, all on different scales, including the intimate tête-à-tête of La Spezia and Japanese-Asian restaurant Hideki.

“What we like about our designs is that the different areas have an individual personality, but at the same time they flow very nicely - one into another,” said Guarnieri. “We believe that the sense of 'flow' is a key part of the experience, and you really get that feeling walking on board. The designs are welcoming, with engaging architectural elements and nice variety, without being ‘loud’.”

The single staterooms

Tillberg Design of Sweden was also responsible for designing an entirely new element of Mein Schiff 7 – one that makes a first for ship owner TUI. Single staterooms address a growing demand from single travellers, and have been introduced on Deck 4. In total, 26 of these cabins now appear on the ship, each encompassing 8 square metres.

The interior design is closely aligned with the standard cabins elsewhere on the ship – muted blues for the upholstery, white stained oak cabinetry and carpets with wavy lines that call to mind undulating sand dunes. But beyond the attractive visual elements of this design is a lot of work to ensure that it is also as sustainable as possible.

“We took into account the environmental properties of each material, thinking about everything - from sourcing locally to emissions,” said Guarnieri. “On the carpet for example, we specified the Dansk Wilton Origin collection, which uses undyed wool. The design intent for the materials selection was both for the standard staterooms and for the single staterooms.”

As part of the Viken Group, Tillberg Design of Sweden has access to a pool of world-class design talent shared with the other businesses in the portfolio: Italy’s renowned Hot Lab design studio and Thalia Marine. For all the experience in the luxury cruise ship market, there is just as much depth on the yacht side as well. This cross-fertilisation of ideas and techniques is part of what energises this design powerhouse.