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Richmond International take to the seas in style

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The Richmond International design consultancy has created the interior designs for the gigantic P&O cruise ship Britannia, marking the first time one consultancy has taken care of every single interior design duty for a cruise ship, from the cabins and the luxurious central atrium, to the captain's quarters and the bridge. The 141,000 tonne ship will launch from Southampton this March, and has an overall design influenced by P&O's naval heritage, with shapes, spaces and furnishings used to create a quintessentially British theme that underlines the vessel's unashamedly patriotic moniker.

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Richmond worked in tandem with Maurice Brill Lighting Design, who supplied lighting to enhance the ornate, elegant interior designs, all of which centre around a stunning three-tier atrium. The centrepiece of the atrium, which has been designed with a nautical blue and cream colour palette and carpet design reminiscent of a traditional British garden maze, is Maurice Brill's gorgeous “Star Burst” lighting sculpture. The sculpture was (rather aptly) inspired by the star constellations naval captains once used to navigate the seas. The atrium also include a Market Café with a patisserie from Eric Lanlard,a French delicatessen and an Italian gelateria. It also offers the a cocktail bar, various shops, a coffee bar, and wine expert Olly Smith's The Glass House wine bar.

Richmond has created the interior designs for the gigantic P&O cruise ship Britannia

Other notable areas include the ship's Oasis Spa, which is the largest of all P&O ship's spa facilities, and includes an open-air deck area called “The Retreat.” The three main restaurants, meanwhile, have a soft cream style, and have been designed to feel more intimate than traditional dining areas. There is also Sindu, an Indian restaurant created by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, which uses elegant decorative lighting, textured screens, and a colour palette inspired by nature and exotic spices. Almost as dazzling as the atrium is the Crystal Room; the ship's central show lounge. It's decked out in a range of golds and pale blues, which are complemented by subtle floral decoration. To compensate for the lack of available height and create the illusion of extra volume, Richmond has also coffered the ceiling, added mirrored elements and introduced focused lighting.

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Richmond director and project leader Terry McGillicuddy, said that “As a British company” it has been an honour for them to have worked with P&O Cruises “On the interior of the company’s, and this country’s, largest and most contemporary ship.” He adds that “British culture vastly influences the design of Britannia with a modern, yet classic, interior that reflects British elegance and incorporates nautical tradition.” He added that, as this was the first entire ship for the consultancy (or any consultancy for that matter), there were certainly challenges, chief amongst which was “The speed of the overall build and delivery,” which required “A much faster process than typical land-based projects.” He also said that “The complex integration of the services required throughout the ship requires a wealth of experience, and major co-ordination with the shipyard, all of which adds to the challenges in the different phases of the project.”

British culture vastly influences the design of Britannia with a modern,” Terry McGillicuddy

McGillicuddy believes P&O chose his company to treat the whole ship because they wished for “A coordinated design approach across the ship, so to enhance its features, and ultimately, to provide a stylish and glamorous experience to its customers.” He adds that “The advantages are clearly noticeable in the results; an overall single design vision and direction ensures that the public areas designs throughout the ship complement and flow into each other.” As for which aspect of the design he's most proud of? The answer is certainly not surprising. He said “We are particularly proud of the main public space, the Atrium” which he believes will really be the “WOW feature of the ship, due to the design, style and appreciation of the quality and aesthetics of the space.” Having seen the snapshots, it's hard to disagree.

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