Following the eagerly anticipated name reveal of Queen Anne earlier this year, Cunard now proudly introduces exciting details of the design – a collaboration from designers David Collins Studio, Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie, working with the Creative Director Adam D. Tihany to create an extraordinary and thoughtful, modern design approach…
Queen Anne has been created with an extraordinary new vision, striking a new chapter in Cunard’s story inspired by the brand’s remarkable past. The designers tasked with creating this vision have portfolios which include luxury hotels, spas, restaurants, and bars, as well as high end yachts, and private grand residences. For designers David Collins Studio and Sybille de Margerie, it is the first time taking their land-based expertise to the ship experience. The principal concept was founded on heritage, craftsmanship, storytelling, style and innovation. These five pillars ultimately became the design DNA for the ship, and accordingly, the engine of inspiration for the designers, working together in unison.
“Just the way a world-renowned orchestra delivers a feeling, or takes you to a moment or an era,” explained Adam D. Tihany, Creative Director for Cunard. “Queen Anne’s aesthetic would do the same in harkening Cunard’s gilded age, but through the bold, onward lens of modernity.”
Image credit: Cunard
The design teams tapped into the Cunard archives, held at the University of Liverpool, sourcing a rich trove of historical documents and details on layout, materials, fabrics, patterns and textures. No stone was left unturned, from iconic poster advertisements, brochure covers and plans of grand spaces of Cunard’s early deco inspired ships, to deliver a ship concept that rivals the finest in hospitality experienced on shore.
The design DNA was first brought to life through the iconic Cunard Queens Grand Suites. The Queens Grill Grand Suites offer guests their own private residences on board and deliver a new level of exclusivity, with each finish carefully curated in every room. Designed by David Collins Studio, they represent the epitome of luxury accommodation at sea with a dedicated dining room and adjacent butler’s pantry, walk-in wardrobes, marble finished bathrooms with views out to sea, a spacious bedroom and the largest balconies onboard.
“I was daunted by the scale, and multitude of venues to begin with,” said Simon Rawlings, Creative Director at David Collins Studio, discussing the design brief. “But as we started to unravel the journey, craft the experiences, and hone the vision, it all became clear. We wanted to create something nostalgic yet contemporary, relaxed yet glamorous, new and exciting – all within the constraints of a ship.”
Image credit: Cunard
The Princess Grill Suites, designed by Sybille de Margerie, are warm, inviting and surrounded in the softest materials and delicate textures for an intimate experience featuring a bespoke dressing table and bar area with patterned wall panel inspired by the flowing lines of Cunard’s past liners, sculpted ceiling panels and grand saloon carpets by textile designer, Corinne Hughes. While the Britannia balcony staterooms provide cosy sofa seating areas looking out to sea, and light, bright bathrooms with glass walk-in showers for a more relaxed, luxury experience.
“We based the design on a sense of wonder, like a matchmaker at sea that introduces the past to its most alluring future,” explained designer Sybille de Margerie.
Image credit: Cunard
A focal point for guests and the heart of the ship, the Grand Lobby, was designed to provide a show-stopping entrance, full of energy and light. Marking the transition from past to present, the area houses a contemporary metal mural sculpture that changes throughout the day by the lighting effect integrated within with an art deco leaning in homage to the ‘Golden Age’ of travel. The narrative is also keenly brought into play through the elevated entertainment spaces such as the vivid reimaging of the flagship Royal Court Theatre. The two-deck 825 seat space, designed by Richmond International, is inspired by the great sound halls of the world. All seating is of the utmost comfort and adorned in rich velvet providing each guest with a perfect view of the stage, where they may enjoy a wide variety of entertainment throughout the day and night. Each of the fifteen restaurants on board Queen Anne are distinctive where guests will enjoy a wide variety of cuisines from around the world. This is vividly reflected in the décor – from the strikingly grand Britannia Restaurant to the newly refined Golden Lion pub.
A first in Cunard’s fleet, Queen Anne will also exclusively reveal a new wellness and beauty concept never seen before on a Cunard vessel featuring the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal and spa suite facilities with a contemporary, open and airy aesthetic.
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A vital aspect to the overall blueprint is the colour palette which has been individually curated for every space to create a unique ambience in every setting. Bold new colours elevate the signature spaces and Queens Grill Suites, deep blues with flashes of golden yellow in the Britannia Staterooms have been chosen to reflect the sea and shimmer of sunlight and deep rich tones of red, amber and gold heighten the luxurious lounge feel of the Princess Grill Suites. For the Princess and Queens Grill restaurants, bright colours were chosen with elements of gold, to reinforce the luxurious but refined overall design aesthetic on board.
“Anything tricky can date, anything too predictable can be tiresome and replicated, so keeping things fresh, unique and bold ensures the designs are timeless, and meet or exceed guest expectations,” said Rawlings, Creative Director, David Collins Studio.
Another first for Cunard, the updated exterior of the ship will proudly sport the famous red funnel but also will debut a refined updated livery, with a finessed design of the iconic crest and introduction of an elegant new font inspired by the grand ocean liners of the past, to confidently present the name Queen Anne on the forward bow. Every Cunard ship is set to the highest interior design standard and Queen Anne epitomises this approach. There are currently three Cunard ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria with Queen Anne, as the fourth, scheduled to be entering service in early 2024.
Main image credit: Cunard
