Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda COSTA CRUISES

Celebrating Italy’s finest, the new flagship from Costa Cruises brings together a stellar line-up of design talent under the creative direction of Adam D. Tihany.

Words: Ben Thomas • Photography: Courtesy of Costa Cruises

From furniture to fashion to fast cars, Italy has been at the forefront of design for decades. Its exports are known the world-over for their elegance and style, so when Italian-born operator Costa Cruises was looking to launch a new flagship, where better to look for inspiration than its home nation.

Costa Smeralda – named after Sardinia’s coastline and translating to ‘emerald’ in Italian – is a true celebration of Italy’s finest, its history and its expressions. Constructed in Finland by shipbuilder Meyer Turku and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, the 2,612-cabin vessel has been brought to life by a collective of four internationally renowned architecture and interior design studios, all of which were handpicked by Costa Cruises’ Creative Director, Adam D. Tihany, who initially made his name in restaurant design before taking on full hotel schemes and now cruise ships.

“The theme is an authentic celebration of Italian design, culture and spirit,” he says proudly. “Since its inception, Costa has been an ambassador of Italian hospitality and culture to the world; it is an intrinsically Italian brand.”

It’s clearly a concept that’s close to Tihany’s heart. “This dynamic fuels two perspectives of Italy: the Italy the world dreams of, and the authentic Italia as the Italians live it. Together, Italy and Italia create ‘il bel paese’, and their synergy and interaction is the basis of our design concept,” he continues. “When it came to selecting designers to carry out this vision, I set out to commission a diverse, international team of creatives whose individual expertise and point of view would bridge the vision of Italy and Italia.”

Under Tihany’s leadership, Dordoni Architetti, Rockwell Group, Jeffrey Beers International and Partner Ship Design were tasked with building on the history of the Costa brand while crafting a bespoke realisation of the Italy’s finest philosophy using their experience in hospitality design.

Entrusted with the staterooms was Dordoni Architetti, the Milan-based studio founded by Rodolfo Dordoni, Luca Zaniboni and Alessandro Acerbi. National pride meets Italian style across the ship’s cabin decks, leading guests on something of a grand tour through the country. Each deck is associated with a different Italian city, which acts as reference point for tone, atmosphere and decor; the journey begins on deck 4 in Palermo for example, before heading north through Capri, Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan, ending with Bellagio on deck 17.

Elsewhere, Rockwell Group brings its trademark theatrical designs to the mix, creating a sense of drama in flexible events space Colosseo, theatre-cum-nightclub Teatro Sanremo, and a beach club and pool deck reminiscent of the terraced landscapes of southern Italy.

“Evoking an Italian piazza, the three-storey Colosseo is inspired by our interest in theatre and offers an immersive arrival experience that can host a range of performances, from acrobatic shows to late-night music,” says David

National pride meets Italian style across the ship’s cabin decks, leading guests on a grand tour through the country

Rockwell, founder and President of Rockwell Group. “The floor-to-ceiling columns are clad in LED screens that display a different story in each port of call, serving as a backdrop to performances, while the venue’s dynamism is amplified by a domed ceiling and large stage, activating the entire space and engaging guests on all three levels.”

Inspired by the Teatro alla Scala opera house in Milan meanwhile, horseshoe-shaped theatre and nightclub Teatro Sanremo features a grand staircase and stage, the latter of which converts to a dance floor and DJ area once the sun goes down. A radial light installation hangs above, with handcrafted gold-leaf surfaces highlighting a central oculus and tracing the theatre’s circular form.

Other Rockwell-designed spaces include several fine-dining and casual restaurants bars and lounges; a shore excursion and photography gallery; and kids and teens clubs. As with the staterooms, each represents a different Italian city, meaning materials and furnishings – supplied by manufacturers such as Alessi, Cappellini, Cassina and Dedar – capture the spirit of every location through motifs, patterns and colours. The Beach Club, for instance, references its coastal landscapes and seaside towns, whilst the bars by the main swimming pool couple turquoise shutters and handmade cement tiles one might find in Portofino. Another space recalls a grotto off the Amalfi Coast, with carved walls and a hammered metal ceiling that create a rippling, reflective effect.

“Whether it’s a hotel, resort or restaurant, there is always emphasis on storytelling in our designs,” notes Rockwell. “While hotels have long been driven by a mix of public spaces for socialising and private spaces for sleeping, travellers increasingly value experience over opulence. This has tipped the focus to public areas, where storytelling is more important than ever; nomads demand unique, immersive experiences.

“The design concept of Costa Smeralda really lends itself to this idea. Italy is a culture that always pursues the new through the lens of the old. As a designer, it was exciting to create a contemporary narrative that is relevant today but rooted in this philosophy.”

Taking charge of the planning and design of the vessel’s casino and jazz club as well as a number of bars and restaurants, Jeffrey Beers International

In line with the ship’s approach, furnishings on-board Costa Smeralda are designed and manufactured in Italy

also sought to create an immersive experience. Each venue celebrates Italian art, culture and craftsmanship by way of Murano glass chandeliers, colourful furnishings and floors that pay homage to the nation’s palazzos, while bespoke carpeting and abstract paintings honour icons past and present.

“I love the harmonious balance between boldness, colour and originality, and elegance, tailoring, and style,” confirms founder and CEO Jeffrey Beers. “Bella Vista is particularly special to me as it speaks to my personal love of nautical design. In designing the upscale restaurant, we drew from our experience collaborating with talented culinary masters like French chef Daniel Boulud. The venue pays tribute to the seafaring traditions of Italy’s yacht-building towns like Iseo, with polished chrome detailing, high lacquer walnut and custom-made furniture by Rubelli very much reminiscent of a Riva yacht.”

This layering of iconic Italian furniture and accents, like a stately Murano glass chandelier designed by Gio Ponti for Venini, adds to the vitality of the vessel and is coupled with an emphasis on colour, with hues of aquamarine, plum and rosso corsa.

Rounding out the design team, Partner Ship Design (PSD) brought a wealth of marine expertise to the table, devising restaurants, outdoor decks and a promenade, as well as speciality venues for workshops and personal care. The Hamburg-headquartered firm took inspiration from a spectrum of design influences, ranging from Italian classicism to contemporary motifs.

“For us at PSD, this project was special because Costa Smeralda is based on the Helios XL Class, a platform design we developed together with Costa,” says Senior Partner Kai Bunge. “Having designed the first Helios Class ship for Aida Cruises, it has been extremely interesting to work on the same platform for another brand and give the ship it’s very own character and appearance.”

The first step for PSD was to modify the

floorplan of Costa Smeralda, with the type, number, layout and positioning of public areas amended according to the brand’s requirements. Following this, the practice designed interior spaces such as the spa and Venus Beauty Salon on deck 16, as well as Pizzeria Pummid’oro, Ristorante Lab, Bar il Barco, and Trastevere Lounge on deck 8.

“We were eager to develop a design language of proportions, colours, detailing, lighting and decorations that reflects the Italian lifestyle and culture,” continues Bunge. “Above that, we integrated the latest technology to create inspiring environments for passengers.”

Tactile materials showcasing Italian craftsmanship were also key to PSD’s scheme, with fine grain timber and soft leather appearing alongside marble (and plenty of it), dazzling crystal and polished metal. Like every other space on board, these finishes were paired with loose furniture designed and manufactured in Italy by Molteni & C, Roda, Flos, Poltrona Frau, Kartell and Moroso.

Taking this creative nous further, the ship also features the world’s first design museum at sea featuring pieces from a variety of fields, while art collections – curated by Fp Art, ArtLink, Samuelis Baumgarte Art Consulting – delve into Italy’s culture and passion.

“For me, Italy’s finest is a national pride that has been passed from generation to generation; it’s a place where every taste feels like a dream and where time itself seems to slow,” Tihany concludes. “Style is king, beauty is queen and the attitudes of the people could change the world. These ideas have helped shape the identity of the ship.”

The designer – who began his career working as an apprentice in a Milan design studio in the late 1960s – describes Costa Smeralda as a “dream concept” and it’s easy to see why. “It’s a true celebration of all that makes Italy one of the most beloved destinations in the world,” he says. “Nature, beauty, culture, art, design, fashion, food and, most of all, its friendly and generous people. Costa Smeralda has it all.” ON DECK Route: West Mediterranean Owner: Carnival Corporation Operator: Costa Cruises Flag State: Italy Coordinating Architect: AMK Creative Director: Adam D. Tihany Interior Design: Dordoni Architetti, Rockwell Group, Jeffrey Beers International, Partner Ship Design Shipyard: Meyer Turku Art Consultants: Fp Art, ArtLink, Samuelis Baumgarte Art Consulting www.costacruises.com