Since 2001, Guillaume Rolland has headed the yachting division of the 25-year-old Christian Liaigre design studio. The firm is known for executing contemporary interiors that emphasize artisanal elements and local cultures. Rolland himself has experience in the contemporary arena, too. Prior to joining Christian Liaigre, he worked for Philippe Starck. The megayacht Wedge 2 was among his first projects there. Among the megayachts he’s designed for Christian Liaigre are Vertigo, Seahawk, and Rosehearty, all sailing yachts. Rolland further oversaw the refit of the motoryacht La Fenice. Next up is Cloudbreak, soon to be delivered. We recently spoke with Rolland, an avid sailor, about what gets his creativity flowing.
MegayachtNews.com: How did the yachting division get started? And, why make it a dedicated division?
Guillaume Rolland: Yachts are very demanding projects, and we felt that if we had experienced people who are completely focused on this particular field, it would be a real added value to serve project requirements.
MegayachtNews.com: Over the past 15 years that you have been with Christian Liaigre’s studio, what have been the most significant design developments in terms of yachts? For example, beach clubs have become very popular, as have balconies. Are there structural and/or decor trends that you have noticed?
Guillaume Rolland: I think that it is rather the contrary: The constraints are so numerous in such projects that the basic structure cannot really undergo great developments. New evolutions are in fact quite discrete. You can compare boats’ evolution with cars’ evolution. For decades, cars are still on four wheels; the evolution is on the lines, shapes, fittings, security, etc. You are in fields that must comply with many rules and regulations for security, structures, and resistance against water and fire. For example, the big openings in hull sides that allow additional terraces are evolutions, but at the end, when they are closed, interior spaces are still the same.
MegayachtNews.com: What are some of the biggest challenges when it comes to yacht design?
Guillaume Rolland: I think that the biggest challenge is to find innovative layouts improving small spaces. The exact way we do this is our secret, but it’s mainly throughout previous experimentation and trying to gain precious millimeters where others don’t dare to.
MegayachtNews.com: Yachts are getting bigger. Does more space mean more creativity and therefore more enjoyment for designers like you? Or can more space actually make things difficult?
Guillaume Rolland: Creative solutions are always born from the biggest constraints. In fact, more space means more difficulties in finding creative solutions. The more the challenge is real, the more exciting it is.
MegayachtNews.com: Describe one of the more interesting requests a client has made, whether crazy or creative.
Guillaume Rolland: The need for a classroom on Vertigo was an interesting request. Also, an owner’s stateroom with two king-sized beds on Seahawk (above), which enabled us to provide a very interesting layout. The classroom was in fact one of the four scenario that we have included in this space. It was possible and easy to turn this room into a small home cinema, a small dining/snack room, or a nap room. We really like to play with convertible possibilities, as it is important to provide several scenarios. For the stateroom on Seahawk, we positioned the beds facing each other across the width of the boat instead of putting them side by side. This arrangement allows the owners to face each other and speak more comfortably. This illustrates perfectly that design is efficient only if each gesture of everyday life is considered, analyzed, improved, and solved. After that, interiors can be wood, flowered wallpaper or painted pink; it doesn’t really matter.
MegayachtNews.com: Since you’re passionate about sailing, if you were to design a sailing yacht for yourself, what would she look like?
Guillaume Rolland: I would try to reinterpret the English pilot cutter and luggers, mixed with up-to-date requirements in terms of cruising, trying to keep everything very simple and easy so you can repair it yourself.
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