The MS World Explorer, the first ship designed and built in Portugal for oceanic travel and expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, is also the first expedition ship in which PPS was involved.
In this full interior design project, Pilar Paiva de Sousa’s team turned to a palette of colors, patterns, materials and textures conceptually inspired by the natural elements of the routes the ship will travel. One of the characteristics of the perception of luxury is spaciousness.
WORLD EXPLORER
DOURO AZUL - 2019
On a ship, where space has to be optimized, the challenge of creating comfortable and elegant environments is even greater. In the cabins, the panoramic windows are an input of innovation, because they can be fully opened, turning into balconies. In the same space, two decorative structures divide the sleeping area from the lounge, which, when the window is open, allows the living area to extend from indoors to outdoors. The palette is dominated by shades of blue and white, evoking the sea and glaciers, balanced against the comfort of the woods and the soft textures of the fabrics.
In the public areas, by contrast, two wood tones—dark and light—form a base for different shades of gray, blue and white, bringing to mind the glacial ice, as well as the ocher of sand and dirt. The evocation of transoceanic travel appears, more explicitly, in the motifs and patterns of carpets, and more subtly, in the wallpapers.
The strict safety measures require in-depth knowledge of the materials to be used. After an exhaustive search and selection process, the sensibility and expertise of the PPS team enabled the creation and construction of refined and elegant environments.
