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
F
rom furniture to fashion to fast cars, Italy has been
carry out this vision, I set out to commission a diverse,
at the forefront of design for decades. Its exports are
international team of creatives whose individual expertise
known the world-over for their elegance and style, so
and point of view would bridge the vision of Italy and Italia.”
when Italian-born operator Costa Cruises was looking to
Under Tihany’s leadership, Dordoni Architetti, Rockwell
launch a new flagship, where better to look for inspiration
Group, Jeffrey Beers International and Partner Ship Design
than its home nation.
were tasked with building on the history of the Costa brand
Costa Smeralda – named after Sardinia’s coastline and translating to ‘emerald’ in Italian – is a true celebration of
philosophy using their experience in hospitality design.
Italy’s finest, its history and its expressions. Constructed
Entrusted with the staterooms was Dordoni Architetti,
in Finland by shipbuilder Meyer Turku and powered by
the Milan-based studio founded by Rodolfo Dordoni, Luca
liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest burning
Zaniboni and Alessandro Acerbi. National pride meets
fossil fuel, the 2,612-cabin vessel has been brought to life
Italian style across the ship’s cabin decks, leading guests
by a collective of four internationally renowned architecture
on something of a grand tour through the country. Each
and interior design studios, all of which were handpicked
deck is associated with a different Italian city, which acts as
by Costa Cruises’ Creative Director, Adam D. Tihany, who
reference point for tone, atmosphere and decor; the journey
initially made his name in restaurant design before taking
begins on deck 4 in Palermo for example, before heading
on full hotel schemes and now cruise ships.
north through Capri, Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan,
“The theme is an authentic celebration of Italian design,
ending with Bellagio on deck 17.
culture and spirit,” he says proudly. “Since its inception,
Elsewhere, Rockwell Group brings its trademark theatrical
Costa has been an ambassador of Italian hospitality and
designs to the mix, creating a sense of drama in flexible
culture to the world; it is an intrinsically Italian brand.”
events space Colosseo, theatre-cum-nightclub Teatro
It’s clearly a concept that’s close to Tihany’s heart. “This dynamic fuels two perspectives of Italy: the Italy the world
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while crafting a bespoke realisation of the Italy’s finest
Sanremo, and a beach club and pool deck reminiscent of the terraced landscapes of southern Italy.
dreams of, and the authentic Italia as the Italians live it.
“Evoking an Italian piazza, the three-storey Colosseo is
Together, Italy and Italia create ‘il bel paese’, and their
inspired by our interest in theatre and offers an immersive
synergy and interaction is the basis of our design concept,”
arrival experience that can host a range of performances,
he continues. “When it came to selecting designers to
from acrobatic shows to late-night music,” says David
