“THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF A PROJECT IS THE LOGISTICS AND LAYOUT OF THE FERRY”

Name: Richard Andree Nilsson

Position: Owner, MD

Age: 64

Zodiac sign: Aries

Civil status and family: Married with two grown-up children

Place of birth: Kristianstad, Sweden

Please tell us something about your career path in interior architecture in general and in ferry interior design in particular.

I started my career as an architect designing private houses and dwellings. Then I went on to be an assistant lecturer at the School of Architecture in Lund, Sweden. At the same time, I went into a partnership with other architects, where we organised architecture exhibitions and undertook other professional works. Since 1982, I’ve worked for different architect firms on various projects. I joined FIGURA in 1985, where I eventually became a partner. I have been the sole owner of this company for a couple of years now.

You have been designing ferry interiors for Stena Line non-stop for over 30 years. How did it all start?

In 1986, we were asked to submit a proposal for the STENA DANICA refit. Knowing nothing about ship interior design at the time, my partners and I drew up a proposal whereby we probably did everything wrong from the ship architecture perspective, but, somehow, we got everything right commercially. Since then, we’ve being going from strength to strength with Stena and accumulated knowledge about ship design continuously.

Our success was probably due to the fact that we came into the business with a fresh perspective that had been built on the experience from land-based architectural projects. We knew the importance of logistics and planning and combining them with commercial approaches to designing restaurants and bars on land.

So far, which ferry projects have been the most remarkable for you?

The ones yet to come. I think the ferry business is challenging and exciting. Apart from on board the ferries sailing in the Irish sea, where else can you find designs that are experienced by two-million people every year?

There have been many memorable projects; among them are the successful refit of (STENA) SUPERFAST VII and VIII, Stena’s super ferries for the Hoek van Holland-Harwich route, the two newbuild projects for Spirit of Tasmania, and, of course, the Stena E-Flexer series in China.

If you were allowed to design a newbuild unencumbered, what would your ideal ferry look like?

The fabrics of an interior change constantly. They are transitory. The most important aspect of a project is the logistics and layout of the ferry. These will survive time and if they work well for both crew and passengers, the ship will be a commercial success. Of course, all the designs must be contemporary and commercially viable. As my favorite designers, Charles and Ray Eames, once said: “What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts.”

If I could be granted a wish for the future of the industry, it would be that the newbuild design process should start with inputs from a group of expert designers; so that all aspects of the product would be considered from the beginning. I am one-hundred-percent sure that this will be beneficial all round and the end-product will be both technically and commercially superior.

Could you tell us something about your current newbuilding and refurbishment projects?

Right now, we are focusing on the Stena newbuilds in China. These projects are more challenging because we work in another culture. The different ways of thinking and different languages we speak are barriers we have to overcome. This can be very exciting and rewarding. We are responsible for the designs of the newbuilds chartered to Brittany Ferries and DFDS. It has been interesting to adapt to the needs and objectives of these operators within the E-Flexer framework and standards. For Brittany Ferries we have developed totally new design concepts for the three vessels. For DFDS we have also developed new concepts and adapted existing corporate models.

Also, working on the two newbuilds for Spirit of Tasmania has been very exciting. We enjoy a close collaboration with TT-Line Company. Together we have outlined a design that tells the story of the beautiful island of Tasmania.

Interior outfitting is typically the Achilles heel of ferry construction.  Remarkably, AVIC Weihai Shipyard managed to get things right and deliver STENA ESTRID on time. What is the secret recipe to making ferry construction in China a success from the interior designer’s perspective?

I think you have to have an open mind when you start a project in China. There, more than elsewhere, you have to be creative. I always say that there are a million solutions to a problem. So, you must be prepared to abandon your most cherished ideas because there are always other, probably better ways of doing things. We designers have an overview of the projects we work on. If we are sufficiently creative, we will always find new and better solutions.

What is your all-time favourite ferry?  

Tallink’s MEGASTAR – a very nice vessel both from a layout and design point of view. The designers have adopted an approach that has fundamentally changed the view of ferry interiors.

Where do you usually spend your holidays?

Our summer house on the west coast of Sweden and London.

What are your favourite pastime activities?

Listening to contemporary jazz and classical music, reading books, and playing golf.

What was your childhood dream job?

I have always wanted to be an architect. I hope to become a better one from year to year.

What is your favourite dinner and drink combination?

Having excellent dinners at Torre del Saracino in Vico Equense, a top-notch three-Michelin-star restaurant, and dinner at Ca na Toneta, a restaurant in a small village outside Palma de Mallorca with AN/2 red wine.