Client: Saga Cruises
Designer: SMC Design
Products: Jesmonite AC830 and Jesmonite Flex Metal (IMO-rated)
Greenacre Studios was commissioned to create a striking ‘bronze’ atrium artistic feature for Spirit of Discovery, a luxury cruise ship designed specifically for the British market and officially named by Queen Camilla.
The artwork is a central feature of the ship’s luxurious interior, spanning three decks and visible from multiple locations onboard. Designed as a celebration of British culture and landscapes, the piece incorporates a collage of images from across the British Isles.
Jesmonite was an ideal material for bringing the full vision to life, allowing us to create panels that would be lightweight, durable and compliant with International Maritime Regulations. For the façade gel coat we used Jesmonite Flex Metal, which contains over 70% raw bronze, so the panels could then be carefully polished to create a truly luxurious finish.
The bronze relief was two years in the making, working closely with SMC Design, who were tasked with overseeing all aspects of hospitality design, artwork procurement and onboard branding for Spirit of Discovery. Working with SMC and using plans direct from the shipyard in Germany, we were able to construct moulds for panels which, when cast in Jesmonite, were assembled onto aluminium frames. The result is a stunning 12-metre-high feature that not only mimics the appearance and texture of real bronze, but also stays cool to the touch, enhancing the realism of the final piece.
This was an amazing project to work on, and our whole team is absolutely delighted with the result. It’s a truly incredible focal point and something which takes your breath away when you see it. It was exciting to follow the path of the project as each of the panels was designed and then created before being finally assembled. Our client was thrilled with the final result, and it’s amazing to think how many people will be viewing our work on board Spirit of Discovery in the many years ahead.
“We first worked with Emma to create the atrium artwork on Saga’s Spirit of Discovery. It was the most ambitious work we had ever commissioned, at 12 metres high and fully integrated into the interior architecture. Emma and her team met this challenge with alacrity and ingenuity, meeting every obstacle with a solution, to create a truly singular and stunning work, which became the centre of the on-board artwork collection and the story of the ship itself. We are excited to continue collaborating on future projects and producing more beautiful work together.”
Emmie Ratter, Senior Art Consultant and Project Manager
SMC Design Limited