May 21, 2015 – Following in the footsteps of Porsche Design and BMW Designworks, Mercedes-Benz Style has entered the aircraft interiors arena. The studio is collaborating with Lufthansa Technik on the design and completion of VIP aircraft cabins to develop an
innovative, luxurious and integrated cabin concept for short- and medium-haul aircraft.
Dynamic architecture
Under the joint approach adopted by the two companies, the traditional separation of ceiling, wall and floor will be replaced by a dynamic, spiral layout. This gives rise to new, independent spatial zones without the typical arrangement of seat and wall elements. The new sense of space is additionally reinforced by Mercedes’s typically strong emphasis on contrast in terms of material, color and lighting.
Mercedes-Benz Style and Lufthansa Technik plan to target this innovative concept at a private global clientele with a strong affinity for unique design. According to Lufthansa Technik, it will contribute its experience in the customization of VIP and VVIP aircraft in order to harmonize unique design with the particular requirements of an aircraft cabin.
“It was an inspiring challenge to transfer our design philosophy of sensual purity into the area of aeronautical engineering. The spectacular architecture of the interior shows creativity and modernity. Sensual surfaces and clear forms, combined with intelligent high-tech features and perfectly shaped modern luxury are the characteristic features of Mercedes-Benz design,” stated Gorden Wagener, VP of design at parent company Daimler AG.
“The purpose of our cooperation with Mercedes-Benz Style is to unite the two companies’ innovative expertise in the areas of design and technology. Our goal is to offer a highly discerning global clientele a standard of interior design that leaves nothing to be desired. Whether for private or business use, our modular completion concept perfectly fits every purpose,” added Walter Heerdt, SVP of VIP & executive jet solutions at Lufthansa Technik AG.
In a departure from the familiar design of aircraft interiors, the cabin concept adopts a new approach. The interior of the cabin is organic and homogeneous like a DNA helix. Floor, wall and ceiling flow into each other. Featuring numerous innovative details, the furniture with its sensuous clarity of design merges seamlessly with the cabin interior.
The cabin windows are concealed by so-called ‘black panels’ which, inspired by the screen design in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, appear to float in front of the window like a light corona. Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Sky technology allows the panels to be dimmed electrically from black to transparent. Displays and touch screens for entertainment and information can easily be integrated into the black panels.
In the coming months, the two companies will jointly evaluate the general level of customer interest on the VIP market, in addition to further developing the details of the design concept.
