DESIGN B R I EF
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
018 JUNE 2019
PRIVATE PROGRESS
VERDICT
For a concept that would enable such an advantage
as a personal lavatory facility – something currently
only offered in The Residence – the design of En Suite
is relatively simple. The real beauty of the idea is that
it does not require an unreasonable amount of cabin
space; instead, by using an innovative inter-relation
between the seating and living areas, which works
with the existing technical infrastructure of the
aircraft, the cabin footprint is highly efficient. Any
design which can offer a new and positive experience
for first class passengers, and which also creates
a point of market differentiation for airlines, merits
further consideration…
THE BRIEF
In line with the growing trend of airlines specifying doors for
business class seating, we would like to see the next development
for privacy in the super-premium luxury air travel experience: a
completely private, full-height suite that incorporates a dedicated
washroom facility.
DESCRIPTION
The Factorydesign studio has created an exciting solution with
En Suite, a full-height suite concept that can be configured for
individuals, or for couples travelling together, with privacy assured
through a dedicated changing room and lavatory. After all, says
the studio, with the exception of The Residence on Etihad’s A380s,
even the occupants of first class suites are required to share a
lavatory – a setup that would not be acceptable with luxury hotel
suites. A shared lavatory is also a ‘pain point’ for passengers such
as celebrities or politicians, who often wish to keep their presence
in the cabin secret.
However, by carving a private lavatory space out of the footprint
of a first class suite, positioned forward so the seating/sleeping
area is maximised, a self-contained luxury space can be created. Of
course aircraft cabin configurations are required to work within the
constraints of regulatory requirements and airframer guidelines,
and a potential issue would be that the lavatory would have to work
with the existing key facilities of the aircraft. Hence, En Suite is
configured to align with the aircraft’s standard lavatory interfaces,
making it a relatively simple design to implement.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com