UP F RONT
1. KENGO KUMA WORKED ON THE
PROJECT AT SEVERAL KEY DESIGN
STAGES TO REFINE THE STYLING,
BRINGING A NEW LOOK AND FEEL
TO THE INTERIORS IN KEEPING
WITH HIS RECENT DESIGNS FOR
ANA’S LOUNGES IN JAPAN. KUMA’S
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY WAS TO
CREATE A SIMPLE, CONSIDERED,
MINIMALIST AESTHETIC HENCE
THE LUXURY DARK WOOD FINISHES
THROUGHOUT THE CABIN
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
018 NOVEMBER 2019
SUITE TALK
ANA has brought together Japanese and British design talents to
create a first class suite for its B777-300ERs with both eastern
and western appeal. This isn’t just any suite – it is THE Suite
2019 has been a big international sporting year for Japan, with the
Rugby World Cup and the F1 Grand Prix, but 2020 is set to be even
bigger, combining the F1 with the Olympics. These huge events draw
in a lot of visitors – and indeed a lot of affluent visitors – who as well
as top sporting events, wish to experience Japan’s culture and heritage.
With this in mind, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is showcasing Japanese
design in 12 of its B777-300ER aircraft, and blending it with a little
western style to really make a potential new customer base feel at
home, whichever direction they are travelling in.
The project represents a five-year programme, with a jewel in the
cabin being the all-new first class seats, branded ‘THE Suite’. The airline
has worked with Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma and the Acumen
design agency in London to redesign the experience, with much
inspiration coming from luxury Japanese hotels.
At the heart of first class are the eight custom suites, which as
Acumen says are ”very loosely” based on Jamco’s Serenity platform,
with only the seat mechanism and overall dimensions carrying over
to the ANA product.
Something different.
Something outstanding.
That was the brief ANA
presented to Formia when
contemplating a new,
high-quality amenity kit
designed to delight its
international first and
business class
passengers. Formia turned
to British luxury lifestyle
brand Globe-Trotter,
renowned throughout the
world for the quality of its
handcrafted luggage and
leather collections. The
result is a unique
collection of miniature
suitcases based on Globe-
Trotter’s iconic Centenary
case. Available in a range
of elegant, modern colours,
these kits are sure to
become collector’s items
to make ANA’s first class
even more unforgettable.
1 ANA is the first
airline in the world
to introduce 4K
IFE monitors
The airline and its design partners
worked to create bespoke surrounding
suite furniture for the suites, including
the privacy-enhancing outer doors, three
stowage compartments, the 24in x 24in
meal table (great for a guest dining in
the buddy seat – which also has space
for a bag underneath) and a wardrobe.
A movable partition between the centre
seats in the 1-2-1 cabin can be lowered
using an actuator to create a shared
space, and the window seat passengers
also get an extra button – an integrated
switch to control the shades.
In-seat comfort can be customised
using the inflatable lumbar support
system, controlled via the integrated
seat controls within the IFE system, while
sleeping comfort can be enhanced with
bespoke seat mattresses and bedding,
tailor-made for the seats in partnership
with Nishikawa, a Japanese bedding
company founded in 1566.
The suite is certainly well lit, featuring
lighting from Panasonic which has been
custom-designed for ANA, including a
meal light, two reading lights, a feature
light, accent lights (for the ottoman, side
console, headrest and literature pocket)
and even a backlit suite number. Various
lighting schemes have been devised for
the suites, including a natural sunrise
effect, and programmes for sleeping,
reading and dining.
Globe-trotting amenities
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