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New Suites aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
A name synonymous with opulence, romance, and the allure of bygone eras, embarks on a new chapter of luxury.
At a glance
New Suites aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a collection of eight suites designed by Wimberly Interiors for Belmond, extending the studio’s ongoing collaboration with the iconic railway. Each suite takes its theme from a European landscape traversed by the train: La Campagne, Les Lacs, Les Montagnes, and La Forêt, with Art Deco marquetry, hand-blown glass basins, mother of pearl detailing, and bespoke upholstery translating each landscape into the materiality of the interior. Original craftsmanship techniques from the 1920s and 1930s are woven throughout, bringing the heritage of early European rail travel into a contemporary luxury setting.
Project data
- Location
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London, United Kingdom, Europe
- Size
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Eight suites
- Services
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Wimberly Interiors
With utmost respect for its storied legacy, Wimberly Interiors brought a vision of Art-Deco luxury to eight new Suites aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the epitome of classical luxury and romantic intrigue. Historically, it has painted vivid portraits of elegance and the timeless beauty of a bygone age. With utmost respect for its storied legacy, and as part of an ongoing collaboration with Belmond, Wimberly Interiors brought a vision of art-deco luxury to eight new Suites of this iconic railway.
Each suite comes with its own theme, inspired by the picturesque European landscapes the train traverses.
THE DESIGN OPPORTUNITY
The challenge was to create suites aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express that retained this essence, while incorporating contemporary comforts for the modern traveler.
Each suite comes with its own theme, inspired by the picturesque European landscapes the train traverses: La Campagne (countryside), Les Montagnes (mountains), La Forêt (forest) and Les Lacs (lakes). The interiors have been meticulously designed to share glimpses of the Black Forest of Germany, Lake Como in Italy, the Arlberg massif – making every journey a truly immersive experience from the inside out.
Original craftsmanship and historical references are infused in the rich layering of the interiors.
The Design Solution
The landscape of Europe unfolds across the journey; the arable plains with their swathes of vineyards, the ancient forests of central Europe, the sharp rise of the mountain ranges and the smooth glacial lakes, are an ever-changing backdrop of the journey. The cabin suites celebrate the journey itself with the dramatic landscape unfolding before the guests; creating a haven to savour the ‘quiet moments.’
Original craftsmanship and historical references are infused in the rich layering of the interiors. Referencing iconic Art-Deco designers of Paris, the suites evoke the history and culture of the heyday of travel, with the addition of contemporary comfort and luxury. A timeless space is the setting alongside the gentle hum of the train.
The Suites
La Campagne: Reflecting the countryside in full bloom, with the tumbling golden flower motifs and the vibrant green of the meadow grasses. Nature is woven into the design through details such as a hand-blown glass basin reminiscent of an iridescent green tulip – as well as the bespoke upholstery fabric symbolizing leaves dancing in the breeze.
Les Lacs: The rich blue tones of Les Lacs are inspired by the glacial lakes of Europe. Soft crests of waves are embodied in the carpet design and ripples of water are inspired in the circular mosaic details on the bathroom floor.
Les Montagnes: The sharp rise of the mountain ranges inspires the design for the Les Montagnes suites, with snow-capped peaks of the mountains represented in the marquetry detailing and mother of pearl details refracting the light like ice particles.
La Forêt: The warm russet tones of the La Forêt suites draw inspiration from the ancient forests of central Europe, and the turn of the seasons. The burl timber and foliage motifs echo the deep autumnal colours of the forest. The art deco marquetry above the bed symbolises the trunk and boughs of the forest trees.
The Result
Through a meticulous design process and a deep understanding of luxury hospitality, Wimberly Interiors has brought the splendor and detailed craftmanship of the 1920s & 30s into the 21st century. Each suite aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with its unique personality, promises a one-of-a-kind journey through Europe’s landscapes and history.
Learn more about the crafting of the suites here.
Photography by Ludovic Balay.
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Rachel Johnson, Senior Studio Director — Wimberly Interiors
I’m Rachel Johnson, the Senior Studio Director here in the London office for Wimberly Interiors. We were tasked with the design of the four new cabin suites for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Belmond came to us with three carriages to be refurbished, and the decision was to create four suites within one carriage.
Each suite is celebrating a different genre: La Campagna — the countryside; La Montagna — the mountains; La Forêt — the forest; and Les Lacs — the lakes. One of the most important things for Belmond for the VSOE is the design heritage of each suite. We looked very closely at different artists and designers pre-1945, they really started to inform the shape, the styling, and the different finishes of each suite. We also looked at all the different fabrics and the designs and work through to create a truly unique interior for each of these suites.
The VSOE is an iconic train that means so much to many people. We do so much research to bring to life and encompass that history and the legend of the train. The joy of working on these suites is our ability to access some of the best craftsmanship across Europe. A lot of attention is paid to those details.
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