Drawing from his twin passions of design and sailing, Guillaume Rolland of Studio Liaigre crafts luxurious and emotive spaces for discerning yacht owners worldwide
The pinnacle of luxury—that’s what superyachts mean to many of us. They represent not only the ultimate in glamour and privacy, but also offer unbridled freedom. For the small proportion of billionaires who can afford them, choosing the right vessel is only the first step; it’s followed by the arduous task of crafting a sanctuary at sea. Yachts are extremely personal spaces, and designing their interior requires incredible precision and detail—much more than what is expected in a home on land.
“Liaigre is known for delivering a perfect layout: harmonious in terms of flow, proportion and balance,” says Guillaume Rolland, principal and head of yacht design at Studio Liaigre. “Much of our work is spent building this backbone, which you can’t see in pictures. For us, it is all about making the layout work, imagining every single gesture of daily life and then translating that into the design.”
In case you missed it: 5 Hottest Property Trends to Watch in 2022
Having worked at Liaigre for over two decades, Rolland knows the brand’s ethos inside and out. A chance encounter with founder Christian Liaigre’s work in a magazine inspired him to apply for a job, and he began his journey with the French brand in 2002. He eventually rose to studio manager, overseeing the totality of the design studio’s output; his current role as the head of yacht design represents the expansion of the brand as well as his own repertoire.
Studio Liaigre’s foray into crafting yacht interiors happened naturally, with many of its high-net-worth clientele wanting to have their spaces—whether it’s a sprawling country villa or their private jets and yachts—benefit from the French brand’s minimalist approach. While its pared-back aesthetic is recognisable, the studio’s real impact is addressing how a space makes one feel. “For us, experience and emotion trump visual impact. It’s important to get the sequences, contrasts and perspective as you walk through a space right,” stresses Rolland.
More from Tatler: Inside 5 of Asia’s Most Extraordinary Oceanfront Homes
In the past six years, Rolland has focused on growing Liaigre’s reach in the yachting world. “The world of the sea has a strong link to voyage and discovery, which aligns with the studio’s philosophy,” he notes. He considers boats to be “the last spaces of freedom” and says that being out at sea “teaches you to be humble”.
His observations come from his personal passion for the ocean, nurtured from a young age. A weeklong sailing course he took while on holiday with his grandmother led to a lifelong love affair with the sea and sailing. “Designing a vessel’s interiors is to think of architecture in movement,” says Rolland. In every vessel, the organisation of spaces is quite tight and follows a longitudinal flow. Planning involves “syncing the interiors to the worst-case scenario of complete movement”, says Rolland.
