Company Description
Guillaume Rolland studied at Malaquai and Milan’s Politecnico and graduated with a degree in architecture in 1995. He then went on to to work for Philippe Starck before joining the Christian Liaigre team in 2002. Rolland has since taken part in several design studio projects, residential as well as commercial. His knowledge of the yachting world allowed him to lead yacht projects, which have in turn contributed to the notoriety of Liaigre’s signature style worldwide. Passionate about yachting from his very first sailing experience at the age of 10, he has not stopped since and admits that he has tried just about all types of boats – from racing sailboats to the more sophisticated yachts. Rigorous, pragmatic and with a clear sense of proportion and knowledge of the constraints linked to sailing, he loves the challenge that comes with fitting a boat into a liveable space. Referring to the design process, he talks about the “paradox of the boat” – the contradiction between the harshness of the elements and the fluidity of the lines (the lines formed by the design of the hull, along with the fluidity of the interior fittings). The fit-out of a boat is a specific exercise which implements a whole other vocabulary – ergonomics which do not allow sharp angles and force the body into contact with walls far more often than it would on land.
Yachting is an architectural challenge in which the Liaigre style expresses itself with pertinence, while maintaining the perfect balance between efficiency and elegance. Each time, the necessity to provide solutions as well as combining them with a lifestyle is a question that Guillaume Rolland does not cease to improve upon from one project to the next. In the field of yachting, as in all others, the Liaigre signature is synonymous with technicality, refined materials, schemes and finishes. A guaranteed quality which is appreciated and recognised by boat lovers.
“ project is unique and presents technical restraints that are powerful tools of inspiration for us. These restrictions push our creativity to new heights as we must constantly evolve and innovate.”
— Rolland
What we offer
Liaigre offers an ’’ service, meaning the studio can design every part of a project— the architecture all the way through to the smaller details such as door handles. Every piece of furniture or part of the interior is a customised piece. This job is comparable to the haute couture trade and the design process is a joint venture with the owner.
List of core services:
• Interior design
• Furniture design
• Material and finish R&D
• Accessory sourcing
Personality
Q: What are the common design mistakes you have come across and how can they be avoided?
In my opinion, the main common design mistake is made when a designer wants to express his design ability instead of taking into account all aspects from ergonomics to lifestyle. Design is not a visual exercise but mainly solving problems.
Q: What is the most unusual design feature you’ been asked to incorporate as part of a project?
One of the most interesting requests was on Vertigo.The owner wanted to incorporate a small classroom because the family planned to cruise for a long period of time. The challenge was to allow this space to serve other needs like snacking or lounging.
Q: Of the many international design studios, which one would/do you aspire to and why?
We tend not to be too inspired by other work. We prefer to create our own path via our own personal experiences and culture and follow our intuition.
