Jet Aviation were the winners of the Elite Aviation 2023 Award at The design et al Elite Awards 2023.

Jet Aviation has recently unveiled Thunderbird, a striking and elegant private jet. The brief was for a contemporary gentleman’s club aesthetic in keeping with the customer’s personal interior style. Jet Aviation worked closely with the customer and customer’s interior architect, Colin Radcliffe, directly, to find a design that was in keeping with their home and suited their requirements from the aircraft. Dark woods and tiles, contrast with gold and beige upholstery and finishes to create a classic monochrome look that is striking while remaining elegant. The customer wanted a space which reflected the way they live and travel. This included space to relax and dine, with a large dining table, and deep armchairs offering ‘club’ style and comfort. For business, a separate office can be enclosed with sliding doors, while the bedroom is at the aft of the cabin with a private ensuite bathroom, complete with full height shower. Throughout, the level of elegance was to be consistent, with beautifully finished, intricate detailing in every area.

From the custom, ombre carpet design, to the elaborate inlays in the dining table and bulkheads, this attention to detail is what differentiates the interior. For example, the brass taps and handles in the bathroom are uncoated to retain their original patina and deliberately tarnish over time adding a sense of organic warmth to the space which underpins the feel of real raw massive material. The headboard surround in the bedroom further matches this style with handmade silver antique mirrors.

Throughout the material selection process, the team travelled worldwide to research the best options to meet the customer’s vision, liaising with suppliers, and getting a firsthand look at the various materials such as shower and countertop tile from Germany and Vienna, stone selections Verona, Italy and wood from Eschelbronn, Germany. The quality of these materials is matched by the creativity with which they are worked to create a design that is personal to the customer. The cabin features a bespoke fade carpet that lines the entire length of the aircraft and ends in a complex stone floor aside the stone shower. The carpet incorporates multiple threads to get this fade effect, with each individual yarn dyed separately. Different shades are mixed to make the ombre effect; yet noticeably you don’t see the clear transition between the shades, it all blends into one.

The project is a fantastic example of how this drive to create a beautifully bespoke interior can result in incredibly special and unique features. In the bathroom, tile selected from Austria is a very light shade. This was a challenge as the glue was clearly visible underneath its surface. No problem. The team of course found a solution – in this case, a different glue was found to align the different tiles from shower and floor suppliers.

Contemporary technology was seamlessly integrated to complement the design. The customer specifically wanted functionality that would allow iPads to magnetically fix to bulkheads at one end of the cabin. Invested in the challenge, the design team tested different magnets, adjusting their size and placements to see what worked best. Incorporating a magnet that was too strong would damage the iPad, but it also needed to be strong enough to secure the tablet to the wall.

Interior Design: Jet Aviation Design Studio

Completion Centre: Jet Aviation Basel

Associated: Colin Radcliffe

Jet Aviation

---

design et al only work with the world’s leading companies in the Yacht & Aviation industry.

If you think you have what it takes to compete in The International Yacht & Aviation Awards, submit your application by clicking here.

How to Apply  /  The Categories