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Author

Topic: Rebuilding the Big U Interiors.

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-01-2004 04:30 PM

How would you restore the SS United States Interiors? Would you rip out rooms like Hadley, or try to recreate the original cabins (layout and structure) with modern amenities? Would you give public rooms new roles? Would you keep their original structural design? Send in you ideas for how the interiors would be designed on the New SS United States, today! Layout of redesigned decks in text format allowed.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 07-01-2004 05:33 PM

I would not recreat the interiors off the US they where ugly and to metallic. Never liked theme and fore a flagship they where spartan.

i would give US a total new interior. I would ask the best interior designers to make a modern interior. The art must be a part off the interior exemple the art/interior off the Rotterdam 1959. The interior must reflect the liner interiors off the past without the retro as a/b QM2. The interior must not screaming such a/b Carnival ships, buth a luxerious and comfortable surrounding fore passengers to relax and experians there voyage.

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 07-01-2004 05:38 PM

Since she is an empty shell now, a designer can do pretty much as they please. New public rooms could be created with multi-deck high ceilings as well as a modern atrium and showroom. I would personally like to see some rooms play up her 1950s look with a few in a mid-century modern look. Her cabins would have to be completely modern for her compete and in turn be very different than her original tourist and cabin class quarters. Her 1st class cabins and suites could have been updated, but they have all been removed and would need to be re-built. The main public rooms on promenade deck could be pushed out to take advantage of the sea views from her large floor to ceiling original promenade deck windows. I would have a portion of the original promenade deck remain and used as a veranda cafe with opening windows and potted plants. Because she was so 1950s in style, I would use lots of primary colors in her decor and keep the furnishings/fixtures simple and elegant. Her vast aft decks could be used for an incredible lido, with pools and Jacuzzis.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-01-2004 06:21 PM

Yes I have thought long and hard on what to do with BIG U interiors. First, as already mentioned, she has been gutted, so there are no remnants from her original interiors to recreate. I too thought her interiors were very sterile and metallic. I do like the idea of the ship being ultra-modern...even futuristic. I like the idea of sterile, but in a tastful & modern way. She's a blank slate and so the sky's the limit as to what can be done. I like the idea of having a designer...who specialized in creating the absolute most efficient use of small spaces...like on boats and yachts...to create staterooms and lounges etc. I'd also like to see futuristic technologies used onboard...like a futuristic onboard communications system similar to Star Trek's Enterprise (Next generation) We have the technology for that available right now. Also communications monitors.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-01-2004 06:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
Since she is an empty shell now, a designer can do pretty much as they please.

I doubt that it is that simple. The existing structure of the ship will surely determine the size, shape and usage of most of the public rooms. Cutting through the superstructure, bulkheads and supporting pillars, to create larger spaces than already exist (such as atriums) will surely not be possible?

The Big U was a very enclosed ship, as all transatlantic liners were –I'm not sure how much that could be altered ? With the SS Norway, most of the major changes were made to the deck (a wider fantail) and by adding new superstructure, rather than within the existing hull.

Most importantly, don’t forget than NCL will probably want the decor and public rooms to match the rest of their 'freestyle' fleet – or at least have strong links, with them.

[ 07-01-2004: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 07-01-2004 07:19 PM

Malcolm; How about a teeny tiny atrium like on the now departed Costa Riviera?

I would think 'wells' could be cut into decks to expose space below and creating some two deck high rooms. SSUS was built for strength, and is a very compartmentilized ship with few grand scale rooms. She could have a design approach similar to what Princess Cruises Sun class ships did with having smaller more intimate spaces as opposed to long gallery style rooms or lofty spaces. I would like her to be very sleek and modern in terms of decor, all with a hint to her past. Stainless steel architectural accents mixed with etched glass and cool mid-century modern furniture would be really fun, but add warmer wood tones and colors that she lacked when she sailed for United States Lines.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-01-2004 10:44 PM

Here's what I do, I create new rooms using some of the old room structures (Mainly the arrangement of walls) and create new rooms by using some old rooms and removing areas where walls used to be. I'll give you example. I keep the promenade deck. On the deck will be Jefferson's BIstro, which will be located in the private dining room, serving French and Californian Food. New plywood walls are put up along with new flooring. The adjacent kitchen is upgraded, to provide a better food quality. The Navajo Lounge is remade as the Napa Wine Bar. New walls and flooring are installed along with a wine cellar and adjacent bar. The biggest transformation will be in the Theatre aft. Since the top two decks are removed, the Theatre can be expanded up to the new Sun Deck allowing for a balcony that has a seperate entrance from Promenade Deck and isn't accessed from Sun Deck. The exterior is an exact copy of the original despite the addition of the new conservatory and the sunbathing deck surrounding the promenade deck pool, which has Balineese Sun Beds and a small DIPPING POOL. I'll give you a detiled discrpition of the promenade, upper, sun, sports and bridge decks later. The latter three are entirely new according to NCL. I'll build the new replicas first, then add the sections that are entirely dfferent from the original replicas.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-01-2004 10:54 PM

Maasdam. I don't want to recreate the original interiors, I just want to recreate the rooms as in bare walls, bare floors, those things. Her original interiors would make her stick out like a fish outta water.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-01-2004 11:04 PM

wHICH eNTERPRISE bARRY. NX-01, 1701, 1701 2270 Refit, 1701-A, 1701-B, 1701-C, 1701-D, or 1701-E. TAKE yer pick

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-02-2004 02:55 PM

I think Enterprise 1701 D from the "Star Trek the Next Generation" series, or even the decor from Voyager. Enterprise D is warmer though.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Maasdam
First Class Passenger
Member # 3858

posted 07-02-2004 04:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JOE:
Maasdam. I don't want to recreate the original interiors, I just want to recreate the rooms as in bare walls, bare floors, those things. Her original interiors would make her stick out like a fish outta water.

No i understand that Joe i was just speaking fore my self. Reflecting my vision fore here interiors. It must be understatement off pure luxerious and comfort without it intimidate the passengers.
The layout, art, furnitior, color sheme it must be in balance. Fore the outside decks they must redisigned so they are sutteble fore warm water cruises. And ussing a extended teak fore dekking. Importened that she must be able to sail the atlantic. Would love here sailing in competition with QM2 i now wich ship i would chose........

Posts: 4695 | From: Rotterdam home of the tss. Rotterdam. | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-02-2004 05:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by lasuvidaboy:
Malcolm; How about a teeny tiny atrium like on the now departed Costa Riviera?

I'm not a big fan of Atriums, big or small - they are rather a waste of space in my opinion! I do not see was a 'classic' ship like the SS United States needs one?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-02-2004 08:40 PM

The QE2 was built with no atrium and she was popular after atriums were introduced. The Norway didn't have one either, and she still was attractive. I don't see why the big u has to have one, besides, if she did have one it would be at the back bewtween the pool and conservatory. It would stretch form Upper Deck to Sports Deck. It would start on the Upper Deck between the former Cabin Class Library and Kids Room, which are rebuilt and enlarged as the Diner and Asian Restaraunts.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-02-2004 08:52 PM

That advance system won't be around til 2364 or 2371 on Voyager. Install state of the art computer banks and processers for ship control and entertainment. What do you think of my aft atrium decorated in a US Flag gLASS.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 07-03-2004 12:09 AM

Former tourist class cabins(outside and adjacent inside cabins) should be coverted into larger cabins as well as small inside cabins.

[ 07-03-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

lasuvidaboy
First Class Passenger
Member # 4527

posted 07-03-2004 05:45 PM

I do not mean a multi deck atrium as installed on most modern cruise ships. I was thinking more in line of what was later installed on Costa Riviera. It was basically an opening cut to create a well and thus opening up the space below. Since SSUS had mostly single deck public rooms (minus the theatre and 1st class dining room) a few public spaces with wells cut in and possibly an elegant sweeping staircase or two would look nice in my opinion. Think QE2's original Double room as an example.

Posts: 7654 | From: Hollywood Hills/L.A. | Registered: Mar 2004 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 07-09-2004 05:33 PM

Picard to Barryboat:

Make it so!

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Cambodge
First Class Passenger
Member # 906

posted 07-09-2004 05:43 PM

For what it is worth. Re-create or innovate?

I am a member of the DC Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. We operate the only remaining "Standard Pullman" sleeping lounge car in existence. There are others, the "Dover Harbor" has been configured to operate in Amtrak train consists, and must be capable of safety at 110 mph speeds.

Yes, sometimes Amtrak does go that fast!

This means that the 1923 trucks (bogies to our UK friends), wheels, and such cannot be used without extensive, and expensive, modernization. This means overhauls in electric power, plumbing, and a host of other items. Some for safety, some for convenience. And yes, we abolished the period ash trays in the lounge section!

Yet when it is rolling through the countryside, its six-axle trucks humming (no longer clicking) across modern welded rail, it still brings back the joys of pure pre-war Pullman travel.

I would like those who want to "Star Trek" the big U (inovate) to check out the Dover Harbor (re-create) sometime. There is much to be said for re-creation of the past in a vehicle of the past.

http://www.doverharbor.com/

Delta Queen is another example, a modernized classic.

[ 07-09-2004: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

Posts: 2149 | From: St. Michaels MD USA , the town that fooled the British! | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 07-09-2004 06:05 PM

I agree with Cambodge. United States' interiors didn't look like any other liner because the ship itself was totally unlike any other liner. Her interiors, though somewhat plain, maybe even sterile (regarding the latter- same thing has been said about Celebrity), but they were sleek and modern. She even had some nice decorative touches here and there that should at least be recreated- the sand paintings in the Navajo Cocktail Lounge, the art deco railings and the heraldic eagle relief sculpure from the first class main stairway, and the other eagle sculpture from the first class dining room.

Who knows, it may even be possible to re-use her turbines. United States was remarkably efficient for the 1950's- annual fuel costs were only about half those of Queen Mary. With one engine room and half the boilers shut down and speed restricted, it may be possible. NCL did keep Norway going for 23 years using those tactics.

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

desirod7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1626

posted 07-09-2004 07:42 PM

Modernism magazine has an article on Dorothy Marckwald who did the interiors on the BigU, SSAmerica, and a few other Gibbs and Cox ships.
Sandy McClenon wrote the article.
Rob, magazine is available at the AIA Bookstore Sansom and 17th st.

Just coming off the Queen Mary I got the idea of how the BIGU interiors should be done.

They should be a 21st Century descendant of the mid-century modern giving way from vynil and linoleum to cloth and carpeting. It is called design DNA. This concept is very successful on the New Beetle, PTCruiser, Thunderbird, and the MiniCooper.

The QM2's interiors are very much a descendant from the QM1 and the Normandie. However they do not disguise the fact that they are suited to the 21st century functional requirements.

quote:
Originally posted by Britanis:
I agree with Cambodge. United States' interiors didn't look like any other liner because the ship itself was totally unlike any other liner. Her interiors, though somewhat plain.................
.................... With one engine room and half the boilers shut down and speed restricted, it may be possible. NCL did keep Norway going for 23 years using those tactics.

Posts: 5727 | From: Philadelphia, Pa [home of the SS United States] | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

CGT
First Class Passenger
Member # 3531

posted 07-09-2004 09:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cambodge:

I would like those who want to "Star Trek" the big U (inovate) to check out the Dover Harbor (re-create) sometime. There is much to be said for re-creation of the past in a vehicle of the past.
http://www.doverharbor.com/

Cambodge, you know I love it! You know I do!

[ 07-09-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

Posts: 2760 | From: New York, New York, USA | Registered: Dec 2002 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-11-2004 05:30 PM

If I want to redesign the Big U, I'd build a new sun Deck, Sports Deck, and Bridge. After I build the replicas, I add balcony cabins adjacent to the replicas which have modern cabins on the sun deck that is a replica of Onnos redesign (mainly the original sun deck with an extension)and space for the second deck of a theatre as well as a conservatory and a sun deck surrounding the new promenade deck. Onno, how did you do your replicas of the Big U Redesign.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-11-2004 05:53 PM

[ 07-20-2004: Message edited by: JOE ]

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

JOE
First Class Passenger
Member # 3708

posted 07-20-2004 05:47 PM

Ocean Liners, I agree with your opinion on the tourist class cabins. But I suggest that you should remove all of them and build new ones that are layed out horizontally.

Posts: 484 | From: Patterson, NJ | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Ocean Liners
First Class Passenger
Member # 4013

posted 07-21-2004 04:13 AM

I would like remove all decks above Promenade deck and rebuild decks by aluminum for installing balcony Cabins.

Posts: 4502 | From: Japan | Registered: Jul 2003 | IP: Logged

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