Retail Spaces News

Bob Kunkel needs no introduction to Marine News readers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Logistics Professional magazine and of course, Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy…

Container King of Dallas has recently signed a deal with local developer Ron Sturgeon to build 38 innovative, eco-friendly, state-of-the-art commercial spaces made from shipping containers. Box Office Warehouse Suites is due to open in the Alliance commercial real estate area in Texas. Sturgeon explained the process: "We sandblast them, paint them nice and pretty, bring in a professional design firm, tastefully add paneling, floors, ceilings, windows, and carpeting, and before you know it you have industrial space perfect for small businesses, and the beauty of it all, besides being inexpensive, is its flexibility. If you need more space we simply attach another container and instantly your work space is doubled in size. "We see this as the future of construction," Sturgeon said.

Crystal Cruises' largest ship, Crystal Serenity, has won its seventh award since undergoing a $25 million redesign last year – Hospitality Design (HD) magazine's "Judges Award for Distinctive Cruise Design."  This is the first time a cruise line has ever been recognized in the trade publication's annual awards. "Because design is such a key sensibility of discriminating travelers, we have always been committed to creating ultra-stylish spaces in which our guests can feel at home," says Alexandra Don, Crystal's vice president hotel services and design.

Crystal Serenity's $25 million redesign has not only received accolades from guests, travel agents and travel press since its debut last year, but from the design world as well. The ship's renovated Apropos boutique -- a retail space for designer clothing and accessories -- has won the prestigious Association for Retail Environments (A.R.E.) interior design "Crystal Award" for the shop's distinctive and dramatic aluminum interlocking circle screen. The design won the first-ever Wall Treatment Award in the new, Individual Element category for 2012.

There are a number of trends currently affecting the marine interior design field. First, vessels are being built larger with more numerous public spaces, each of which needs to have its own ambience while still maintaining common themes throughout the ship. This is particularly challenging in refurbishment work when only a portion of the existing spaces are upgraded, yet all spaces must flow together. Second, new regulations must be understood and adhered to. This includes the regulatory interpretations of each of the Societies overseeing new construction and refurbishment. Another developing trend ? particularly in the ferry and fast ferry markets ? is the need to reduce weight while maintaining serviceability.