An adaptive and luxury space onboard a widebody private aircraft. The concept interior captures what luxury in the private aviation sector will be in the near future, integrating personalisation, technology, wellness and conscious material choices. 

Challenge

As a world leading multidisciplinary design company pioneering innovative designs and curating visionary experiences, PriestmanGoode is known for the clever use of small spaces. One of the main drivers for this concept interior was taking the learnings from commercial aviation gathered over 30 years and applying that to our work in private aviation, delivering a fresh approach to the ever-evolving landscape of luxury.

The development of the concept began with a workshop on the evolution of luxury hosted by PriestmanGoode at the RedCabin Business Jet and VIP Interior Innovation Summit in Montréal in 2024. The workshop invited the participants to discuss the needs of four different personas, each representing a different set of needs in the future for luxury interiors. The workshop brought together insights and thoughts on the role of seamlessly integrated technology as part of the onboard experience, wellness, personalisation and the ways that conscious material choices can support sustainability.

Following the workshop, the Private Studio team got to work over several months, applying their extensive knowledge in designing small, adaptive spaces, to present a concept interior that provides a unique level of comfort and nature-inspired finishes.

Solution

Located in the rear of an A350 cabin, away from the shared spaces towards the front of the aircraft, Private Sanctuary has been crafted by our designers to include four bespoke spaces. Using the back of the aircraft allows full use of the width, with no hallway and windows on both sides, bringing an expansive luxurious space. 

The Living Area

Starting with a luxurious, adaptive living area that transforms from a social space where the passenger would relax with family and friends, to a cocooned cinema space, to a workout gym with virtual instructions on a live-screen allowing the passenger to connect with their regular coach on the ground. Transformation of the space is achieved through moveable seats and panels, lighting and discrete storage.



The Private Space

Next to the living space is a more private space that also adapts to provide the perfect place for either work, therapy or meditation. The design features a floating desk within a lit alcove, soft and dark finishes; also benefiting from integrated storage.



The Bedroom

Moving further towards the rear of the A350, the full-width bedroom and dressing room are wonderfully restorative spaces to sleep and dress, achieved through bespoke materials and surface finishes. At the heart of the suite, the central unit seamlessly transforms from a vanity – complete with amenities, shelves, and discreet storage – into an entertainment hub with a built-in screen. 

 

The Bathroom

Finally, beyond the bedroom is a bathroom that combines both high tech and holistic wellness through a darker, more emotive environment and unique features including a rippled glass shower enclosure.

Material Collaborators

To create a really calm and relaxing space many of the materials developed for the interior are original and inspired by nature. PriestmanGoode has partnered with four artisan material craft studios with whom they have collaborated on previous projects: 

F/Lab

These include F/Lab who created a custom Aenigma material used on several panels in the interior. The material is a great example of how sustainability and conscious materiality can sit completely at ease within a luxury interior.

London Embroidery Studio

London Embroidery Studio who are known for really striking couture embroideries started with a two-dimensional pattern from PriestmanGoode which was then interpreted into a more three-dimensional stitch design, heavily influenced by antique tapestries. 

Atelier Midavaine

Parisian art lacquer and interior decoration specialists Atelier Midavaine and their partner Nusom created two colourways for a ginkgo leaf motif that features on wall panels. The leaves used in the samples were gathered from the artist’s own garden and were carefully dried between pages of a book before being applied to a lacquered background. 

Nature Squared

Nature Squared also shares the same commitment to up-cycle organic waste into radical new forms. They contributed to the interior with a really beautiful surface that incorporates waste feathers from the food industry. The completely natural material that can be applied on any substrate features on the desk surface in the office space.

“We have made sure that the space can really change and modulate, depending on the actual requirements of the user. Whether that’s working, sleeping, lounging, watching a film or using it as a gym. The overall architecture and bold forms takes the user into something quite different and not what they might expect onboard an aircraft.” 



Ben Rowan, Director of PriestmanGoode 

“This concept defines the direction in which we see the luxury cabin experience evolving. Our clients often want to replicate the same level of luxury from home, work, automotive or hospitality onboard, but this project demonstrates how design for an adaptive living space can bring so much more to the experience.”

 

Chris Haslam, Senior Design Lead

“As designers that collaborate with private aircraft manufacturers, engineers, completion centres, materials suppliers and crafts people, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that we are delivering solutions with reduced impact on the planet, without compromising on quality and performance. Through the wider scope of possibilities in private aviation, particularly in the exploration of new materials, we have also been successful in bringing more sustainable materials to commercial aviation.”

Kate Montgomery, CMF Creative Lead