LE COMMANDANT CHARCOT

Luxurious arctic exploration that embraces the Ponant philosophy of exceptional ambiance.

The Le Commandant Charcot, the latest addition to the Ponant fleet, is the first of its kind that provides luxurious arctic exploration to its passengers while embracing the Ponant philosophy of exceptional ambiance.

Inspired by an icebreaker, this pioneering project aimed to incorporate the essential safety elements required for high latitude polar cruising and the aesthetics of a luxury cruise ship. The main design objective was to direct the eye outside and bring the outside in, resulting in the creation of passenger decks with prominent window spaces for optimal observation.

The Challenge: Balancing aesthetics and functionality

Incorporating the main design objective: ‘direct the eye outside, and to bring the outside in’ would result in the creation of passenger decks that give pride of place to spaces with windows. These areas provide observation posts from various locations around the vessel allowing guests to fully absorb the surrounding landscapes. To meet the interior design vision and the design objectives of the vessel, a simple, tasteful shading system was needed that would not detract from the surrounding landscapes.

The Solution: Blinding reliability with the tensioned blind system

The TESS™660 tensioned system by Guthrie Douglas proved to be the ideal choice for the Le Commandant Charcot.

Designed for dependability, the TESS™660 blinds provide a subtle shading option that, along with clear glass, allows ample light in while maintaining low g-values.

This solution also satisfied the stringent environmental requirements set by Ponant throughout the project. The result was a dynamic shading system that allowed as much natural light in as possible, minimising the use of artificial lighting and fulfilling the design ethos of the ship.

The TESS™660 system ensures optimal privacy when required while preserving the magnificent polar views and atmosphere onboard the Le Commandant Charcot.