After achieving an M.A. in Architecture from the University of Rome, Francesca Bucci went on to work in leading firms including Perkins + Will, Peter Marino, and Polshek & Partners. Her years’ experience with these firm further solidified Francesca’s areas of expertise in architecture, interiors, and project management. After developing a substantial design portfolio, Francesca and a partner established BG Studio International.
Now BG Studio works with luxury developers, hotels and cruise brands to create upscale interiors, with firm projects located in New York, Miami, and throughout Europe. With a cruise portfolio featuring clients at Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises, Francesca most recently has spent time working on Celebrity Cruises new ship, Celebrity Flora.
Read on to find out more about Francesca’s time working on Celebrity Flora and don’t miss her speaking at the Cruise Ship Interiors Conference in the session ‘Sustainability in Design & Operations’.
Thanks for speaking with the Cruise Ship Interiors Expo team today! Tell us about your current role and what it entails on a day-to-day basis?
I am the president of BG Studio International, a New York City hospitality design firm where we are constantly looking for new ideas and innovations. My daily life at the office entails diving into new concepts and translating them into beautiful stories to be narrated to our clients.
I grew up in Italy and my fondest childhood memories are painted with the sea in the background.
What inspired you to venture into the marine industry?
It’s simple – a deep passion for the sea. I grew up in Italy and my fondest childhood memories are painted with the sea in the background.
The guest experience is paramount to every design decision we make and right now, we see a great opportunity of blurring the line between hotel and cruise ship design.
Can you tell us about any key opportunities or challenges faced by the cruise ship interiors industry at present?
The main industry challenge was and still is to convince people who have never cruised to embrace this great way of traveling. The guest experience is paramount to every design decision we make and right now, we see a great opportunity of blurring the line between hotel and cruise ship design.
Tell us about a recent project that was particularly challenging, interesting, or unique in some way.
I am proud to have worked on Celebrity Cruises’ Flora, an innovative exploration ship that exclusively operates in the Galapagos Islands. Flora is one-of-a-kind. She is truly a luxury mega yacht with the life force worthy of an explorer!
In the cruise interiors industry, forecasting trends for the years ahead is vital to stay on top of the game. What trends are you expecting to emerge in the next few years? This could be anything from new lighting solutions to new materials or sustainable solutions and beyond!
Sustainability is the biggest trend now. Also, there are a lot of new materials that manufacturers are willing to certify in order to pass the restrictions imposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Using just three words, how would you describe the current state of the cruise interiors industry?
Inspirational, innovative, forward-looking.
Come June you’ll be speaking in the Cruise Ship Interiors Conference. Without giving too much away, can you tell us what we might expect from your session?
I will be talking about Flora and how seamlessly she combines modern luxury with sustainability and design, redefining the expedition travel experience.
Finally, we have to ask, what are you most looking forward to at the inaugural Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Miami?
Meeting colleagues in the same industry and gaining new inspiration!