At EBACE 2016 Lufthansa Technik’s design department has unveiled its brand-new Airbus A350 VVIP interior concept, called »Welcome Home«.
The unique cabin is placing the human being in the center of the story and emphasizes a comprehensive approach towards health and well-being on-board. It promotes flexible areas for privacy or valuable family time and provides super connectivity in regard to all communication channels.
Taking into account the often extremely tense life styles of its VIP customers, the »Welcome Home« concept has been consequently optimized to offer a perfect ambience for recreation and relaxation during travel times.
“This unique VIP cabin concept not only addresses our customers’ requirements, but is also a clear proof of Lufthansa Technik’s design and engineering competency. Under the slogan “Driven by Design, enriched by Technical Product Innovations”, many of our own products, like the »Chair« VIP seat, the steam shower or our inductive cooking plate have been integrated in this cabin”, said Wieland Timm, Vice President Sales VIP & Special Mission Aircraft at Lufthansa Technik.
He added: “Travel time should become quality time. For many of our clients time is a rare commodity and family is immensely important. A demanding lifestyle that requires frequent travelling and constant high attention to business and other topics must be balanced by valued family time and relaxation in a healthy environment. The »Welcome Home« concept offers the perfect cabin to fulfill these different aspects.”
“The idea is much more than just a healthy surrounding in an aircraft. We strive to create a flying experience that lets you arrive more relaxed and strengthened then when you start the journey”, added Lufthansa Technik interior architect Michael Reichenecker, who designed the »Welcome Home« cabin.
“Environment and materials, food quality, relaxation and noise, smell and other factors have an impact on how we humans feel. So taking into account the specific requirements our customers have, the design solution must result in a combination of features that can all potentially cater to a higher sense of well- being.”
Consequently, the first design priority was to move away from the ever adding of box type rooms and instead to create more flexible areas that can be opened and combined for better social interaction and closed for full privacy if so desired. Located in the most favorable area in regard to noise and aircraft movement, the front part of the aircraft, the “Family Flex Area” facilitates a large and airy private space comparable to an expensive hotel suite. An office within this area focuses on private conversations or interactive video conferencing, allowing the VIP to place himself in the midst of his staff whenever required.
The guest lounge entertains with a cinema size screen and offers a new lighting approach. In Lufthansa Technik’s patent pending new “Living Lining” concept ceilings and walls themselves turn into lighting elements. Dedicated areas such as the ceiling over the dining table can be specifically lit up, while other areas are moodily dimmed down. Imitations of clouds can be depicted, even animated, and aside of presets any individual lighting requirement can be reproduced.
»Welcome Home« also sets new standards in regard to healthy on board food preparation. Lufthansa Technik’s new induction platform has been integrated and allows for fresh food cooking on board.
The all-in-one solution includes a power unit, an exhaust fan and a special cover, which ensures that pots and pans remain in place even during turbulence.
In the AFT of the cabin a large SPA area has been introduced which welcomes guests with a humidifying water feature and otherwise offers a relaxing steam bath, a massage shower, and a massage table that may also double as a passenger transport unit (PTU) if so required. Top sound quality and individual lighting let guests immerse fully in a deeply relaxing surrounding.
The whole cabin comprises about 270 square meters (about 2,900 sq ft). Despite the fact that the design was originally developed for an
A350 cabin, the flexibility of the concept allows the adaption to other wide-body aircraft, too.
In addition to its VVIP cabin completion capabilities for the Airbus A350, Lufthansa Technik is already offering a broad portfolio of maintenance, repair and overhaul services to various commercial carriers for this aircraft type.