Guillaume Rolland, principal and head of yacht design at French luxury brand Liaigre, reveals his ardour for nautical voyages
If there is one thing Guillaume Rolland boasts an intense fervour for, it is yachts. In 2002, he joined Liaigre, the high-end furnishings and design brand that redefined bespoke interior design with boats such as Abeking & Rasmussen’s explorer yacht Cloudbreak and Philippe Briand’s sailing yacht Vertigo.
Contributing significantly to the sleek signature style that Liaigre is renowned for, Rolland helms the brand’s maritime design projects with his seasoned eye and extensive first-hand knowledge of sailing. Pre-pandemic, the French designer frequently voyaged on adventures around the globe. The experienced sailor discusses his most unforgettable travel jaunts and recent yachting design projects.
Related: How Guillaume Rolland Designs Yacht Interiors That Embrace His Sailing Passion
Liaigre creates a seamless balance between efficiency and elegance when it comes to designing yachts. How has your personal passion for sailing helped shape your approach towards this design ideal?
Guillaume Rolland (GR) Ever since I was a child, I’ve been familiar with living in tiny spaces inside a small yacht. It’s really a natural fight to search for each square centimetre available to fit everything you might need; appreciating how to compromise is really helpful to making critical choices. Efficiency, in general, is the key driving factor when designing yachts, and it has to be applied for both interior and architecture.