the car as an art gallery – Corriere.it

The concept of customization, now feasible for every car, disappears in the face of what is accustomed to creating Bespoke, the special Rolls Royce division, which has the advantage of a clientele with unlimited budgets with needs so complicated as to earn a fortune. It is clear that much of the market is located in the Gulf countries (the demand has never been so high as in the last two years) where Bespoke continues to place special editions that have unique features and ideas, especially in the configuration of the interiors. It is no coincidence that the latest creations bear original names such as Arabian Gulf, Digital Soul and Horology. Now, presented in Abu Dhabi, ‘Iridescent Opulence’ is making its début, which embodied a concept conceived in 2017 by Nature Squared, a Swiss studio specializing in high-tech finishes, starting from eco-sustainable materials.

The operation was made possible for a choice previously made by the Rolls-Royce Design Team: the awareness that almost all fans of the brand are collectors of refined and contemporary art, has led to the creation of a space in the cockpit where they can enjoy their passion even while traveling and show it to passengers. A space called ‘The Gallery’, which is a glass application that occupies the right side of the Phantom’s dashboard. The operation is carried out at the Rolls-Royce headquarters in Goodwood in a sterile environment where it is possible to assemble delicate and highly customized items: you can be satisfied with a simple application of wood or metal or request a complex mix of materials, not normally practicable in an automotive context.

The customer in question expressed his mania for bird feathers: an expression of extreme luxury but at the same time a bold aesthetic choice to be incorporated into an automotive context. Nature Squared has conducted extensive research to identify a sustainable species, with rich and dense plumage, to adorn The Gallery. Over 3,000 tail feathers were selected for their iridescence, individually shaped to accentuate the sheen and rich hue of natural feathers, then hand-sewn onto a special fabric. Finally, the application on the dashboard, around the iconic Rolls Royce watch with the extra touch of the mother-of-pearl edge, which emphasizes the shiny texture of the feathers. Madness, perhaps. But brilliant.