Portraits on The World – Art Deco-Inspired Design is Showcase for Unrivaled Culinary Offerings

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – Elevating exquisite design and gastronomic experiences to ‘best-of-the-best’ standards is Portraits on The World, serving haute cuisine on the largest, privately owned residential yacht on earth. The sophisticated Art Deco-inspired interior design and intimate ambiance reflects the masterfully prepared creative cuisine that makes Residents of The World regard Portraits as one of the best restaurants around the globe. Nowhere else can one enjoy such an amazing gastronomic experience – from the comfort of their own home – while continuously traveling around the world to its most exotic destinations. It’s a lifestyle like no other for those with a thirst for knowledge, adventure, and of course, the finest cuisine.

A Stylish & Timeless Vision

Portraits’ interior was designed by Miami, Florida-based PMAA, an award-winning architectural interior design firm headed by Philip Martin. The architectural direction accommodates the desired functional and aesthetic requirements established by the Resident community. All finishes, furniture, ceiling and lighting design, window treatments, integration of service elements and sound support its design concept.

The romantic venue conveys the feeling of being on an intimate private yacht, embodying a modern take on the Art Deco period. It exudes ‘cool chic’ and ‘timeless elegance’ through custom furnishings and artwork, the use of bold geometric patterns and a striking color palette of blacks, whites and metallics, which are design references of the period. Reference to the Art Deco period was inspired by Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, father of the Art Deco movement in France.

‘Custom’ is Key to Design Concept

Further distinguishing Portraits’ interior design from restaurants around the world is the use of custom furnishings throughout the space including:

• A polished stainless steel and glass wine vault with a capacity of 1,800 bottles (with three temperature zones for reds, whites and champagnes) to showcase the vast beverage collection – featured wines are displayed on their sides with labels showing outward on the back of each door panel.
• Seating by Douglas Hutton of Hutton Home – ebony-framed chairs with leather back panel, lounge chairs in the entry covered in charcoal mohair, and sateen-upholstered ebony-finished bar stools in the pre-function area.
• Expandable dining tables from Italy with a polished, stainless steel pedestal design.
• Custom carpet of Erte-inspired design direction in shades of platinum in the dining area and stone flooring in the pre-function area – polished natural stone in one area of blue / black granite, and a composite stone material featuring real silver with a matte / velvet finish in another. Both spaces use polished white Carrera marble as an inlay, offering a distinction between the arrival and balance of the pre-function areas.

Commissioned Art

To realize its vision and support the signature name for Portraits, PMAA tapped various sources for unique handcrafted pieces of art that sit harmoniously within the restaurant.

• Norwegian Terje Lundaas, a world-renowned glass artist known for his magnificent color field abstraction technique, created two custom cobalt crystal vases and three clear crystal-footed vases for display in Portraits.
• Two pieces of art were commissioned for the dining area – photography by Nathalie Edemont (known for her probing and provocative work) is balanced by an original creation from Nina Suriel (whose collage paintings explore womanhood and are elaborate, detailed-oriented and rich in texture).
• Three bespoke crystal and stainless steel chandeliers were designed by Lalique’s teams in New York and Paris.

Furnishings of Unrivaled Caliber

Staying true to its vision, PMAA has sourced products of unrivaled caliber to create a venue where Portraits’ cuisine would be featured as distinctive art in an equally impressive space. Additional highlights include:

• Seating (60-person capacity) for versatility as well as distinct pre-function and dining areas for private events.
• Use of deep rich exotic Makassar Ebony wood with a high-gloss finish adds depth and warmth to the space with dots of Mother of Pearl accents throughout.
• Draperies (soft white sheer materials, one with silver detail, offering sound absorption qualities) used for effect and function are a soft separation between the pre-function and dining areas.
• Two sets of Shantung silk-like sliding door panels subdivide the dining area into two or three distinctive spaces allowing for concurrent private dining opportunities.
• Indirect and direct lighting operated by a state-of-the-art programmable dimming system create desired moods depending on how the space is being used, plus battery-operated candle lamps by Lalique on each table convey the romantic ambiance.
• A state-of-the-art sound system from Miami-based Technosystems is zoned for each of the three dining areas and pre-function space.
• An Ebony Yamaha Grand piano is located in the pre-function area.
• A portable maitre’d station is inspired by the furniture designs of Ruhlmann.

Tantalizing the Palate

An incredible culinary experience “brings the destinations to life” for Residents as the Ship sails the globe with regional menus featuring the best quality products from ports visited. Other specialty fare is flown in from all over the world by the restaurants’ chefs to accommodate Residents’ tastes and preferences.

The menu and overall dining experience drives an exhilaration of the senses achieved through smaller “amuse bouche” portions to encourage sampling of dishes, by using fragrance with a “table smoked” technique so guests feel as if they’re a part of the cooking process, and the placement of fresh herbs on the table that can be savored over the course of a meal. The restaurant also emphasizes the use of modern cooking techniques, creative and exquisite presentation, and developing dishes around the taste of one spectacular ingredient.

A Wine Lover’s Dream

Portraits’ custom-made wine vault accommodates 1,800 bottles representing approximately 800 labels in The World’s vast wine selection. While the Ship continuously circumnavigates the globe, the sommeliers use the opportunity to purchase locally many of the rarest and most sought-after wines and spirits in their countries of origin. The vault also contains wines from wine regions all over the world representing small boutique wineries that produce miniscule quantities. Using traditional and modern techniques, they apply tremendous attention to detail in their viticultural and vinicultural practices. Many of the latter are personal discoveries of the sommeliers and Residents.

About The World

Launched in 2002, The World® is the largest privately owned, residential yacht on earth with 165 luxury Residences. A diverse group of Residents from 20 countries own the homes onboard and share interests in world cultures, history and adventure, and exploring fascinating destinations. They circumnavigate the globe every two to three years following an extraordinary itinerary that they select. In-depth expeditions and one-of-a-kind experiences are complemented by world-class amenities and impeccable service. To learn more about this unique lifestyle call 954-538-8449 or visit www.aboardtheworld.com.

Media Contacts: For additional information or to request images of The World, please contact:

Jayne Alexander, +44 (0)20 3709 7809, jayne@dovetail-agency.co.uk.
Joanna Merredew, +44 (0)20 3709 7809, joanna@dovetail-agency.co.uk.

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November 2020