HK$3.34 billion is all it takes to turn your long-haul flight into an unforgettable party
Beirut-based designer Vick Vanlian turns a double-deck private jet into a world of entertainment complete with hi-tech nightclub
To many travellers, long-haul flights can be torturously boring. Even frequent flyers, who can work in the air or sleep in confined spaces, may find the journey hard to enjoy, but interior and furniture designer Vick Vanlian refuses to give up on the potential fun factor.
“The best feeling in the world is to party in one country and finish your party in a new one. It’s like magic, like a time capsule out of the movies,” Vanlian says. To make the magic happen, he designed a flying entertainment hub to provide everything you need for some fun in the sky.
“The plane is like a home,” he says. The double-deck aircraft contains all the facilities a private jet should have to make passengers feel at home, such as a master suite with a private bathroom, a dressing area and an en suite office.
To cater to all your gastronomic requests, an on-board chef and waitstaff offer delightful alternatives to dismal in-flight meals, from cosy private dinners to impressive formal banquets. As Vanlian says: “Just being on a flying home is the best experience ever.”
Even on a low-key level, it’s impressive. Forget movies on a tiny screen. Guests can be entertained in the plane’s miniature movie theatre, fitness area and meditation room; even flight attendants get to unwind with their own gymnasium and relaxation area.
When it comes to proper in-flight entertainment, however, the designer takes it to a whole new level. “The design is intended for a billionaire who is striving to find uniqueness in everything he or she owns,” Vanlian says.
The dining area on the upper deck can be transformed into a nightclub in the air, allowing you to party literally anywhere around the world.
With just a click of the remote control button, the sides of the floor can be elevated by a complex mechanical system customised for this project, creating a double-height space. The dining table becomes the DJ booth while mesh metal rods descend from the upper ceiling as the balustrades of the suspended dancing platform.