Rolls-Royce Phantom Orchid – an inspiring symbol for our times
February 3, 2022
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Orchid was designed specifically for the Singapore market. The orchid was chosen as a motif that embodies resilience, beauty, and strength. Orchids have long been a focal point of art throughout history, but this is the first time they have been commissioned by Rolls-Royce. The orchid is the most coveted of ornamental plants: elegant, exotic, graceful, and resilient.
Bespoke Collaboration
The combined talents of the Bespoke Collective at Rolls-Royce HQ allowed designers, craftsmen and artists to collaborate for two years to create a work of this magnitude.
"The Phantom Extended, our flagship model, was chosen as the 'blank canvas' for this commission," said Michael Bryden, Chief Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke. "Our concept was for a sustainable yet progressive design that reflects the values of the Singapore region. The orchid permeates many aspects of life in Asia, a reminder that resilient individuals adapt and thrive despite a changing environment." The Phantom is the only car in the world equipped with a Gallery, a space that allows art, sculpture, or self-expression to be displayed in the comfort of the Phantom's interior. For the Phantom Orchid, we collaborated with award-winning artist Helen Amy Murray to create a unique, hand-sculpted silk work. The delicate materials and techniques used to create this piece are protected by a clear sheet of glass that runs seamlessly across the front of the Phantom. The interior, finished in an elegant mix of Grace White, Havana and Smoke Grey with Dark Olive stitching, evokes the calm and serene nature that is inherent to the Phantom's character
Hand-made
Helen Amy Murray and her team have pioneered the Phantom Gallery – a thoroughly contemporary and luxurious reinterpretation of the car fascia and dashboard area.
Helen was inspired by several orchid species, including the Singapore orchid. She spent over 200 hours continually refining her design and artwork with a six-person team.
"I started by focusing on orchids, which quickly led me to the realization that color was key to capturing the essence of the species. I'd created artwork featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the gallery was to create something in realistic, full color, which forced us to refine our digital printing skills," explains British-based artist and textile designer Helen Amy Murray, adding that her work is typically more neutral and tonal: "This recent return to color has been exciting!".
Murray began by hand-illustrating the design before creating a digital version that she could print directly onto silk crepe satin. The final part of the process involved meticulously hand-carving the flowers, releasing the layers of fabric to create a 3D effect.
Orchid Sanctuary
Inside, Rolls-Royce bespoke designer Yohan Benchetrit applied his talents to creating orchid-inspired marquetry on the rear tables, which, when opened, reveal a beautiful layer of orchids embedded in Piano Black veneer. He also added Bespoke tread plates, exuding a similar motif without text, to welcome the owner and passengers into the car. The interior is decorated in elegant, natural colors, creating a soothing atmosphere reminiscent of an orchid sanctuary.
Dazzling bodywork
To complement this unique "one-of-a-kind" Phantom, a unique paint scheme was created using the latest paint technology. Arctic White was chosen as the base color, to which a shade of purple, inspired by orchids, was added. Combined with fine glass particles in a special process, the result is a stunning pearlescent appearance. In bright light, the paint technology creates a shimmering effect like no other, changing as the car is viewed from different angles. An eye-catching single bodyline on both sides of the Phantom incorporates an orchid-inspired motif, completing the overall theme.
The parallels with the Singapore I know, a thoroughly modern garden city that blends nature and technology, are effortless,” says Bryden, who not only spent time in Singapore but designed the famous, one-of-a-kind “SG50 Bespoke Ghost,” created to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary. “It was the first time we’d produced a car for such an occasion, so I’m delighted once again to be involved with Yohan and the Bespoke collective here at Goodwood to create another masterpiece for Singapore.”.
Just as growing an orchid requires patience, time and dedication, creating a Rolls-Royce is a process that requires time and passion – but the end result definitely justifies the wait.
CO2 EMISSIONS AND CONSUMPTION
Phantom Extended: NEDCcorr (combined) CO2 emissions: 330-328 g/km; Fuel consumption: 19.5 mpg / 14.5 l/100km. WLTP (combined) CO2 emissions: 361-344 g/km; Fuel consumption: 17.8-18.6 mpg / 15.9-15.2 l/100km.
source: RR
