HAECO Private Jet Solutions has launched Xiao Yao, an interior concept for the Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ 2). The company is an Airbus-approved and Boeing-licensed cabin completion center based in Asia.
The design takes its inspiration from the classical Chinese masterpiece Zhuangzi, one of the foundational texts of Daoism. Xiao Yao You, the title of the first chapter of the Zhuangzi, can be translated as Wandering Beyond. It explores the philosophy that humans must free their imagination and wander beyond the confines of what is familiar, to achieve a greater understanding of, and oneness with, nature – the Dao or ultimate state of spirituality. In modern Mandarin, the word xiaoyao has come to mean “at ease, leisurely and spontaneous” and it has connotations of giving up the hustle and bustle of worldly existence for a leisurely life outside the city, perhaps in the natural setting of mountains.
To achieve the spirit of Xiao Yao, the design breaks free from a conventional layout, replacing straight lines with an organic, free-flowing design in which key living spaces are linked by a walkway that winds its way through the cabin. There is extensive use of natural timber and the colors are muted and restful. HAECO Private Jet Solutions’ engineering department has collaborated on every aspect of the design and the company says the layout of passenger accommodation (LOPA) complies with the most stringent safety requirements.
Feng Shui, the Chinese metaphysical art of harmonizing people with their environment, has guided the design. Historically, Feng Shui was used to orient dwellings auspiciously in relation to their natural surroundings; the shape of the landscape, the flow of wind and water were analyzed to determine the site with ideal qi (lifeforce). The Xiao Yao cabin has been designed to generate and retain maximum qi.
The various living areas symbolize different aspects of an ideal landscape, with a gentle stream circulating between them. The design also incorporates the Wu Xing (five elements) – wood, fire, earth, metal and water. According to Chinese astrology, every person has their own Wu Xing profile and the basic cabin design can be tailored to the requirements of each customer by the use of different colors, shapes and materials.
Overall, the Xiao Yao cabin is designed to be a tranquil haven, offering a practical, uncluttered and fluid living space, with a range of options for business use or to relax in. While it incorporates elements of traditional Chinese design, it was designed to have a timeless, cross-cultural aesthetic that the company believes will appeal to the most discerning lovers of modernist style.
“We are extremely excited to introduce the innovative Xiao Yao design, which encompasses elements of Chinese philosophy in a cabin interior that is both classic and contemporary,” said Henry Chan, vice president, commercial, HAECO Private Jet Solutions. “Our ability to create and innovate, as well as our attention to quality and detail, are what set HAECO Private Jet Solutions apart from other cabin completion centers around the world.”
April 17, 2015
