Rubelli and Luke Edward Hall bring romance and craftsmanship to the interiors of the Britannic Explorer, a Belmond train (United Kingdom)
Rubelli has collaborated with artist and designer Luke Edward Hall on the interiors of the Britannic Explorer, the new luxury overnight train by Belmond in the United Kingdom. Developed under the direction of the London design studio Albion Nord, the project celebrates craftsmanship, creativity and a deep connection with the British landscape, from historic houses to remote woodlands.
For this project Rubelli once again worked with Luke Edward Hall to develop bespoke textiles defined by vibrant colours, bold patterns and rich textures, used for walls, armchairs and headboards in the train’s luxurious suites. Originally drawn by hand, Hall’s designs were transformed into digital motifs by the Rubelli team and then woven through a complex textile production process.
In one of the guest suites, the walls are covered with a bespoke version of the playful striped lampas Diamond Stripe, originally part of Hall’s previous Rubelli collection Return to Arcadia. For the Britannic Explorer the fabric was adapted chromatically with the introduction of a bold red that gives the interiors a sense of vibrant opulence.
In other spaces, guests will encounter a custom version of Rubelli’s Rousham fabric, enriched with Hall’s sketches depicting places and subjects encountered by the Britannic Explorer along its journey through the British countryside. The motifs include seagulls and sandcastles, sailboats, the Welsh dragon, county blossoms and landmarks such as the bridges of Somerset and the castles of Hampshire, in a joyful celebration of the British Isles crossed by the train.
The Britannic Explorer marks Rubelli’s second project in the world of luxury trains, following the bespoke textiles developed in 2024 for the suites of Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Both legendary trains embody the spirit of international luxury travel, craftsmanship and timeless design, values that lie at the heart of Rubelli.
