Sushino – Costa Cruises – Smerlada
Submitted by: Petra Trattner
Lead Designer: Petra Trattner
Studio: Design Studio Berg+v
Outfitter: SAVI
Shipyard: SAVI
Completion Date: 08/12/2025
Sushino — Costa Smeralda | Costa Cruises
Sushino is a complete transformation of an existing sports bar into a contemporary sushi dining destination, achieved with minimal structural intervention and delivered during a tightly controlled two-week refurbishment.
The original space was predominantly white, with hard surfaces and the character of a sports bar. The brief was to create an inviting sushi restaurant with a strong Japanese identity, while working within the existing architecture and preserving the functionality of the cruise-ship environment.
Rather than creating a literal interpretation of Japanese design, the concept draws on traditional Japanese forms, patterns and materials and reinterprets them through Costa’s distinctly Italian design language.
Costa’s signature copper tones became a key element of the new interior, bringing warmth and identity to the space. The sushi display counter was designed as a focal point, making the preparation and presentation of the food part of the visual experience. Its position and transparency were carefully considered so that Sushino would attract attention not only from within the restaurant, but also from the surrounding entertainment and circulation areas of the ship.
Japanese-inspired patterns were researched and translated into bespoke screens and architectural details. A distinctive wood pattern references traditional Japanese flooring, introducing warmth, rhythm and texture while creating a natural transition from the original hard-surfaced environment.
The Japanese elements are balanced with contemporary Italian design. Furniture from Molteni&C and lighting from Flos bring a refined European character to the space, while the woven pendant lights, geometric screens, copper surfaces and warm timber create a softer, more intimate dining atmosphere.
The result is a space that feels distinctly different from its previous identity without relying on major structural changes. Every element — from the floor pattern and screens to the lighting, furniture and sushi counter — contributes to a coherent visual language designed around the guest experience.
Sushino demonstrates how thoughtful interior design can completely redefine an existing cruise-ship venue: transforming a functional sports bar into a warm, distinctive and highly visible dining destination where Japanese-inspired design and Italian identity meet at sea.
