The Kalizma Heritage Commission

A Dialogue with History

A bespoke maritime commission for the historic M/Y Kalizma, one of the world's most storied yachts. Once the celebrated retreat of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, the vessel’s recent restoration required a sensitive balance between its 1906 Edwardian roots and contemporary luxury.

12 Large-Scale Sailor Knots

To honor the ship’s deep naval heritage, the Atelier was commissioned to create a series of 12 large-scale sailor knots. These are not merely decorative elements but sculptural studies of maritime tension and tradition.

Each knot was hand-worked in natural cotton 3ply rope, scaled to command the architectural proportions of the yacht’s interior. By translating a functional seafaring language into a minimalist art form, the installation serves as a tactile bridge between the Kalizma’s golden-age past and its present-day voyages.

Among the twelve works is a singular, symbolic centerpiece: a knot sculpted into the form of a heart. This subtle gesture serves as a quiet tribute to the vessel's most famous chapter — the legendary love of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It reflects the atelier’s philosophy that even the most structured, functional forms can hold deep, emotive histories.