Project Name: Phenom 300E Bossa Nova: Dark is the New Light

Date Completed: February 2019

Exterior Designer: Catherine Biegler

Interior Designer: Natasha Strauss

Completion Centre: Embraer

The Phenom 300E Bossa Nova is establishing the next trend in aerospace interiors. Inspired by movements in music and culture in late-1950’s Rio de Janeiro, the Bossa Nova edition of the Phenom 300E brings the latest trend in aerospace interiors to the light jet class: dark is the new light.

First introduced by Embraer in the Praetor 600 super-midsize jet, the Bossa Nova interior is proving to be just as elegant in the Phenom 300E light jet, thanks to the large windows of the Embraer DNA architecture, which draw an abundance of natural light into the cabin. The sun’s light and colour, at each hour of the day, blends into rays that reflect off the piano black finish on the tables, monuments, and side ledges — spreading the sparkles of the gold trim into each corner of the interior.

The warmth of the whiskey tones of light welcomes each passenger into their personal space by prioritizing ergonomics. The array of petit coussin geometry on every seat-back  — that’s French for mini-cushion — is reminiscent of the beach sidewalk where the original “Girl from Ipanema” strolled and inspired some of the first Bossa Nova artists, Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes, in the 1960s.

The rich black of the leather seats ranges widely in tone when absorbing and reflecting the rich natural light of the sun and moon — from warm dawn to bright noon and ever so patiently to evening lounge. Golden silk accents the dark carpet and adds a natural dimension, just like the waves off the beach of Ipanema.

The Upper Tech Panel reflects light, colour, and style, like a mirror, until summoned. With the gentlest of hand gestures, the mirror becomes a screen, serving customers with flight information and options to personalize their environment and their journey.

This interior defies the misconception that darker materials make an interior feel smaller. Whether outside sunlight or interior lighting, the light reflects off the gold accents and piano black, creating different moods depending on the time of the day.