RAK Ceramics Aboard
the Legendary Kalizma
Some places are not just built — they are reborn. Few symbols of elegance carry as much romance and history as M/Y Kalizma, a vintage Edwardian yacht launched in 1906 and later made immortal by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Today, more than a century later, Kalizma has been carefully restored by Palazzo Morelli, under the vision of Alessandro Ortenzi, at the Colombo Shipyard in Sri Lanka. Guided by both local and international craftsmen, the project balanced heritage with modern refinement — and within this rebirth, RAK Ceramics found its voice.
A Floating Stage of Stories
The Kalizma has lived many lives: a naval vessel in wartime, a competitive regatta yacht, and then a floating home of Hollywood glamour. When Burton gifted it to Taylor in 1967, it became more than a yacht — it was a stage for love stories, sparkling diamonds, and whispered conversations on the open sea.
Restoring such a vessel is not about simply recreating the past. It is about weaving memory into the present. And in this delicate task, materials matter. Every texture, every surface, every detail had to speak the same language of elegance.
Where Craft Meets Surface
The Carrara Grey porcelain, with its soft veining, was laid in sweeping 120×120 expanses — echoing the rhythm of classic stone while adapting to the yacht’s scale. On board Kalizma, it frames entire bathroom settings, from the vanity to the surrounding walls and floors, creating a refined continuity that elevates intimate spaces with understated luxury. Luce Onyx White, in grand 120×240 slabs, was used not as a surface alone but as a source of atmosphere. Backlit within the master cabin walls, it becomes a glowing band of light — a soft brushstroke of warmth that transforms the space into an intimate retreat.
A Legacy Renewed
Walking through Kalizma today, every detail feels intentional. In the lounge, polished mahogany walls and brass accents meet soft, neutral furnishings, while artwork and lighting create a sense of intimacy. Step outside, and the atmosphere shifts — turquoise cushions catch the sea light, a marble-topped bar invites conversation, and the horizon itself becomes part of the design. Brass, wood, stone, and fabric all coexist, reminding us that the past is preserved, but the present is vividly alive in every corner.
For RAK Ceramics, to be part of this restoration is more than a project — it is a chapter in a story that began over a century ago. A story of innovation, romance, and craftsmanship. A story still unfolding on the open seas.