From the drawing board

Cloud 9. Photo: Winch Design

From the drawing board

Cloud 9. Photo: Winch Design

Craft

From the drawing board

The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing custom superyachts, so where is the best place to start the process? We spoke to three design studios to get the lowdown.

By Dominique Afacan | 14 December 2020

“There is often a massive assumption that clients know how the design process works,” says Marnix Hoekstra, creative director at Dutch design studio Vripack. For that reason, there are certain nuances that he aims to clear up with owners-to-be from the offset. “It’s very important for clients to realise that there needs to be a multi-faceted approach because – unlike a house or a car – this object floats in the sea; it has no fixed base. That means there are massive comfort, safety and naval architecture elements in creating a superyacht. I always explain that straight away.”

This is a view shared by Winch, the UK studio behind yachts such as Cloud 9 and Excellence. “It is essential to establish the differences between designing a superyacht and a residential project; there are many considerations that come into play that the client may not have thought of,” says Jim Dixon, director of yachts and aviation. These key considerations include the versatility of the space, storage solutions and the proposed use of the area. “Surfacing them early in the yacht projects allows us to get a head-start for unique ideas in our other streams of work.”

From the drawing board

Excellence. Photo: Winch Design

From the drawing board

Excellence. Photo: Winch Design

With those differences explained, it’s time to get to know the owner, and vice versa. “We start by sitting with owners and listening to their ideas and concepts and maybe hearing about other yachts they like or dislike,” says Hoekstra. “Once I have an idea of what someone is after, there is always something sparking in my mind. If I see something cool at a car show, or a museum or an art studio, it can inspire me.”

The same goes for Dickie Bannenberg, company leader at Bannenberg and Rowell. “The design process is lifestyle-driven for us. We talk and meet and we try to find out how our clients live their lives. What do they like to do? Who do they hang out with? How do they spend their days? Are they formal or informal? Is outdoor living important to them? All that sort of information gives us a picture that we need to start working; it’s a pretty organic process.”

From the drawing board

Photo: Bannenberg & Rowell Design

From the drawing board

Photo: Bannenberg & Rowell Design

Once the studio has a firmer understanding of the client, they will start to create something that they term ‘blob plans.’ “They are exactly as they sound,” says Bannenberg. “Big squishes of colour on a layout highlighting where the owner area, the spa area and so on might be – showing relationships and space interaction. It’s very macro as opposed to micro scale at the start and the process develops from there, splitting into all sorts of more precise stuff.”

Winch agrees that establishing this flow of design is hugely important on board a yacht. “Whilst every detail on-board needs to be of the finest quality, the flow of staff behind the scenes, for example, is essential for the smooth catering of guests on board with seamless discretion.”

From the drawing board

Futura. Photo: Vripack

From the drawing board

Futura. Photo: Vripack

Over the years, of course, client preferences for the usage of space has constantly shifted. “Yachts are affected by the zeitgeist and they have become more subtle and refined than they once were,” says Hoekstra. He points to one of their recent designs, Futura by way of example. “If you glance at it, you’ll only see a hull and a superstructure. But when you zoom in do you see the very innovative use of glass.”

Winch agrees. “We are seeing a desire for more contemporary spaces, often open plan with huge expanses of glass that allows light to flood in and for the natural landscape to become a backdrop for the interior itself.”

Of course, any yachts in line with the zeitgeist will consider sustainability, and indeed Dixon is having more and more conversations with a new generation of client. “Our younger client profile is more interested in sustainable design. Sustainability within the superyacht industry is not only relevant from a moralistic and social point of view, but from a financial one. Some clients commission a superyacht as an investment and those that are powered by combustion engines will soon lose value when sustainable propulsion becomes a requirement rather than an option in the years to come.”

From the drawing board

Photo: Bannenberg & Rowell Design

From the drawing board

Photo: Bannenberg & Rowell Design

Hoekstra agrees. “I would argue that today the more interesting features are more likely to be in the area of sustainability and low environmental impact. There is a mass of requests to lower footprint that requires a lot of innovation from designers.”

Luckily, innovation has long been a priority at these design studios. The interiors team from Winch, for example, has been working to integrate an extensive selection of sustainable materials into their sample library so that an environmentally-friendly solution can be offered with every design. “Examples include olive-tanned and plant-based leathers, as well as fabrics such as organic cotton and bamboo which are much kinder to our planet,” says Dixon.

Of course, for most studios, the most enjoyable process is seeing clients’ dreams turn into a reality. “The projects can take up to five years and so we become heavily invested and build solid relationships with our clients. Seeing their delight as the project starts to take shape, especially once it’s completed, is truly enthralling,” says Dixon.

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