ShowBoats Design Awards 2012: the best superyacht interior designs of the year

Honouring the creative talents of the superyacht industry, the ShowBoats Design Awards are presented to the best designs seen in the superyacht launches of the previous year – in this case 2011. Architects, designers, stylists, craftsmen and innovators are all recognised.

Here we present the winners of golden Neptunes in categories concerning the interior design and layout of yachts as well as the creation of bespoke furniture and acknowledgement of an outstanding newcomer to the design scene.

SATORI

Interior Design Award – Semi-displacement & Planing Motor Yachts

Perfect symmetry in Satori's main deck saloon | photo by Jeff Brown / Superyacht Media

The timeless, contemporary elegance of Satori appealed to the judges from the outset. The ballot revealed that Paris-based Rémi Tessier’s design came first. ‘[His] choice of materials emphasise the contrast between the neutral tones of bleached and brushed spruce and the more sophisticated woven leather floors and palladium-leaf surfaces.’ Innovative lighting and audio/visual components – as well as her elegant furniture – also impressed the judges.

Length: 50m

Builder: Heesen Yachts

Interior designer: Rémi Tessier

Read the feature on Satori

BARTENDER (ex-NOMADE)

Interior Design Award – Displacement Motor Yachts 100ft – 200ft

A view into Bartender's saloon from the deck | photo by Marc Paris

The jury felt that the ‘elegant minimalism, functionality and practicality’ of Bartender‘s interior perfectly matched her new role as mother ship to super-racer Firefly. Her interior design contrasts ‘beach house style’ oak floors with glass lacquer furniture and finishes. Modern yet comfortable furniture adds a tasteful finish to the light and airy living spaces that the judges felt emphasise her interior volume.

Length: 36m

Builder: Tansu Yachts

Interior designer: Tanzu Yacht Design

MUSASHI

Interior Design Award – Displacement Motor Yachts 200ft+

Pure design achieves modern elegance aboard Musashi

Netherlands-based designer Sander Sinot was commended by the panel for ‘his achievement of modern elegance through pure design’ in this hotly contested category. Three-quarters of the jury awarded Musashi the highest marks, citing the subtle blend of Bauhaus and Art Deco influences with Japanese style that creates a highly unique boat. Particularly admired were her large windows, engineered by Feadship and De Voogt Design Studio, which create a feeling of unity with the elements.

Length: 87.78m

Builder: Feadship

Interior designer: Sander Sinot

Read the feature on Musashi

HEMISPHERE AND HETAIROS

Interior Design Award – Sailing Yachts
It is a relatively uncommon occurrence for two yachts to score equal marks. Often re-votes are called, but in this case it was decided to award equal first place because the vessels concerned were so different.

Hemisphere

Harmony through diverse materials aboard Hemisphere

Highly practical damage-resistant materials were used to create an exceptionally luxurious ambiance aboard Hemisphere. This contrast between materials and overall design was doubly acknowledged, as the panel believed that the successful integration of a large number of materials and textures to make a unified, colour-co-ordinated interior deserved special comment. The judges believe that the successful result in her interior emphasised ‘the value of close client/designer liaison’ when fitting out a yacht.

Length: 44m

Builder: Pendennis

Interior designer: Michael Leach Design

Read the feature on Hemisphere

Hetairos

19th century elegance meets modern luxury aboard Hetairos

The interior of Hetairos was commended for its achievement of combining a warm and comfortable eclectic style with an extremely low weight allowance. The owner’s taste for ‘Asian Colonial’ was balanced well with an antique ‘distressed’ style that reflects the yacht’s exterior, modeled on a late-19th century Bristol Channel pilot boat. The extremely low weight allowance given to the designer meant that a traditional interior had to be created from high-tech lightweight materials, with many of the construction techniques being specifically developed for the project.

Length: 66m

Builder: Baltic Yachts

Interior designer: Rhoades Young Design

Read the feature on Hetairos

E & E

Interior Layout Award – Motor Yachts

E & E's master suite design is part of a wider, well-thought-out layout

The innovative layout of E & E was a major factor in the sub-committee’s decision. The yacht allocates guest cabins to the upper deck, some with direct access to the decks as well as from the interior. The lower deck is reserved for the crew, technical space and stores, while the main deck carries the saloon, galley and master suite in the conventional manner. This equitable division of space and provision for technology fulfilled the award’s requirements impressively.

Length: 42m

Builder: Cizgi Yacht

Interior designer: Vripack/ Art-Line Interiors

HEMISPHERE AND VERTIGO

Interior Layout Award – Sailing Yachts
The specialist sub-committee tasked with deciding a winner in this class found it a challenging task. In the end, they felt that two yachts stood out. Because of the difficulty of comparing two very different vessels, they recommended that both should be awarded a Neptune.

Hemisphere

Hemisphere yacht: some cabins on the lower element of the main deck open to their own deck area

The designers of Hemisphere’s interior had to overcome the restrictions of a catamaran hull-form to create a layout that provided comfort and practicality for the owner’s purpose. The sub-committee admired the ‘fully functional and totally novel’ layout, which included VIP cabins that open out onto their own deck area, as well as a TV room and galley cleverly inserted into the floor plan. They also found the crew quarters, service areas and technical spaces to be spacious and practical.

Length: 44m

Builder: Pendennis

Interior designer: Michael Leach Design

Read the feature on Hemisphere

Vertigo

Vertigo's spacious and innovative living areas

Vertigo’s division of space inside her monohull equally impressed the cub-committee. Excellent guest areas, accommodation and facilities were included, with the saloon, dining room and study positioned in an innovative way to fulfill the owner’s requirements, while the routes for crew and guests were carefully considered. The volumes allocated to crew areas, stores, machinary and technical areas were all considered to be exceedingly well suited to the yacht’s world-cruising role.

Click here for Vertigo yacht charter details and rates on charterfleet.com

Length: 67m

Builder: Alloy Yachts

Interior designer: Philippe Briand/Christian Liaigre Interior Design

Read the feature on Vertigo

VERTIGO

Recreational Space Designed for Guest Use Award

Vertigo yacht: the port side midarette, through the gym to the guest areas

All six finalists were considered by the judges based on their elegance of design, functionality, amenities, practicality and innovative features. While all the competitors scored highly in most areas, it was the latter requirement that won Vertigo her Neptune. The midships lazarettes, named ‘midarettes’,on the lower deck open to the sea through shell doors from a gymnasium on the port side and a diving store to starboard. Both fold-down platforms are accessible from the deck down automatically retracting companionways. They can be used as swim platforms or tender docks, while the ease of access from the guest cabins is an added attraction.

Length: 67m

Builder: Alloy Yachts

Interior designer: Philippe Briand/Christian Liaigre Interior Design

NUMPTIA

Bespoke Furniture Award

Numptia's custom-made beach dining table is a focal point

All the finalists had stunning and unique pieces of furniture that grabbed the judges’ attention, but it was Numptia’s dining table that was declared the winner. Designed by Achille Salvagni, based in Rome at Salvagni Architetti, the table was constructed in Cantù, Northern Italy at Marzoratti Ronchetti metalworkers and represents true Italian craftsmanship. The hand crafted, oval, riveted surface is made from nickel silver and was inspired by wavy sand patterns found in the shallows at a beach. This sits on three sculpted parchment-covered pedestals inspired by pebbles, smoothed by the constant wave action.

Length: 70m

Builder: Rossi Navi

Interior designer: Salvagni Architetti

Furniture: Main dining table

Read the feature on Numptia

ILUMINOUS YACHT DESIGN

Newcomer of the Year Award – Reason: Restyling the interior of Snowbird

The bar and seating area aboard motor yacht Snowbird

This category provided an interesting insight into the new talent joining the vibrant global industry that designs and builds superyachts. The interior design of Darlings Danama, the interior and exterior of Doubleshoot and the restyling of Snowbird were all highly thought of by the judges. On the whole, however, Inuminous Design Group’s work on Snowbird was given the highest score. The judges felt that a sophisticated interior was lifted by the works of art that are displayed in conjunction with a choice of colourful, carefully co-ordinated fabrics and accessories work well with the new furniture and finishes. The overall effect created a space that is now ‘both fun and sophisticated’ on board Snowbird.

See the ShowBoats Design Award winners for exterior design & styling and naval architecture

See the ShowBoats Design Award winners for new design, technology, tender and environmental protection