In the third installment of our series on the ICON Yachts Design Challenge, we examine H2 Yacht Design’s futuristic interpretation of the 59m superyacht conversion.
Dutch superyacht builder ICON has asked three design studios ( Dixon Yacht Design, Ivan Erdevicki and H2 Yacht Design) to plan the transformation of HR MS Blommendal, a 59m survey vessel built by Amels in 1973 for the Dutch Maritime Institution. The ship is one of a whole series retiring from service and becoming available for conversion.
H2 Yacht Design, which has been involved with many refits over the years, approached the challenge as a communal exercise.
‘I thought it a great opportunity to offer members of the H2 team the chance to create various ideas,’ says Design Director Jonny Horsfield. ‘My favourite ideas were developed and I suggested Icon select the design they felt best met their brief. What has been chosen is certainly the most creative design and I think it displays H2’s ability and desire to push the envelope in the hope of capturing the imagination of a client looking for something different.’
Horsfield describes the chosen design as ‘a unique modern twist on a traditionally proportioned explorer hull’.
‘I wanted to produce a design with a strong graphic identity,’ he says. ‘The angled bridge windows have been repeated on the forward superstructure giving the styling its distinctive design direction.
‘Our design will challenge some as I appreciate the styling is not a predictable solution and will not be to everyone’s taste. However there is something refreshing about being overtly different and approaching the solution from a fresh angle. I can only hope that this attracts the type of owner who is as passionate as we are about yacht design and who might be inspired by this contemporary concept.’
Awards for the ICON Yachts Design Challenge will be announced during the Antibes Yacht Show by judges from ICON Yachts and Boat International Media.