Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018 Winners Announced

Cyclone

Length: 43.7m

Exterior styling: Tansu Yachts

Naval Architect: Diana Yacht Design

Builder: Tansu Yachts

You can’t mistake the hand of Riza Tansu in Cyclone’s bold lines, evoking comparisons with minesweepers and fast coastal patrol cutters, as this signature look has brought this designer/builder prizes on previous occasions. But on top of the sparseness of detail and clean horizontal lines, this year the judges noted a softer side to the styling with a bit more rake to the bow that reverses at the top to create a touch of tumblehome and a hint of a sheer curve as it moves aft. The design continued to impress the judges with the introduction of sloped forward glass on two decks and the absence of eyebrows altogether. The superstructure is nicely integrated within the profile and provides plenty of both open and protected outdoor living space while actually increasing the interior volume available to the owner. Finishing close behind Cyclone was Claydon Reeves’ well-received exterior styling update on the classic raised pilothouse form with the 36 metre Delta One from Mulder Shipyard.

Jubilee

Length: 110m

Exterior styling: Lobanov

Naval Architect: Azure Naval Architects/Oceanco

Builder: Oceanco

Once in a blue moon is a phrase that acknowledges something of rare occurrence, and with the plentiful entries in the motor yacht exteriors category, the judges were not looking for the merely beautiful, they sought what is extraordinary and innovative. Igor Lobanov’s cerebral design for Jubilee delivers on all counts. The trompe l’oeil treatment of deck perimeters engages both the senses and curiosity with imaginative glazing that calls into question the true number of decks above main. But it is Lobanov’s vision for seeing Jubilee from the sky as an island and the undulating patterns of light and shadow created by her curvaceous deck shapes and long flattening overhangs that make this yacht breathtaking and unique. The surprising reversed metallic blue and white paint scheme is also appreciated for its freshness and for keeping the visual height of the profile in check. The innovation of seamless exterior deck overheads and continuous LED strip lighting are significant. Finally, the judges believe this styling – even with its debated sharp step in the forward sheerline – while innovative today will “age beautifully”, making Jubilee the sort of design that comes along "once in a blue moon".

Ngoni

Length: 58.2m

Exterior stylst: Dubois Naval Architects

Naval architect: Dubois Naval Architects

Builder: Royal Huisman

The final project from the team at Dubois Naval Architects, Ngoni’s exterior styling shows the impressive results of pushing builders and glass manufacturers to the limit in pursuit of beauty, aerodynamics, and blurring exterior and interior environments. The effort to bend glass to the designer’s will that began with the substantially larger and deeper Aglaia (now Anatta) launched in 2012 sees its zenith with Ngoni showing proportionately more glass in the deckhouse, skylights and hullsides. The profile of the boat from plumb bow to open stern is low and exciting and accented by the fact the sheer is inflected to add stiffness to the hull. The foredeck contains a large spa tub that can be sheltered by a modern version of an Arabian tent. The indoor/outdoor lounge aft of the saloon offers a perfect spot for outdoor living underway or at anchor and the stepped stern with its raised sunbed creates a useful and unique experience. Showing that size isn’t everything, finishing just two points behind was the smallest of the finalists, 32.5 metre Ribelle, whose lovely profile, glass deckhouse and waterfall transom are by Malcolm McKeon.

Razan

Length: 47m

Interior designer: H2 Yacht Design

Naval architect: Camuzzi Engineering

Builder: Turquoise Yachts

For the first yacht issued after a change in the majority ownership of the yard, Turquoise Yachts had something to prove. To shorten delivery time, this vessel was purchased mid-build as a bare hull and superstructure and brought to Turquoise for total rethinking, including upping the guest accommodation with an additional stateroom and Pullman berths. British-based H2 Yacht Design was tasked to deliver a balance between wow factor and wide market appeal, a challenge our judges felt they  met with flair. The ability of H2’s designers and the yard to deliver a sense of spaciousness within a fixed envelope is noteworthy with recessed ceilings featuring undulating gloss panels, while mother-of-pearl, Swarovski crystals and polished stainless surfaces reflect light. Low furniture and window seats preserve views through enlarged windows and reduced mullions, while smart architecture, floating  furniture and hidden lighting makes rooms appear larger. Knowing the yard’s capability with stone, H2 emphasised this feature to great effect, especially in the lightly veined Turkish ivory marble central staircase. Obviously in full agreement with our judges, new owners purchased this vessel shortly after her debut appearance.

Azimut Grande 35 Metri

Length: 35.2m

Builder: Azimut Yachts

Naval architect: Pierluigi Ausonio

Exterior stylist: Stefano Righini

Interior designer: Achille Salvagni

To create a new flagship for the Azimut Grande range, length was not the builder’s sole criteria, in fact the driving force was volume. To keep the line’s sporty DNA, an innovative wide-body design facilitates all the features the market is seeking, including a side tender garage, stern beach club, main deck owner’s suite and four guest cabins. Add to this a surprising foredeck sunning area with spa tub, a full flying bridge and optional sun deck. For this tall order Azimut turned to carbon fibre and aerospace technology to reduce weight, increase stiffness and control noise. The D2P hull with wave-piercing bow increases efficiency through the range to 25 knots. Stefano Righini’s RPH lines are dramatic even to the unusual flared foredeck and this is neatly balanced by Achille Salvagni’s light and sculptural interiors. The builder has not cut corners by insisting on easy-to-replicate square boxes for the interior, instead allowing sensuous curves and a variety of exclusive materials. Of particular note, the master stateroom’s port “window” opens out while a large terrace floor with integral handrails slides out of the hull creating an instant balcony.

Home

Length: 50m

Builder: Heesen Yachts

Naval architect: Van Oossanen/Heesen Yachts

Exterior stylist: Omega Architects

Interior designer: Cristiano Gatto Design

Just three teams were brave enough to submit projects for scrutiny in this new category seeking significant investment in design, equipment and operational procedures to reduce environmental impact. Diesel-electric hybrids are today’s most widespread environmentally friendly propulsion solution, but even this is evolving with differences in application from yacht to yacht. For a project that began on speculation by the builder, the Heesen brief was for low- and mid-speed efficiency with top priority on quiet and comfort. Sharing both its decision matrix and performance results, the yacht now known as Home combines aluminium construction and a Fast Displacement Hull Form with relatively small 840hp main engines. Two-speed diesel generators powering electric shaft motors deliver low speed cruising at 9 knots, burning just 45 litres per hour in electric mode while producing only 46dB of noise in the owner’s stateroom. The mains coupled to shaft generators can push her to 16.3 knots while still powering the house load without requiring a separate generator. While this yacht does not offer “silent mode” operation on batteries, the power train is future-proofed for this quieter option.

Aviva

Length: 98.4m

Lifestyle feature: Padel Tennis Court

Interior designer: Reymond Langton Design

Naval architect: Abeking & Rasmussen

Exterior stylist: Reymond Langton Design/Toby Silverton

Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen

Two of the finalists admit that the entire yacht project was driven by the desire to maximise a single activity space. While both are spectacular, one required so much research, engineering and innovation that it claimed top prize. Consider the issues of building a permanent, professional padel tennis court measuring 10m x 20m x 6.65m inside a yacht without detracting from the profile or other indoor areas. From prescribed flooring and side walls for proper bounce and regulation artificial turf including the two tons of special sand that keep it springy, to sound deadening, HVAC, damaged stability and evacuation concerns, this is a major undertaking. With such a special space, no ordinary access would do so an undulating grand staircase delivers guests from a main deck lobby two decks below to this surprising luxury sports hall.

The Judges’ Commendation Award

Seasense began as a concept sketch based on the designer’s perception that yachts have disproportionate indoor space. For an owner seeking a yacht with a big pool deck, it was the perfect start. Complete with privacy/wind/sun screens and  a misting system and located next to a full open dining room, the judges felt this pool deck deserved recognition.

Faith - Limousine Tender

Length: 10m

Builder: Tenderworks

Naval architect: Allseas Design

Exterior stylist: RWD

Interior designer: RWD

This category attracted 14 exciting tenders including open boats, enclosed limo tenders and even specialised landing craft. Although the subcommittee members evaluating the entries studied  the entrants separately, they came to the same conclusion for the top finisher, the 10-passenger limo tender matching the gentle curves and design ethos of its mothership, Faith. Design perfection was the primary objective for the owner but functionality still had to be paramount for the safe operation of the 40+ knot craft. Indirect lighting for night use is superb. The construction is mahogany veneer over carbon composite with an interior of leather and walnut crafted with the same detail as the yacht. The concept is a convertible tender with maximum possible headroom as a closed limousine that can automatically switch to an open boat. Its 3D curved glass roof panels slide forward utilising a cable drive system and disappear into a dedicated storage compartment, while the glass door aft and the side windows drop via a rack and pinion system. In all it took 18 months to design, 22,000 man hours to execute, 2,500 parts and seven servomotors to make an extraordinarily beautiful tender that goes from limousine to open with the touch of one button.

Nicolò Piredda

Concept Name: Galàna

Nationality: Italy

College of education: Politecnico di Milano

The judges were highly impressed by the overall quality of this year’s student category, whose entries numbered 26 from 12 countries. Reducing this entry to six finalists, was neither a quick nor easy process, and was achieved only after lively discussion and a detailed study of all the entries. The difficulty of this process is reflected in the judges’ decision to honour not just our winner, who is Nicolo Piredda from Italy but also Guehun Lee from the Republic of Korea who was awarded a Special Mention. Our youngest ever entry, 13 year old Jens de Klerk has also been awarded a Judges’ Special Mention for effort even though he does not feature amongst the finalists.

In the view of the judges, Nicolò Piredda’s work stood out because he excelled in all three of the requested tasks. The exterior styling of his 60 metre project was both practical and elegant, while displaying the necessary ruggedness required of a “go-anywhere” explorer. In the interior, the general arrangement plan exactly met the requirement and at the same time provided a workable flow for both guests and crew, while the requested design development sketches were executed in masterful manner. This was considered to be an exceptional effort by a 24-year-old candidate.

Giovanni Zuccon

Company: Zuccon International Projects

Nationality: Italy

First Yacht Design:1978, Technema 65, Posillipo

Giovanni Zuccon’s achievements in yacht design began as a happy accident. After beginning college as an engineering student he switched to architecture at La Sapienza University. Truth be told, his first love is arguably research. After graduation, Gianni, as he is affectionately known, and his beloved late wife, architect Paola Galeazzi, opened a studio in Rome in 1972. Also an industrial designer, he approaches problems by first studying the relationship of objects and spaces. Among his first projects was helping design a city for 50,000 people on the banks of Zaire's Congo River. Here he learned to design for a cultural context not his own. Likewise, he is proud of designs as diverse as intercity and tourist buses and buildings for the European Space Agency since 1984.

In the mid 1970s Posillipo Shipyards solicited input from architects for two recreational boat projects. Zuccon declined to submit on the basis that he knew nothing of boats. But when the shipyard said it wanted someone without boat knowledge, someone with a new approach, he relented. He and Paola submitted two small interior drawings. When Posillipo called their submission “interesting and viable”, Gianni threw himself into researching boats, from materials to methods. The rest is history. Actually, it's the history of the dawn of semi-custom boatbuilding, a modular process of standardised bulkheads for preset wiring and piping. He noted a theatre thus arranged made a variety of stage scenes possible. It was Zuccon’s idea to create designs that matched the builder’s industrial production objectives while allowing boat owners to satisfy specific needs.

In 1978 Gianni and Paola galvanized the core of their design philosophy around the belief that to secure its future, the yachting industry had to create and give space to a new kind of close relationship between craftsmanship and industry. Our database reveals 430 yachts beyond 20 metres with the Zuccon name attached ranging from a 38-foot open to the 80 metre CRN Chopi Chopi. We salute Giovanni Zuccon for a lifetime of yachting achievement.