Online Design Challenge Round Three: Each Superyacht in Detail

For round three of our online design challenge, held in partnership with superyacht interiors company Vedder, three design studios were tasked with creating an explorer yacht tough enough to take on the North-East Passage. The requirements were:

• Length: 40-60m
• Bow: Plumb
• Must-have feature: Hydrogen power
• Design inspiration: Mission Impossible

Take a look at the results...

How challenging did you find the brief?

I was told that it should be a piece of cake since I’ve done a few explorers lately. But still, it’s a good challenge, because every time the brief is a bit different and of course, drawing just something out of the drawer would be boring. Let’s just say it’s challenging because I like challenges… does that make sense? Another challenge was the standout feature, because it’s not really a standout feature. How do you make hydrogen power a visible feature?

What was the starting point?

The starting point in this case was definitely the Mission Impossible aspect. As an experienced designer you know what things work and what would not work, so you can leave these aspects to your ‘autopilot’. But the theme is something that needed consideration!

What are some of the key details?

It’s not a very big yacht, but it has more features than a Swiss army knife. Just so you can deal with everything the North-East Passage can possibly throw at you. And more, should you decide to just continue on to warmer waters afterwards. We have a drone landing pad, a 12-metre multipurpose tender in the back. The whole yacht is practically built around the central toy garage on main deck level, allowing you to launch all sorts of vehicles. On both sides you have big cranes. The saloon allows panoramic views and so does the pilothouse on the very top and the owner has his own forward-facing lounge. But everything is designed to take a beating when necessary!

How did you incorporate Mission Impossible?

Okay, what’s coming to my mind when thinking ‘Mission Impossible’? Action obviously. Lots of gadgets. Toys to move around in the water, on land and in the sky. Chasing villains. Oh, and tall glass structures that Tom Cruise scales up and down. Stairs? No way, suction gloves are much cooler… Last but not least (but I admit I might be mixing up films), Tom standing in front of a huge screen/holographic display, operating it with hand movements and looking super cool doing so….

How challenging did you find the brief?

With a brief for a purely imaginary yacht this was more of a fun creative exercise rather than a challenge.

What was the starting point?

The starting point was to create a robust but still sleek looking explorer yacht filled with hi-tech gadgets worthy of a secret agent. Instead of creating one final design I produced a collection of ideas.

What are some of the key details?

The yacht's main feature is its crow's nest command centre as well observation pods and various flying and amphibian vehicles.

How did you incorporate Mission Impossible?

I conceived this yacht for an owner who is a fan of the Mission Impossible movies and likes to imagine he is a secret agent. His crew (including stuntmen) would pose as villains and set various challenges for the owner and the guests to complete using various vehicles, weapons (fake ones), martial arts, in order to capture the main villain and seize the plutonium (also fake). Once the mission is complete guests can relax in spa enjoying the view out of the large windows or chill out in the spy lounge.

How challenging did you find the brief?

The task was quite challenging, but that is something we like! We took this competition very seriously and organised a movie night. First, we re-watched the Mission Impossible movies, then afterwards, we discussed what inspired us. Egon drew inspiration from SS Vega, a Swedish barque, and the first ever voyage through the North-East Passage. He imagined his interiors having the best views of icebergs, volcanic mountains and glaciers. Jalen searched for inspiration in the brief, which was created by BOAT International’s readers and imagined his design taking an epic voyage along the top of the world. Sanda? Her sole inspiration was young Tom Cruise!

What was the starting point?

After the initial search for inspiration, we did an in-house sketch competition, just for fun. Sanda’s sketch is like something by (abstract sculptor) Lucio Fontana, with three lines that demand a lot of interpretation; Egon’s work is more like the one of Giovanni Piranesi – detailed and architectural. Fine lines, those typical for a yacht designer were the result of Jalen’s work, speaking of his understanding of yacht design. The dilemma of who won led us to combining the ideas and so… the design Mr Hunt (after Cruise’s Mission Impossible character Ethan Hunt) was born.

What are some of the key details?

Our yacht is state-of-the-art, drawing inspiration from Mission Impossible, yet capable of being built today. With the owner in mind, we designed an ideal yacht for an Arctic cruise – a 55 metre explorer, that can crush through ice. Mr Hunt not only features a solar panelled roof and a plumb bow, but hydrogen power as well. After daily explorations, the owner and guests can relax in the sauna, library or bar. The owner's cabin in front offers the best views of the land where mammoths once roamed.

How did you incorporate Mission Impossible?

Imagine Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, hanging over a cliff, flying a helicopter or holding his breath underwater. In these movie scenes he finds himself in amazing places, yet he has no time to enjoy the scenery due to the dangerous situation he is in. The situation is not much different when crossing the North-East Passage – but our Mr Hunt explorer can handle it. Tackling the North-East Passage together with Mr Hunt can be “your mission, should you choose to accept it”.