Barcelona-based design studio Atelier Cala has shared a first look at the interior renderings of the SailXplorer XV53, a 53-metre expedition yacht from the new brand SailXplorer.
According to the studio, the interior concept was born from a research-driven approach, where architecture, light and sensory design support the onboard experience for guests in extreme environments. While the yacht itself is defined by long-range exploration, the interior focuses on life during the journeys - something that the studio believes can place demands on the body and mind.
As such, the interior has been conceived as a regulatory system, designed to assist psychological balance and physiological stability for guests.
"The question was never how far this yacht could go, but how well people could live while going that far," explained Arnau Salvadó, founder of Atelier Cala. "Endurance without human balance leads to fatigue, and fatigue affects decision-making. In an explorer yacht, that matters. The interior is designed to support the body and mind, creating an environment that enhances focus, recovery and overall wellbeing."
The main saloon is conceived as a space of calm, defined as such via warm mineral tones and integrated detailing to reduce "visual noise". The ceiling stands out for its subtle bathymetric pattern (referring to the consistent shapes and arrangements seen on the seafloor), in turn creating a clever connection to the ocean.
Designed for up to 22 guests and 15 crew, the dining area is the convivial area on board and can transition from a breakfast setting to a briefing room, or informal gatherings to formal dining - a response to the "changing rhythms of life".
Control interfaces (developed by BVH) are discreetly hidden within the material palette for lighting, climate and media to be adjusted intuitively. An Alchimia display also emerges only when required. "The result is an environment where technology remains present, yet never dominant," the designer added.
Between the expedition areas and guest spaces, the aft deck has been developed as a transitional environment between activity and rest. Here, there is a covered seating area and an integrated bar, both of which benefit from 180-degree panoramic views out.
"Traditionally, explorer yachts have been defined by endurance and capability. SailXplorer XV53 proposes a different perspective: an interior architecture that not only supports the journey, but the people undertaking it," concluded Salvadó.
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