"We wanted to be able to add more colour for the new owner", explained Silvia Margutti of Luca Dini Design and Architecture, part of the design team behind Heesen's 55-metre Project Venus. "It's not too soft, not too quiet, a touch of Art Deco but not so heavy that it can’t be changed."
Speaking at a design workshop at the shipyard in Oss, Margutti said that the on-spec build process hadn't deterred the studio from being "brave" with colours and shapes, but also noted that the yacht's eventual owner would be able to significantly customise and tailor the yacht to their tastes.
"We didn't want to use just plain, neutral colours," said Margutti. "You have to be able to catch the attention of the owner. Usually when you are building on specification, you need to be a little bit [safe] to please everybody, but this time we tried to be a little bit stronger.”
As a result, the interior has a light 1920s-inspired interior style, with strong contrasts between light and dark and touches of rich emerald and bottle-green shades. The theme aims to remain connected with nature and uses a mixture of woods throughout – including oak, dark oak and eucalyptus – as well as dark metal details, which are contrasted with lighter fabrics and textiles.
Straight lines were also kept to a minimum on board the yacht for sale. "The curved lines can really change the perspective," said Margutti, although she noted that the implementation of these curves presented a "challenge" to the engineering team. However, Margutti also added that Project Venus is the third 55-metre Heesen model that the studio has worked on, so they wanted to push the envelope and "do something different and maybe a little bit more courageous".
Project Venus is the eighth in the yard’s 55-metre Steel Fast Displacement series and features exterior lines by Omega Architects with a distinctive "shark tooth" motif behind the wheelhouse, which the shipyards call "an extra twist of personality". Delivery is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025, with the hull and superstructure joined in October 2023.
The design workshop at the yard's Oss facility gave participants the chance to understand more about the customisation process. "Clients come here and see an empty shell," explained Robert Drontmann, sales director at Heesen. "You need to be able to give them an idea of what we can do."
Margutti’s favourite area on board is the 82-square-metre owner's apartment, which has a full-beam bathroom, with fixtures by Gessi, as well as a French balcony on the starboard side. The space will also be fitted with fabrics by Pierre Frey for wall upholstery and curtains, as well as leathers by Foglizzo.“The owners’ cabin is a very beautiful area on board this boat but it also showcases everything that we have utilised throughout,” explained Margutti.
The yacht offers accommodation for 12 guests. As well as the owner's suite, there is a VIP suite on the bridge deck and four guest cabins on the lower deck. The guest accommodation is deliberately “welcoming and soft” and the bathrooms feature striking cuts of Italian marble and the designers have also used glass and mirrors to add further contrast.
The main saloon and dining room utilise the yacht’s 9.6-metre beam. The area features dark wood veneers with splashes of aquamarine, with full-height windows that fill the space with natural light. The sky lounge on the upper deck is also filled with light and opens directly onto an aft deck terrace. To ensure this “connection” was felt, Margutti opted to use outdoor furniture throughout this space.
Additional al fresco areas include the sundeck, which is home to a hot tub and lounge seating area. There is also a beach club on the lower deck, which is fitted with a sauna, bar area and has direct access to the water. The space has been designed to be multifunctional so that it can be enjoyed as a beach area when the transom door is open, but can also serve as an enclosed wellness space when it is closed.
Project Venus has a Fast Displacement Hull Form offering both efficient cruising and optimum comfort at sea. Two MTU4000 M63 IMO Tier III engines propel her to a maximum speed of 15.5 knots, and provide a transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 13 knots.
According to BOATPro, there are a total of 13 yachts in build at Heesen.