For those who believe it’s what inside that counts, the ShowBoats Design Awards 2015 Interior Design Awards categories recognise the skill and talent of the designers and teams who created the notable interiors of yachts delivered in 2014.
ShowBoats Design Awards 2015 Interior Design Awards Winners
INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD – MOTOR YACHT ABOVE 500GT – SPONSORED BY Swarovski
Winner: Rémi Tessier Design for 73m _Grace E _built by Picchiotti – Perini Navi Group
The nine finalist yachts all have commendable layouts and smart use of space, and by now the ideas of a spa and/or beach club has become an expectation. At this level, all the yachts are exceptionally well executed and excellence is divided by fractions of a degree. The one standout in the field was considered to be inspirational, however, for her entire wellness deck, the innovative arrangement of the family accommodations and the sophistication of her lighting plan. That yacht is _Grace E _whose interior is by Rémi Tessier, who also designed the loose furniture. The decor is all about highlighting natural materials, views and light from the ebony window frames that make the outdoors appear like paintings, to the softly reflective palladium ceilings to the sandblasted sycamore walls. The interior was described by one judge as simply “suave.”
INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD – MOTOR YACHT BELOW 500GT – SPONSORED BY: Boutsen Design
Winner: Redman Whiteley Dixon for 46.2m Como built by Feadship
The committee shortlisted 12 finalists, partially because there were so many looks among the strong contenders. With the exception of the classically styled D’Natalin and Onika, the boats were at various points on the modern spectrum. The yacht that stood out, both for the lifestyle offered in her space planning and for her interior style, decor and finishes was Como, designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon. Many of the judges had seen the boat in Monaco. They felt every element of the interior matched the design brief for a masculine yacht that supports entertaining on a grand scale. The choice of bleached oak, Macassar ebony, stainless steel and white marble create sophisticated yet calming surroundings. The mirrored floating staircase was a particularly attractive feature for the way it visually expanded the space and linked the three decks.
INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD – SAILING YACHT 40M & ABOVE – SPONSORED BY: Foglizzo
Winner: Rhoades Young Design for 48m Wisp built by Royal Huisman
The opposite brief from the winner of the smaller yacht category, the owner of _Wisp _wanted a comfortable home away from home with the same high levels of cruising comfort he had experienced on motor yachts. Rather than a specific period interior, he asked for something warm and jolly in which to travel the world. Rhoades Young responded with a traditionally influenced design that is by turns soothing, neutral and relaxed in its architecture and joinery yet surprisingly colorful and clever in its arrangement of spaces. The subtle appearance of Murano glass and shoji screens hint at the exploration to come. While it lacks the drama of the exterior, the judges appreciated the sophistication of quality details and the thought process behind them as well as the clever layout that creates three zones for the owners.
INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD – SAILING YACHT 30M TO 39.99M
Winner: Design Unlimited for 33m WinWin by Baltic Yachts
It’s easy to make a racing boat look sleek and fast, it’s quite another thing entirely to make a racing boat into a comfortable cruiser, noted one of our judges of the task at hand. Mark Tucker of Design Unlimited, however, seemed completely unfazed by the difficulty with his approach to comfortable, modern living aboard a yacht with a rather strict weight budget for her interior. The layout of WinWin uses space in the most effective way for living and cruising with the owner’s stateroom and unique portside office forward, away from guests and crew housed aft of the living space. The judges especially like the integration of indoor and outdoor areas made possible by a retracting glass wall between the cockpit and deck saloon.