Superyacht staircases are an ideal canvas for interior designers to weave their magic. We round up some of the best examples of stairways found on board...
Tatiana's epicentre is undoubtedly her 110-square-metre beach club (and its spectacular swimming pool) – which is easily accessible from the main saloon via this dramatic, sweeping staircase. Crafted from Macassar wood and Carrara marble, the angular staircase features backlit panelling for a futuristic feel.
With its plush red carpeting and handrail of varnished wood, the spiralling staircase on board the 106.1 metre Amadea looks like it could have been taken from inside a grand palace. Designed by François Zuretti, the gold finishes on the stairwell railings and the fleur-de-lis pattern underfoot add to the palatial feel of this Lürssen superyacht.
The spectacular staircase on board Echo Yachts’ 84 metre trimaran White Rabbit welcomes guests to the superyacht and leads to the upper deck. The lobby splits into two lounges – a more formal one to starboard and an informal area to port.
If any superyacht staircase could be considered a work of art, then the elegant spiral masterpiece on the award-winning Feadship superyacht Savannah is it. Cristina Gherardi Benardeau and Marcello Bozzarelli, of CG Design in Paris created Savannah's interiors as part of only their second superyacht project. This 83.5-metre superyacht's ample 12.5-metre beam means that the refined wooden staircase can unwind lazily from the top deck right down to the main deck.
The design approach on board the 30.48 metre Wally sailing superyacht Tango follows the theme of the cockpit-less deck, with staircase-less steps down to the saloon. Floating treads, their ends angled not unlike spoilers on a Formula One car or wavelets on an otherwise smooth sea, are suspended from the saloon’s aft bulkhead.
The head-spinning wooden staircase on board the 40 metre Conrad flagship features a grand hanging crystal light fixture created by Masiero. It is a partner to three others found on board in the saloon, the dining room and the master bedroom.
A large mirror creates the illusion of a double staircase on the 55 metre Benetti superyacht Ocean Paradise, while her bonsai garden adds an unusual and calming backdrop as one of the world’s few superyacht gardens. Launched in 2013, she features interiors by Adrian Lee and Mauro Izzo.
The main staircase on board the 51.1 metre Heesen is something to behold – curving Macassar with white steps glowing from within, and a sinuously carved handrail, built directly into the wall. “We had made a full mock-up [of the stairwell] to make it work,” says van der Zanden, Heesen’s general manager of design and development. The lacquered white handrail fits the hand perfectly, guiding you down or up the stairs.
Art pieces, chief among them a marquetry backdrop handmade in Wales, complete the ornate staircase and lobby on board the well-travelled 68 metre superyacht Lady Christine. Launched by Feadship in 2010, Lady Christine’s Rodney Black-designed interior can accommodate up to ten guests in five spacious cabins, while her exterior styling comes courtesy of De Voogt Naval Architects.