EXTERIOR DESIGN

Exterior design Huge interior volumes

Heesen’s 55-metre Steel – a uniquely successful superyacht platform. Worldbeating, fuel-efficient Fast Displacement Hull Design, ocean-crossing range, huge interior volumes and a timeless profile - and available on a short delivery schedule, thanks to Heesen’s bold speculative build programme.

New French balcony

Larger windows, assertive shapes, and longer horizontals lend a more aggressive edge to the 55-metre Steel profile. But take a closer look, and there’s a new French balcony in the owner’s suite. A transformative innovation.

“This is one of the most impressive innovations on the latest version of the 55-metre Steel,” says Heesen CCO Friso Visser. “This is something truly unique that fundamentally changes the space.”

Aft deck

Enhancements to exterior deck spaces are not limited to the upgraded furnishings. Functionality in the new-look 55-metre Steel is improved by additional stairways to provide better access and circulation for the crew. Less formal layouts for the aft seating areas complement a new focus on alfresco dining. There are improvements to the sun deck, too.

Sun deck

Go placidly amid the noise and haste. The extended design of Apollo’s calmest and most secluded social hub provides additional deck area complemented by a more relaxed seating plan, and there is now a bar alongside the spa. This is a world within a world.

Bridge deck

Here is a place to inspire your more elevated thoughts. The bridge deck’s informal aft seating is raised well above the hurly-burly of the crowded quay - perfect for people-watching – while for convivial dinners after dark, the big alfresco dining table has easy access to the seclusion of the upper saloon.

Main deck

With its transformative French balcony in the owner’s apartment, modernised central atrium and imposing main staircase, and huge new windows, Apollo’s main deck makes an effortlessly favourable impression. The comfortable furnishings on the aft terrace lie at the social heart of the yacht, and offer direct access to the aft platform and beach club.

Beach club

Secure and practical stowage for Apollo’s tenders and toys on the foredeck clears the stern for a spacious and fun-focused beach club, complete with sauna and sea view, and served by a broad, fixed platform for swimming and watersports.

Omega Architects Frank Laupman

What are the main features of the exterior re-style?

We opted for a larger expanse of floorto-ceiling glass, without mullions, in the main saloon and sky lounge. Then we took the opportunity to give a slightly more aggressive look to the profile, replacing the iconic, full-height vertical windows with continuous sheets of tinted glass. The horizontal lines stretch the optical length and balance the air draft.

Why were they necessary?

As much as we loved our original design, we felt it was time to take another evolutionary step – all the 55-metre Steel yachts have been slightly different. With Apollo, we wanted to adapt the design to bring the environment inside more. The bulwarks aft were also lowered, with new railings, to improve the view.

How difficult was it to introduce new elements while also retaining the family look of the 55m Steel?

The 55m Steel is a relatively sturdy-looking Heesen. It means business. This essential identity that we originally created for the class was obviously non-negotiable, so it was a question of balance. But the result is beautiful: we retained the family look and feel, and gave it a new elegance.

How much do you learn, both about the yacht and about your designs, when you come back to a one-design like the 55m Steel?

When you work closely with Heesen it becomes clear how the shipyard is driven to build on its heritage and deliver fresh concepts at the same time. We are always receptive to new thinking, and keen to come up with new ideas. On Apollo, the French balcony is a perfect example – you might not see it at first, but it completely transforms a major part of the interior.

What does the overall look of the 55m Steel say about its owners?

Apollo is the seventh example of her class. If the owners have anything in common, it’s their yachting experience – they are people who understand the relationship between form and function, and appreciate seagoing quality. They know what they want.