Catching up with Omega Architects - The Grid magazine

S E A FA R I N G

CATCHING UP WITH OMEGA ARCHITECTS AFTER MY VISIT TO THE NETHERLANDS BACK IN JUNE 2017, IT IS NOW TIME TO REVISIT AND CATCH UP WITH THE GOOD PEOPLE AT OMEGA ARCHITECTS - PURVEYOR OF BOTH ARTISTICALLY CRAFTED FORM AND FUNCTION FOR STRUCTURES, PARTICULARLY YACHTS. WE HAD A CHAT WITH HEAD HONCHO OF OMEGA ARCHITECTS AND DUTCH ARCHITECT EXTRAORDINAIRE, MR. FRANK LAUPMAN.

W T.Y. L i m

P Omeg a A rch itect s, Heesen, CR N

Results 2018 H E E S E N YAC H T S - VA N T O M & WHITE

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ooking back in 2018, there were strings of progression for Omega A rch it ec t s. 2 018 s aw t wo 50 m yachts designed by Omega Architects hit the waters - VanTom (ex Project Alba) and White (ex Project Ayla), number 6 and 7 of this successful ser ies. These 2 yachts car r ies the ex ter ior desig ned sig nat ure l ines and a lso represent s the in ner character of speed and comfort for which Heesen Yachts are renowned for.

ALIA YACHTS - VIRGEN DEL MAR VI

The f irst brand new desig n on t h e w a t e r f o r 2 018 h owe ve r, wo u l d be t he 32 m Vi r g en Del M a r V I bu i lt b y A l i a Ya c h t s , t o g e t h e r w i t h Va n Oossanen Nava l A rchitects and Omega A rchitects. Delivered in July 2018, this pocket super -yacht wa s bu i lt i n st eel a nd a lu m i n iu m w it h t he i nclu sion of Hu l l Va ne ® ( by Va n Oos sa nen Nava l A r ch it e c t s). V i r g e n D e l M a r V I w a s

designed for global cruising making her capable of long ranges. This complements well with her spacious volume of 235GT, which is large for her size. Combined, this propelled her as a f inalist for the Design & Innovation Awards.

Virgen Del Mar VI boasts a distinctive r a i sed pi lot hou se prof i le w it h st ron g horizontal and vertical shapes. Long dark lines emphasize her length as the vertical lines do for her sturdy resolute character.

A ver y com for t able 50 squ a re -meter s w ide body su n- deck a n nex f ly br id ge a ccom mo d a t e s a l a r g e s h a d e d d i n i n g and lounge area plus bar, both arranged behind the helm station. Elegance comes from soft angled inclining overhangs aft - which is also a spacious sunbathing area - and forward. The elegance is continued with the gentle inclining stern bulwark doubl i n g a s w i nd sh ield s on t he s w i m platform offering spectacular views of the outdoors.

Virgen Del Mar VI prides herself with full height windows, wrapped around the main deck ’s dining and salon - coupled w i t h t h e g l a s s b u l w a r k , t h i s a l l ow s

for nat u ra l l ig ht f lood i ng i n w ith f u l l un i nter r upted pa nora m ic v iews to the outdoor su r rou nd i ng s. For wa rd is the 22 .5 squ a re -meter s f u l l bea m ow ner’s suite with bathroom featuring 2.3 meters high ceilings. Again, full height windows were included, as well as doors for private access to the sidewalk and forward lounge a rea t h at feat u re s ver y i nv it i ng sof a s.

The owner’s suite and salon also features u nob s t r uc t e d v iew s t o t he out d o or s , pa r t icu l a rly v iew s ju st above water s and this is attributed to the glass-inserted b u l w a r k a f t . M a i n d e ck a f t f e a t u r e s open-air spaces for dining, lounging and sunbathing for up to 10 guests.

Lower deck houses two double and two t win spacious g uests cabins plus a crew area for 5. Behind the engine room sits the tender garage, which houses the vessel’s 5m tender.

Her waterline length is optim ised by the plump bow, where a narrow entr y of the hu l l prov ides for h igher ef f icienc y at h igher (d isplacement) speed s, wh ich fur ther adds to her impressive range of 4,500 nautical miles.

S E A FA R I N G

HAKVOORT SHIPYARD PROJECT ADUR

In The Making

Just r ig ht before the t u r n of the yea r, i n m id Decem ber 2 018 , H a k voor t Sh ipya rd st a r t e d const r uct ion of the 45.2m Project Adur - a ver y i n t e r e s t i n g h y b r i d p r oj e c t t h a t i n c lu d e s t he e x t e r io r a nd i nt er ior de s i g n development . T he h i g h l y i nvolved ow ner, repre sented by Peter HĂź r z eler of Oce a n I nd e p e nd e nce, i s d e s i g n i n g h i s u lt i m a t e f a m i l y ya cht w ith Omega A rch itects. The ex ter ior feat ures an e ye - c at ch i n g s h aven hu l l , wh i le t he m a st er st at er oom b o a s t s a l o g g i a w it h e x t e n d a b l e b a l c o n y, e r a s i n g t he border s bet ween t he i nter ior a nd t he ex ter ior i n g iv i ng a feel of con nec t ion w it h t he water s a nd su r rou nd i n g s.

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D i st i nc t ive i nt er ior fe at u re s a re her f loor to cei l i n g w r ap - a r ou nd w i ndow s - a s pe c i a l O w ner re que st - on b ot h a f t d e ck s , t hu s pr ov id i n g p a nor a m ic v ie w s f r om t he m a i n deck sa lon a nd sk y lou nge. T h i s de sig n a l low s for n at u r a l l i g ht i n g t o f loo d i nt o t he br i g ht a nd f re s h i nt e r ior w h i le t he s a lon a nd d i n i n g s how s con ne c t e d sy m met r y in a contemporar y set t ing w ith a br ight colou r s cheme. O n t he ex t er ior, s of t c u r ve s w r appi n g a r o u n d w o o d e n s e e - t h r o u g h s l a t s c r e a t e s ‘c u r t a i n s’ e m p h a s i s i n g t h e y a c h t ’s w a i s t l i n e . S o p h i s t i c a t e d d a rk a nd l ig ht cont ra st creates subt le cont ra st w ith t he w a t e r colou r s out s id e, wh i le br on z e d e t a i l s a d d a t ouch of lu x u r y. A pe a ce f u l a m bi a nce a i r s t h r ou g hout t he y a ch t , m a k i n g he r t he p e r f e c t pl a c e t o r e l a x a n d u nw i nd i n com for t w it h t he f a m i l y.

A c c o m m o d a t ion i nc lu d e s a n ow ne r ’s s u it e w it h pr ivate of f ice located on t he m a i n deck , plu s 3 g ue st s t a t er oom s on t he lower d e ck . A g y m of fer s g ue s t s t he oppor t u n it y to work out wh i l st a d ive shop a nd a subm a r i ne a re ava i l able to ex plore t he u nder water wor ld .

P r oje c t A d u r s p o r t s a F DH F hu l l w it h t he Hu l l Va n e ® a n ’u n d e r w a t e r s p o i l e r ’ b y Va n O o s s a n e n Nava l A rch itect s, a nd she is powered by t wo d ie s e l e n g i n e s w it h t wo e l e c t r i c b o o s t e r e n g i n e s .

Th is m a kes Project Adu r f a ster tha n most yacht s of her si ze w it h a n i mpre s sive top speed of 26.5 k no t s , w h i le c r u i s i n g a t 12 k no t s w i l l g ive he r a n i mpressive t r a n sat l a nt ic r a nge of 3,80 0 n aut ica l m i les. The aim for ef f icient per for mance and r e d u c e d e m i s s i o n s a l l ow h e r ow n e r s t o a l s o v i s i t sen s it ive ecolog ic a l de st i n at ion s.

S E A FA R I N G

HEESEN YACHTS 9 SUPERYACHTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION Breaking news at the end of Febr uar y was the unveiling of Project Aquamarine, the new 50m alu series at Heesen Yachts.

Frank Laupman: “Heesen’s new Project Aqauamarine combines the Omega Architects heritage with the one of Heesen as a builder of elegant and sporty aluminium motoryachts. Project Aquamarine features the ‘integrated hull and body design’, which was f irstly

featured in the iconic ‘Galactica Star’ motor yacht. Her raised aft-deck, which features a ful l height beach club that directly connects to a f lush swim platform level, is harmoniously combined with this ‘integrated hull and body design’”. Thus the shipyard has 9 designs by Omega Architects currently under construction.

2019 beg a n w ith a spla sh when the 55m Vid a (ex Project Antares & number 3 of this series) plunged into the water at the shipyard, ready for delivery later in the year while two more sister ships are under construction.

Number 8 and 9 of the rest yled and ver y successful 50m Sator i ser ies, a ver y appealing design and t ypical ly Heesen Yachts character of fast and safe luxur y yachts, are also under construction at Heesen Yachts. The more recent 50m Home (ex Project Nova) will also f ind her f irst sister ship on the waters in 2019, with two more after that, including a hybrid.

With 9 super yacht s in 1 sh ipyard under the desig ns of Omega Architects, it is indeed a feat, which speaks volume for the f irm.

STORM YACHT 24M COMPACT SUPERYACHT CLASS In the category of compact superyachts, a 24m Storm Yacht carrying the exterior and interior designs by Omega Architects is expected to be completed, and delivered to her owners in 2019.

S E A FA R I N G

THE ASIAN CONNECTION The Dutch desig n of f ice ser v ices many cl ients around the globe, and they are in fact ver y accustomed to the Asian markets. In fact, they are cur rently work ing ver y closely with Asian clients - case in point with the Asian owner of a beautiful 62m customised from the OceanSport series which is cur rently under constr uction at CR N. Special features include the private owner’s deck hosting back-to-back double owner’s suite with dedicated terraces.

Yet another example is an Asian client requesting a ref it by stretching a 39m to the full 47m long Lady Azul. Lady Azul was updated and stretched thoroughly: her traditional raked bow was reshaped into a contemporar y near ver tical bow

adding 2.10m, while her stern gained 5.4m extra length which included the swim platform. Consequently, the overhangs and fashion plates had to also be redesigned proportionally.

A l l the ex t ra space increa sed com for t, ver sat i l it y and usabilit y: with the main aft deck hosting a spacious dining area, adjacent to inviting lounge sofas plus sun bathing aft.

Lower deck now offers a generous steam room and gym, next to a garage housing tenders and jet skis besides also having a dedicated storage room.

Omega Architects have a knack for customising to suit.

They in fact have quite a few designs that take into account the ded icated requirement s for th is reg ion w ith specif ic inter iors and match ing ex ter ior desig ns. Tak ing another instance the 30m design for an Asian client which features

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signature clean and sporty lines, a nearly vertical bow with overal l ‘smoothness’. The General Ar rangement (GA) was studied keeping in mind the weather conditions the vessel wil l have to endure - sailing in the hot and hum id Asian conditions. Therefore, the main deck aft housing the internal ‘closed’ dining area was converted into an “al fresco” dining area by way of sliding panels. This solution provides the best of both outdoor and indoor yachting experience. With open doors, air conditioning is preserved elsewhere by additional divisional doors in between the dining and lounge area. Sun deck access is also ‘separated ’ via a ‘dog-house’. Thus the design simultaneously protects from the natural elements and provides open 360° panoramic views - achieved by low bulwarks, transparent fashion plates and large side windows

on the main deck aft. The interior style is vernacular, based on loca l “ar ts and crafts” w ith car ved wooden panel l ing covering the main doors and focal points.

The Asian ambiance evokes serenity through a combination of m i n i m a l i st pa r t it ion s , r ich mot i f s a nd decor s. T he maximum speed of 25 knots and a range of 1,000 nautical miles at 14 knots makes this yacht a perfect yacht to discover the long sequences of islands from Malaysia to the archipelagos of Indonesia and Philippines.

“We would like to invite anyone in Asia to continue the research of combining Western and vernacular Eastern values in design. Let us designers from the West contribute to this research. At Omega Architects, we are patiently but eagerly waiting to be able to contribute.” said Frank Laupman.

S E A FA R I N G

ON THE DRAWING BOARD … a nd the d raw i ng boa rd doesn’t stop. Omeg a A rch itect s is currently on the get go developing several projects, bringing them to life from the drawing board - and of which, most are strictly conf idential for now.

The only 3 hints we heard in brief under the superyacht category, the f irst - which is the most signif icant, in terms of size - is the 80m project developed for CRN shipyard which boasts a private and full

owner’s deck with sky lounge and adjacent aft terrace. The other is the exterior of the 60m Project Falcon for Heesen Yachts alongside a 42m full custom exterior and interior for a Turkish shipyard.

The versatile desig n studio is a lso developing a 60m luxur y passenger vessel for CGN w ith a d if ferent categor y of g uests, t houg h w it h t he u su a l h ig h dem a nd s on com for t a nd sa fet y wh i le t r avel l i n g. Such ver s a t i l it y i n d e s i g n d o e s b e g s one t o a s k t he que s t ion of wher e t he id e a s ke e p com i n g f r om si nce Fr a n k st a r ted h is ow n of f ice a l most t went y yea r s a go.

“Inspiration comes from many dif ferent sources. Ideas could come from either a brief with requirements from a client, or a new generation following and improving on previously designed series for a shipyard but maintaining the heritage, or a yacht that needs to f it the style of a residential project that a client already has. The possibilities for input are endless, really.

For instance, by v isit ing museums on d if ferent subjects and art directions such as contemporar y art museums could spur on i n spi r at ion a nd idea s or even v i sit i n g t he R ijk smu seu m va n

Oudheden in Leiden, which inspiration came when observing what people could do with limited means. It is such a contrast to what we can do with our computers and software available today. When we study ancient religions, which had their variations from city to city in Eg ypt, ever y individual society was striving for their own meaning. This is also seen as inspiration.

And of course, it goes without saying that my team also inspires me, whether young or the elders with experience, it all contributes to what we are doing this ver y day.� - Frank Laupman, Omega Architects.