The Superyacht Report
A REPORT WORTH READING
180 07/2017
FLEET
The sub-500gt Motoryacht Report Charting the evolution of this predominant sector of the fleet and acknowledging the yards that have ensured its hegemonic status.
DESIGN
“Going from under to above 500gt means either buying a yacht of 497gt or one of 650gt, because a boat of 540gt doesn’t make sense in the current market.”
TECHNOLOGY
Class & OEMs Is the class approval process stifling innovation among manufacturers? Or is this rigorous system a means of ensuring safety?
BUSINESS
Joel Walton, CEO, the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands In a rare interview, the CEO addresses industry ignorance of the valuable role the modern flag state plays.
BUYER
OWNER
The 400-500gt brokerage market
For the love of negotiating
How market values have fared over the past three years and the difference between CA listing price and final asking price before sale.
Shipping magnate and superyacht owner Harry Vafias offers a few home truths to the superyacht management fraternity.
OPERATIONS
“We can’t just keep approving equivalence. We need to maintain international maritime safety requirements.”
Child’s play Frank Laupman, founder of Omega Architects, talks to The Superyacht Report about the challenges of designing superyacht interiors for children.
BY GEORGIA BOSCAWEN IMAGES COURTESY OF HEESEN YACHTS
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very owner wants to have the most desirable interior styling on their superyacht, whether it be the most sought-after materials or the latest colour scheme. But while it’s the owner who makes the final call, there may be harsher critics laying down the law – the owner’s children. “There has always been interest in specific design for children,” says Frank Laupman, founder of Omega Architects, who has worked on countless Heesen projects, a number of which have specific child-friendly interiors. These range from creating exciting stylistic attributes to child-proofing the yacht’s environment to make it a safer place. Of all these projects, Laupman recalls one he brands the most interesting – 50m motoryacht Man of Steel (since renamed Inception), built by Heesen Yachts in 2008. With giant comics on the walls in the teenagers’ cabins, Man of Steel was filled with bright colours to create a sense of fun and make the interiors a little more interesting for the children on board. As Laupman explains, “In the case of Man of Steel, the kids’ rooms were very colourful, especially the media room which was mostly used by the boys. The twin bedroom was meant for the boys of the original owners, and we designed an additionally girly bedroom for the daughter.”
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However, a dramatic change from the children’s area to the rest of the yacht has the potential to disrupt the yacht as a holistic project, so Laupman and his team at Omega managed to synergise the children’s area with the rest of the interior styling. “The bright colours continue in the corridors and even the dayhead,” says Laupman. “In order to create some balance for the eye in the colour palette through the yacht, slightly softer shades were chosen for the master stateroom, the VIP cabin and main saloon. Here, we were given the chance to make strong statements. It was a very challenging project.” So what are the main differences when it comes to creating interiors for children? Laupman explains that it all starts with the planning of the project, because how the yacht is intended to be used will impact the extent to which it will be customised. “A specific kid’s interior depends on the owner’s wishes and, of course, the plans to use the yacht as a private family yacht or charter.” If it’s the latter, a bold children’s interior could influence the popularity of the yacht as a charter vessel; it may not be appropriate for all audiences but, on the other hand, it could be seen by some as a desirable addition.
Above: the main room on Man of Steel. Overleaf: the corridor on Inception.
The Superyacht Report ISSUE 180
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“A bold children’s interior could influence the popularity of the yacht as a charter vessel.” While designing a specific children’s area may not influence the overall cost of the project too much, there are things that have to be approached in a different way. “Rigid materials, rugs and upholstery have to be thought about differently from conventional interiors. We always plan our rooms to make sure they’re spacious enough for either living or playing,” continues Laupman, suggesting that the same level of planning goes into yachts with conventional interiors. However, often it’s not the stylistic elements that are important when it comes to children on board. Superyachts hold plenty of hazards for youngsters. “The most common request is for on-board safety measures,” says Laupman. For example, on board
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the 49.8m Heesen superyacht Monaco Wolf, designed by Omega Architects, with interiors by Francesco Paszkowski, the owner requested additional grilles where you pass the mooring lines, and gates at each staircase to prevent children from falling overboard and down the stairs. Whether it’s for aesthetic values or safety or both, designing superyacht interiors to create the correct atmosphere for children is something that has always been of the utmost importance for family-orientated superyacht owners. As this is a task that won’t necessarily influence the cost of the project, the sentimental value of creating an environment that children will enjoy just as much as their parents has no bounds. GB