[ MEGAYACHT ]
Clothed in aggressive yet elegant lines that hint at an entirely new style language, this 45-metre semi-displacement, which bears the stamp of both Omega Architects and Cristiano Gatto Design, hails a whole new sporty megayacht direction for Heesen Yachts by DĂŠsirĂŠe Sormani - pictures by Emilio Bianchi and Kurt Arrigo
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This shot highlights just how effortlessly Amore Mio’s lines combine elegance and aggression. Her new bow is the starting point and is an evolution of the bow of the 42m Alive which
n all-consuming love has just the right
had a knuckle just above the
balance of sweetness and tension: a
waterline (opposite page).
spark of passion that makes it all the
Opening page, the saloon is a
more compelling. Just like the soul of
fusion of the contemporary with a
no. 17145 from Heesen Yachts, which, very fittingly,
signature sophisticated elegance
has been named Amore Mio (My Beloved). The Omega Architects-designed Amore Mio actually started life as an on-spec craft. A year into her build, however, her clever mix of sporty aggression and sweet curves won her the heart of a serial owner who then had her tailored to his own tastes. The owner was instantly taken with her eager, forward-leaning stance while her huge amount of deck space reflected his ambition to use his yacht as a seaborne beach house. Of the yacht’s 45 metres, a good 30 are given over to the interiors, in fact. Guests also have 40 square metres of deck space, including an additional seating area on the foredeck plus sun beds, an exceptional achievement on a craft of this size. There is also an 18 metres long sundeck with a full-size dining table and a total of 90 square metres of relaxation space. Long-time Heesen collaborator Cristiano Gatto was entrusted with the design of the interiors and his meticulous planning during development helped avoid technical and budget issues at the outfitting stage. In
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fact, the concept was developed with Heesen and later
A delicate milky white was used for the lacquer work while the leather is all neutrals,
tailored around the owner’s and to suit this new kind
as is the parchment stone used in the bathrooms. Even “cooler” materials were
of extremely user-friendly luxury sports yacht.
treated to ensure they add to the feeling of ease and comfort. Thin polished steel
Features such as sumptuous swatches of wood
edging further accentuates soft forms and materials, while the dominant wood is
planking and gleaming marble, delicately carved wood
mellow Canaletto walnut.
panels, sublimely executed stitching and delicately
Everything aboard – from the larger furnishings to the smallest details - has been
carved panels all conspired to create the desired effect.
custom-designed and crafted with astonishing artistry. There is a sense of almost-
Mirrored steel inserts in marble or wood surfaces
sculptural proportion throughout too.
enhance the sense of spaciousness too.
Despite its sophisticated design, the main saloon is family-friendly: large windows
The style is contemporary but with none of the cold,
and generous ceiling heights make a great spot for simply chilling out. One of the
impersonal trappings of some modern interiors.
most striking features aboard is the stairs running between the saloon on the main
The Cristiano Gatto Design Team first chose a well-
deck and the upper and lower levels. Located against the bulkhead at the forward
defined palette of materials and colours, and then
end of the saloon, it is only separated from the dining area by a thin decorative
added simple, linear shapes with rounded edges
screen made of steel verticals and satin-finish glass, so that people using the stairs
to create a look that is both modern and warm.
appear as shadows. An evocative chiaro-scuro contrast, that references the sense
Decorative cushions and throws in light blue, green,
of yin and yang, soft and hard duality pervades the décor as a whole. A clever twist
brown or red add vivid accents to the neutral palette
that reveals Amore Mio as a triumph of sophisticated design.
of carpets, upholstery and leathers.
heesenyachts.com
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The 40 sqm aft terrace on the main deck features a sumptuously glossy teak 10-seater table. There is also 90 sqm of guest space on the top deck which doubles as both flybridge and sun deck, with two expansive terraces on which to luxuriate in the open air life
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Amore Mio’s sophisticated interiors (clockwise from top, the interior dining room, a VIP, the master suite. Left, the stairs to the lower deck). All were custom-designed with bespoke furnishings. The result is a chic contrast in which a myriad, refined details steal the show. A cleverly-construed symphony of natural and artificial lighting highlights the results to perfection
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The Yacht Designer Frank Laupman, Ceo Omega Architects
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more Mio was designed as a fast sports yacht that does not compromise on luxury or sea-keeping qualities in any way. The client’s main wish
was for a luxurious two- and-a-half deck with a traditional chined semi-planing hull, and we started our design from there. Amore Mio was evolved on foot of the success of the 37m platforms. She displays some of the ‘Nova’ language already, such as sharper and more edgy surfaces for her superstructure combined with her ‘knuckle’ bow. She is also a slightly forward-leaning vessel and aims to be a combination of elegance and aggression. This starts from her new bow, which is an evolution of the 42m Alive’s bow, which had a knuckle just over the waterline. For the core of the Heesen portfolio, we decided to stay with a bow shape close to the traditional ‘raked’ bow. This knuckle is just a slight variation on it. It wasn’t a request: we always develop our proposals and in a sort of iteration process. Amore Mio introduces a whole new language – she aims to be gracious but show a bit of aggression at the same time. However, I think it would be inappropriate to show too much aggression in designs in a period of global turmoil. It is better to please the eye in a traditional way when so many areas of the world are unstable. The new language is continued in the design of the three wheelhouse windows. These maximise visibility from the wheelhouse (note the separation of the wheelhouse roof, which reflects the separate position of the wheelhouse). The owner wanted an extra window in the wing which supports the mast. This was how we made it possible to have both the view and wind protection on the sundeck at the same time. Amore Mio represents a new direction for Heesen.
Two preliminary sketches of Amore Mio.
Owner’s Rep. and Captain of Amore Mio
Right, the glass windows of the wheelhouse curve upwards to the flybridge - an absolutely unprecedented achievement. Below, the 45-metre’s ultra-sporty, aggressive lines translate into extraordinary performance figures. Facing page, the yacht’s makes majestic progress through the sea
Tripp Hock
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more Mio’s owners were already clients of Heesen Shipyards. In fact, the owners were due to take delivery of the 40m Heesen Galatea, when an offer came in that was too
good to refuse. They sold the 40m, but then found themselves in the frustrating position of being without a boat. Fortunately, Amore Mio was one year into her build and they decided to upgrade to the 45m. The yacht was built on spec but they still were able to give their input. A year in is a great stage to come into a spec build, because you can save all the time it takes for the rough construction, as long as you like the general layout—and the owners loved it. It was an ideal time to put a personal stamp on the yacht while not having to wait too long to enjoy her. They were looking for a yacht with high-performance, long-range capabilities, bold exterior lines and a layout that put a priority on outdoor living. The latter was particularly important for the owners, who were looking for a summer house on the sea to be enjoyed by all the family. They choose Heesen Yachts because they are famous for their fast aluminium boats. There is not another shipyard that delivers yachts of their quality with those characteristics!
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The Interior Designer Cristiano Gatto
T
o cut a long story short, the brief was to design a yacht my own way! I was very glad to work with this client. Good coordination and understanding
between the owner and our team was the key to the success of this project. Working in close collaboration with Omega Architects, who did the concept and exterior design, we implemented a highly functional layout which exploits volumes and spaces to the last centimetre. For example, by creating a smaller lobby on the lower deck, we were able to redistribute 6.5 sqm equally between the guest cabins, resulting in more liveable and comfortable night quarters. Careful thought went into the location of stairs both for guests and crew too, allowing the designers to dedicate more space to the galley on the main deck. The whole project is underpinned by stylistic consistency. The owner really liked our design approach. He wanted an elegant yacht that wasn’t overly formal. The interior design was a team project. My design was adapted on certain levels to suit the owner’s requirements. We chose relaxing, neutral colours. A few splashes of strong colour here and there lift the look without altering its overall sobriety. Once again, this was a team effort. Light plays a pivotal role: a non-invasive lighting system creates a relaxing atmosphere. Then, if you use lights around the edges of the ceilings, on some of the wall panels or at the base of furnishings, it becomes a décor element in its own right. Another instance is how the steps on the guest stair seem to float on light at night. We also played with the architecture a bit. We put the stairwell between the upper and lower decks, for instance, actually inside the saloon. The stairs themselves are hidden behind a screen made from satin-finish glass and vertical steel elements, so only the outline of the person going up or down the steps can be seen. Every design is a piece of my own history and that of the studio, and each one teaches something new. Amore Mio was hugely satisfying for all of us.
Cristiano Gatto designed all of Amore Mio’s interiors, from the larger furnishings right down to the tiniest details. “Colder” materials were treated to lend them a more pleasant, comforting look and feel. Slender steel orthogonal edging also further enhances the softness of both forms and materials
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The Shipyard Mark Cavendish, Director Sales & Marketing Heesen Yachts
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more Mio is the largest and most powerful sports yacht ever built in the Netherlands. This is another important milestone in the history of
our shipyard. During sea trials, her sleek 45m aluminium hull, powered by two MTU 16V diesel engines, sliced through the North Sea at a thundering top speed of 30 knots, with no compromising on luxury! Amore Mio is the result of a long-term collaboration with Frank Laupman, the author of many Heesen Yachts, and Cristiano Gatto and his team, who designed the interior. We like Cristiano’s style and his way of working which perfectly complement our hunger for perfection. This is the third project the Italian designer has developed for the Dutch shipyard, (the other two being the 50m full-custom Crazy Me and the 50m semidisplacement yacht My Loyalty, aka Project Akoya). Meant for extended cruising, the 45m was designed to be contemporary but without cold, impersonal modern interiors. Besides the cohesiveness of the overall design, a close look reveals a layer of architectural detailing perfectly executed by the skilled craftsmen at Heesen Yachts Interiors, our own fine-interior carpentry shop. We want the owner to discover the quality of design living onboard. Fast, sporty and aluminium-built, she embodies Heesen’s DNA. She is cool, sexy and fast!
A remarkable view of the Heesen 45m reveals how the effortless flow of her soft sculptural lines creates a geometric harmony. Her many guest deck areas are also very visible
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