Abeking & Rasmussen, Winch Combine to Create 80m Excellence

Disrupting”, “brave” and “risky” are just a few of the words used to describe the 80m superyacht Excellence, built by German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen. A yawning expanse of mirrored glass flanks her sides. An arresting triple-height atrium takes centre stage in the interior. Her exterior is akin to that of a spaceship.

Excellence has a bow shaped like an American eagle’s beak, plus red and blue stripes above the waterline, a feature on the American owner’s previous yachts; Exterior Photos: Guillaume Plisson For Abeking & Rasmussen (Cover Photo: Tom Van Oossanen)

Excellence is a yacht with a difference and she duly played a starring role at the 29th Monaco Yacht Show last September where she made her international debut. She even scooped Finest New Superyacht and Exterior Design prizes at the show’s Superyacht Awards Ceremony, praised by the judges for being both contemporary and versatile.

The sixth incarnation of this aptly-named vessel, and the fourth by Abeking & Rasmussen, Excellence is a masterclass in artistic discipline, a fine balance between creative freedom and owner’s lifestyle.

British studio Winch Design has pulled off a symbiotic relationship between exterior design and interior styling, producing flowing 
spaces adorned with references from the East Coast Art Deco era, and incorporating details inspired by the owner’s outstanding automotive collection.

Owner Herb Chambers is experienced in the art of yachting. Recognising originality when he sees it, the American plucked a five-year-old Winch concept off the shelf (albeit a 120m version) and set about making it his own.

In tribute to the owner’s love of cars, circles are used throughout the design including for most of the outdoor areas

“The client looked at the concept drawings and said, ‘that is sexy, different and unique; let’s make it my boat’,” explains Andrew Winch, founder of Winch Design.

James Russell, lead exterior designer at Winch, handled the challenging task of sketching the exterior lines for a yacht that started out at 75m and eventually grew to 80m. From the placement of the glass, to how the atriums work, to the balance in the swimming pool and the varying ceiling heights, the job took precision and courage.

Winch says: “It was extremely difficult to get the exterior lines right because there are very few lines. If you get the sheer lines wrong, it looks fussy. It’s very difficult to get it to look this simple and it’s different in every place to any other boat that has been drawn.”

A patriotic nod to America is evident in both Excellence’s head-turning, rear-inclined ‘American eagle bow’ – inspired by the shape of the bird’s beak – and the red and blue stripes on the water line, the latter a design quirk Chambers has featured on all of his yachts.

The main swimming pool is on the aft main deck

A sculpture of the bird – one of only two in existence; the other resides in the White House – sits in the main-deck atrium.

“The interior was accommodated to the client’s lifestyle. He likes 
to sit looking on to the swimming pool, and he wanted all the guest bedrooms on one deck, with very big windows,” Winch explains. “But we had planned the vast windows along the profile from the beginning.”

GLASS STRUCTURE SUPREME

Affording amazing views and sight lines from all six main-deck guest cabins, the cohesion between the interior arrangement and the complicated exterior is one of the main benefits of undertaking both elements of yacht design, says Winch.

British studio Winch Design was responsible for both the exterior and interior

“When you look at the exterior, you notice 
a mirrored glass stripe down the side, but for every two panes of glass, there’s a guest cabin; it repeats perfectly,” he says.

“To get that to work, there is no discord between the exterior and the interior; there is no change
 of shape because it looks ‘styled’ on the outside without relating to the inside. You walk in and the windows are large. Everything is in harmony and that’s when it starts to work and be unique.”

Stretching an incredible 5m high, and weighing a hefty 1.3 tonnes, the breadth of exterior glass that visually links the main deck, bridge deck and owner’s deck is an engineering first for Abeking & Rasmussen.

Hans Schaedla, CEO at Abeking & Rasmussen, says: “You never know when you start a project if you’ve made the correct decision, especially with something like the glass structure on Excellence.

Winch handling both exterior and interior was beneficial for such a complex build featuring 5m-high glass panels and a triple-level atrium; Interior Photos: Winch Design

“It took a lot of engineering and proved very challenging. But the more we progressed into the build, we all believed that we had achieved a fantastic project. And we couldn’t ask for more than the recognition we received at the Monaco Yacht Show.”

Providing a triple-height view of the interior balconies, the 
large panes of glass are complemented by the use of mirrored glass throughout the yacht, selected for its ‘dynamic’ appeal, from the treads on the staircase to the panels in the main saloon, and all devised to open up the space architecturally.

STONE, WOOD, LEATHER, CARS

Likewise, the range of soft materials selected by Lizzy Hart, Winch’s lead interior designer, serve as both functional and luxurious.

Around 32 different types of stone, from granite flooring to backlit white onyx, feature in areas of high traffic. Textured leather and 3D surfaces create a tactile space, while 24 different types of wood, from oak to Japanese ash to sycamore, work in unison to enhance the calming aesthetic.

On the main deck, an enormous white rabbit sculpture is a feature of the atrium

No less than two tonnes of ‘teak wood’ stone flooring feature in the luxurious main-deck spa area, equipped with underfloor heating, a sauna with hemlock wood seating, a steam room, massage table and sprawling views out to sea.

Directly connected is the fully-equipped gym with shower room, while adjacent sits the nine- person cinema room. Unusually located forward in the yacht, the areas are virtually noiseless.

Central to the yacht’s design is Chambers’ love of automobiles. Paying homage to his private collection of 25-plus cars, automotive details can be observed at every turn, such as the shape of a wheel in the saloon ceiling, mimicked directly beneath in the patterned carpet.

The six day heads are each inspired by a different car, from a Ferrari Daytona to a navy Bugatti Veyron to a Bentley GT. Silver car grills feature on the sides of the sofas and hallway cabinet, while the custom-made window mullions in the bridge-deck lounge echo the dashboard of a silver 1960s Mercedes.

In the the saloon, the circular theme is evident on the ceiling and in the table and seating arrangement

“You may never notice that there is ribbed fabric in the interior,” says Winch, “but ribbing, which is on the fantail of a Cadillac, is part of the interior signature.”

BRIDGE, OWNER’S DECKS

Accessed by the elevator or staircase with high-glossed slabs of cut-through maple on the atrium wall to create a dramatic backdrop, the bridge-deck lounge is a key space for Chambers. Frequently host to both lunch and dinner on the aft deck, the room is among the yacht’s main social hubs.

It benefits from a sunken bar area, intentionally designed to ensure that when guests are sat down in both the lounge area and on the aft deck, they will be at the same head height for ease of conversation.

This floor also houses the owner’s study, which converts into a dedicated sick bay if required, and has direct access to both the bridge and Captain’s cabin.

On the upper deck, the aft lounge is an elegant social area

Ray Shore, Captain of Excellence, has been employed by Chambers for more than 20 years, spanning multiple yacht builds and traversing the seven seas together. Their enduring relationship is reflected in the highly generous size of the Captain’s cabin and its luxurious set-up.

Move up one floor, and you discover Chambers’ inner sanctum, the owner’s ‘penthouse’. Panoramic vistas sprawl as far as the eye can see from wraparound, floor-to-ceiling windows in the master suite, so designed to fulfil Chambers’ desire to “feel outside”.

A starburst-wooden wardrobe in the bedroom and the use of Macassar wenge in the intimate owner’s lounge – with room enough for four to dine – continues the coherent design language, while the exposed horizon is further enhanced by the owner’s exterior areas.

Part of 136sqm dedicated to the owners, the master suite is forward on the fifth of six decks and offers sensational views through full-height windows

Winch explains: “The concept of having non-continuous decks 
is the signature of this yacht because the master-suite deck has its own private balcony around the bedroom, and its own private balcony around the aft area, so it gives this sense of privacy to his deck, but then creates the triple-deck atrium to the staircase.”

TINTIN, MICKEY, RABBIT, DOG

Playful artwork is peppered throughout the yacht, from the Mickey Mouse and Tintin sculptures in the owner’s lounge, to a 6ft white sculpture of a rabbit in the atrium, and even a painting of a dog with a Porsche balanced on the tip of its nose.

But for Winch, his excitement lies in how the yacht reflects Chambers’ lifestyle, which he says is epitomised by the beach-club area on the lower deck.

The owner’s lounge is aft and, like the master suite, offers stunning views through huge windows; it also leads to a plunge pool on the aft deck

Likened to celebrity hotspot Cinq sur Cinq in St Tropez, the aft beach club marries relaxation by the water’s edge with easy access to the water toys, all wrapped up in a luxurious yet practical style.

When basking in the warm glow of the sun, guests can look up and gaze through the glass-bottomed pool on the main deck above. Once evening draws in, guests can take the elevator all the way to the sun deck for a cosy, intimate and private ambience, equipped with a second Captain’s helm and views all around.

“We create art with architecture,” says Winch, proud of his firm’s collaboration with Abeking & Rasmussen. “We have many concepts that are outrageous and different, but Excellence centred around the client and his brief, his dream to have his sixth yacht stand out from the crowd.”

It’s fair to say this goal has been achieved.

www.abeking.com

The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 51. Email subscribe@lux-inc.com for print subscription enquiries or subscribe to the Magzter version at: www.magzter.com/SG/Lux-Inc-Media/Yacht-Style/Fashion/

Yacht Style Issue 51: ‘The Personalities Issue’ Is Out Now!

 

The post Abeking & Rasmussen, Winch Combine to Create 80m Excellence appeared first on LUXUO.

from Motoring – LUXUO https://ift.tt/2Hi9pio

Four-Engine, 55-Knot Wallytender X To Premiere at Miami Yacht Show

Following last September’s world premiere of the 48 Wallytender, a new outboard version of the 48ft open cruiser will be unleashed at the Miami Yacht Show (February 13–17).

The 48 Wallytender X features four 450hp Mercury outboards split into pairs

The first unit of the 48 Wallytender X features four 450hp outboard racing engines and has a reported top speed in excess of 55 knots and a cruising speed of 40 knots, plus a range of 320nm.

Stefano de Vivo, Managing Director of Wally and CCO of Ferretti Group, said: “Primed to unleash astounding speeds, the 48 Wallytender X will turn heads and be the perfect match for anyone who loves high-performance boats.”

Having reviewed a number of propulsion options for its outboard model, Wally selected Mercury’s 450hp Verado R engines, describing them as “the lightest and most fuel-efficient outboards on the market, with the best power-to-weight ratio”.

In a first for this category of boat, Wally has split the four engines into two pairs to create central space for a retractable, hydraulic boarding passerelle/swim ladder, providing access from the shore
or water. And with tilting outboards, the effective draft of the 48 Wallytender X can be reduced to 70cm (2ft 4in) at full load when the engines are lifted.

With tilting outboards, the draft of the 48 Wallytender X can be reduced to 70cm

The deck layout is similar to the inboard version – the first yacht developed by Wally since it was bought by Ferretti Group – and also includes fore and aft sunbeds, flexible bench seats either side of a dining table, and a covered galley unit.

The X version also includes the original model’s drop-down wings, user-friendly joystick controls for easy docking, and spacious lower- deck suite featuring carbon-fibre decking, with furniture and panels in teak.

Wally founder Luca Bassani said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved in this new outboard version of the 48 Wallytender.

“We have been able to maintain its strong aesthetic identity and the many practical features found on the inboard model, perfectly packaged to serve the needs of clients who prefer the outboard experience in their boating lifestyle, including top speeds and high levels of performance.”

CRN is building a 62m design by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects

Meanwhile, CRN, another brand within the Ferretti Group portfolio, is building a one-off 62m design by Frank Laupman, head of Dutch studio Omega Architects, and Italy’s Pulina Exclusive Interiors.

Laupman has given the yacht flowing, sporty lines, while the layout features an interior that starts on the main deck with a large, open living zone, where a comfortable lounge leads to the formal dining area.

All the social areas feature large windows that provide natural light and expansive views, highlighted by the 180-degree glazing in the main-deck owner’s suite.

The skylounge of the 62m design, among multiple 60-70m builds at CRN

“The generous living and dining areas, the owner’s suite and the cabins all reflect an enlightened contemporary living concept, where the comfort is enhanced by chic details, premium materials and a colour palette of subtle natural tones,” CRN says.

Part of Italy’s Ferretti Group, CRN is also building the 62m M/Y 137, 70m M/Y 139 and 60m M/Y 141.

www.wally.com

www.crn-yacht.com

The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 51. Email subscribe@lux-inc.com for print subscription enquiries or subscribe to the Magzter version at: www.magzter.com/SG/Lux-Inc-Media/Yacht-Style/Fashion/

Yacht Style Issue 51: ‘The Personalities Issue’ Is Out Now!

The post Four-Engine, 55-Knot Wallytender X To Premiere at Miami Yacht Show appeared first on LUXUO.

from Motoring – LUXUO https://ift.tt/3bt92j2

Rotating within the rocks and out unto the surrounding lake and forest, Mashhad-based architect, Reza Mohtashami’s latest concept comes in the form of a cliff-side dwelling known as the ‘Concrete House’.

Reza Mohtashami Designs The Sinisterly Beautiful Concrete House

Managing to appear both sinister and beautiful in perfect contiguity, the Concrete House melds man-made elements into the natural environment using curved structures, made almost entirely out of concrete, and a series of pillars propped upon a massive unnerving rock formation.

Colored in an almost identical shade of grey, the Concrete House almost blends seamlessly into its environment, whilst featuring an uncharacteristically inviting and minimalistic interior. Despite the home’s overall curvature, its interior remains palatial, with a living area, kitchen, bedroom, and entertainment room, plus large windows for natural light and unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape.

Best described by Reza Mohtashami, himself, “This idea of a habitat within nature not only harms the environment but can also be used as a religious place. Of course, to attract tourists using the seats on the cliffs overlooking the lake directly. And the forest environment can be a good feeling for people.”

The post Reza Mohtashami Designs The Sinisterly Beautiful Concrete House appeared first on LUXUO.

from Properties – LUXUO https://ift.tt/39jloZd

Bill Gates Orders 112m, US$645m Hydrogen-Powered ‘Aqua’ Superyacht

Bill Gates, 64, is reported to have purchased an environmentally-friendly superyacht modelled after ‘Aqua’, a 112m (367ft) concept by Dutch design firm Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design highlighted in Yacht Style Issue 50 (Nov-Dec 2019).

Rendering of the 112m Aqua concept presented by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design

Bill Gates is renowned for his long-standing interest in alternative fuels and philanthropy, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently pledging US$100 million to help tackle the coronavirus afflicting China and much of Asia.

Described by The Guardian as “the world’s second-richest man”, the billionaire is the first to commission the £500 million (about US$645 million) Aqua superyacht, which is powered by liquid hydrogen and therefore would emit only water, and not carbon.

Commissioned by Bill Gates, the five-deck yacht has accommodation for 14 guests and 31 crew

Expected to launch in 2024, the five-deck motor yacht features an infinity pool, helipad, spa and gym, and has accommodation for 14 guests and 31 crew members.

The concept, presented at the Monaco Yacht Show last year, combines liquid hydrogen and fuel cell technology with a design focused on making the ocean as accessible and visible as possible.

The Aqua concept featured in ‘Last Shot’ in Yacht Style Issue 50 (Nov-Dec 2019)

Sander Sinot said: “For Aqua, we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology.”

The Dutch design studio has worked on many Feadships including the spectacular interior of the new Syzygy 818, as well as on superyachts by fellow Dutch yards Hakvoort, Heesen and Oceanco, Italy’s Benetti, Germany’s Nobiskrug and China’s Pride Mega Yachts.

www.sinot.com

The post Bill Gates Orders 112m, US$645m Hydrogen-Powered ‘Aqua’ Superyacht appeared first on LUXUO.

from Motoring – LUXUO https://ift.tt/3bpEbUx

Yacht Sourcing’s Dynamic Duo Driven by Blue Sky Thinking

Xavier Fabre and Boum Senous don’t call themselves disruptors, but Yacht Sourcing certainly does things differently from other yacht services companies in Asia. For a start, the company they started in Bali in 2016 has its own shipyard in Sulawesi that builds phinisis and other wooden boats.

Yacht Sourcing co-founders Boum Senous and Xavier Fabre; Photo: Yacht Style

Yacht Sourcing even has a marina consultancy division. The company also offers the services that most competitors do, such as new yacht sales, brokerage and charter, as well as superyacht management and agency services.

As such, Yacht Sourcing – Ferretti Group’s dealer in Indonesia – is arguably growing faster than any other pleasure boating company in the region, boosted by the launch of the 55m Prana by Atzaro in mid-2018.

Yacht Sourcing not only built the nine-cabin phinisi but is also its central agency (CA) for charter, and manages the yacht and its crew for Atzaro. Prana’s overwhelming popularity and its global publicity have raised Yacht Sourcing’s profile and proved a strong symbol of the company’s new-build and charter expertise.

“Prana was a game changer for us, definitely, even if I think we did other things before that which were also very nice. For now, boatbuilding is our leading business division, followed by a fair amount of charter sales and charter operation,” says Senous, the company’s Director of Operations.

Prana by Atzaro has been a charter sensation since her launch in mid-2018

“With the offices, technical staff, shipbuilding site and crew members of all the boats – although they’re not directly our crew, we take care of them as if they were and manage their salary – we now have about 200 people on our payroll.

“We’re looking to double this in the next three years,” adds the fast-talking Belgian. And he’s not even the salesman among the pair.

THE SALESMAN AND THE BUILDER

Fabre, based in Indonesia since 2009, is Director of Sales and the man who pushed to start the company. The Frenchman’s earlier roles in the world’s fourth most populous nation included Country Manager for Simpson Marine and then head of the country’s Azimut dealership.

After a first meeting in Bali, the pair first talked properly at an Indonesia Yacht Show while Senous was busy building Alexa, an exclusive 31m, single-cabin phinisi that’s among Yacht Sourcing’s list of charter boats.

Although wooden boats and luxurious Italian-designed motor yachts look worlds apart, both attract a similarly well-heeled clientele. Fabre saw a business opportunity.

“On my side, I had a lot of demand from people for wooden boats, but I was like, ‘No, wrong choice’, because I had to promote the luxury motor yachts I was selling. But in the end, I realised so many people wanted wooden boats and Boum was the expert in Indonesia.”

Several years and many conversations later, Senous was convinced.

“Xavier always had the vision,” says Senous. “He knew the market would open up.”

“Xavier always had the vision. He knew the market would open up in Indonesia and that there was a lot to be done. He said if we get ourselves ready for when the market grows, we’d have a lot of opportunity,” says Senous.

“At the time, I was not really excited about moving back to a land job as I was still enjoying my life at sea, but I realised I had to trust him. The decision was made over a lunch.”

Although possessing different business skill sets today, the pair have a similar background, both growing up as avid sailors and enjoying watersports, and expanding their horizons while cruising around the world.

Fabre, whose father was a marine engineer in a shipyard in Normandy, had spent significant time in both Dubai and Mauritius – where he even coached the national sailing team – before settling down in Indonesia.

Senous, who speaks several Indonesian dialects as well as French and English, hints at an early life on the wrong side of the tracks, using sailing as both an escape and a tool to help others.

Yacht Sourcing took the opportunity to double the size of its Bali headquarters in late 2019; the company also has offices in Jakarta, Flores and Phuket

“I started to sail when I was very young and did a lot of volunteering in France and Belgium, fitting out boats for associations that taught kids from bad neighbourhoods how to sail. Since I also came from that background, they were happy for me to act as a role model,” he says.

“I then travelled around the world on sailing boats and didn’t want to do anything else but work on the sea. Soon after I arrived
in Indonesia, I worked on smaller boats then started to visit Bira [Sulawesi] and learn how to build wooden boats. It became a passion and it still is now. It’s like we found each other.”

His passion for his craft remains evident today and he believes it has helped shape the company’s success so far.

“We love what we’re doing and this why we’re good at it,” Senous continues. “I really care about every boat I do. That’s probably the signature of Yacht Sourcing and why we’ve reached where we are. We don’t build the same boat twice. We’ve thought a lot about each boat we do and each has its own soul.”

LUXURY MADE IN ITALY

In 2017, Fabre brought the Ferretti Group to the table as Yacht Sourcing was appointed the exclusive dealer for Ferretti Yachts, Pershing and Riva. To celebrate and publicise the new appointment, Yacht Sourcing went on to host elegant parties in Bali and its then-new Jakarta office in Pantai Mutiara.

Yacht Sourcing has been a dealer for Ferretti Yachts, Riva and Pershing since 2017

The following year, the launch of Prana further established Yacht Sourcing as a company to be reckoned with, especially as the phinisi went on to become a charter sensation with clients from around the world, even hosting Kim Kardashian and her sisters in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, aired in April 2019.

Senous says that as well as building the boat, Yacht Sourcing also had input on the design, citing one key example.

“For example, there were spaces originally designated for laundry and the cruise director, which we said should be used as high-class, luxury cabins. That’s why the yacht has nine cabins, one of Prana’s selling points,” he says.

“It’s like the boat we’re building now. First, we try to anticipate what the market wants, while being a bit different in the way of building, especially in terms of sustainability as we’re really sensitive to this. Clients are not only buying a boat from us; they’re buying our time and expertise and ideas.”

Winners at the 2019 Christofle Yacht Style Awards in Phuket

Prana kick-started a whirlwind 18 months for Yacht Sourcing including a move into marina design and development that started with plans for the Escape Marina Resort in the island of Flores, leading the company to later open a third office, in Labuan Bajo.

The company started a hectic 2019 in celebratory style when its charter division, Voyage by Yacht Sourcing, won Best Asia-Based Charter Company (Phinisi) at the second Christofle Yacht Style Awards in Phuket.

In April, the company announced it had secured the Indonesia dealership for Fountaine Pajot, supporting the French catamaran builder as it staged its biggest-ever presence at the Singapore Yacht Show with the Alegria 67 and the Asia premiere of the MY40 powercat.

A Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 sailing catamaran is arriving in Indonesia in 2020

In May, Yacht Sourcing announced its expansion to Thailand with Nicolas Monges as General Manager of the new company and also a partner. The Frenchman soon secured the CA charter listings for the 90ft wooden motor boat Maha Bhetra, Azimut 80 Mirage and 94ft Taiwan-built Lady Eileen II.

In October, Yacht Sourcing opened its Thailand office in Royal Phuket Marina and the following month displayed its trio of CAs at the first Thailand Charter Week at Phuket Yacht Haven, where the company was one of the biggest exhibitors and used all three of its boats to stage the event’s most memorable party.

“It has been a super good start in Thailand,” Fabre says. “We’ve had some nice central agency charter listings and we’re also going to move into yacht operations.”

Yacht Sourcing hosted the Thailand Charter Week’s biggest party across its three boats including Maha Bhetra (left) and the Azimut 80 Mirage

Over in Indonesia, the departure of its neighbouring tenant in Bali allowed Yacht Sourcing to double the size of its headquarters. The company also relocated its Jakarta office to the exclusive BCA Tower in Grand Indonesia, to be closer to clients with offices in the city centre.

MAJOR STEPS AHEAD

One of the company’s key clients is The Maj Group, which has signed on to back the Escape Marina project, with Yacht Sourcing discussing other potential marina projects in Indonesia and also Thailand. The Maj Group is also the owner of The Maj Oceanic, the 47m phinisi built by Yacht Sourcing that splashed in November.

In Sulawesi, ongoing builds include a 50m yacht that Senous describes as a “phinisi-schooner fusion; it’s a proper sailing boat with a very specific interior that will make it one of a kind”.

A luxurious 47m phinisi soon available for charter, The Maj Oceanic built by Yacht Sourcing will offer seven cabins including an enormous master suite

But Senous is even more excited about some designs he’s working on that include “a game changer, a worldwide reference that’s going to disrupt the yacht industry for wooden boats”.

Fabre, meanwhile, is motivated about the upcoming opportunities for Ferretti Group, believing that Indonesia is on the cusp of a new wave of luxury yacht arrivals once marinas under construction finally open for operation.

“After recent meetings with Ferretti Group, we now have a strong new strategy for Indonesia. We’re changing a lot of things in marketing and we’re going to introduce trade-in options to make sure we penetrate the market properly,” says Fabre.

Yacht Sourcing is helping develop the Escape Marina in Flores

“We need infrastructure for the next generation of production boats here and the first step will be the opening of Escape, then the Kura Kura marina in Bali with nearly 200 berths. For now, there’s nowhere nice enough with shore power to keep boats like Rivas, Ferrettis and Pershings, but it’s going to come and there will be a big boom with the first proper marinas in Indonesia.”

Even though most of its current business divisions are doing well or looking up, Yacht Sourcing is currently in no rush to expand into new countries.

“Yes, we’re looking, but it’s all about opportunity, the people we meet,” Fabre says. “We entered Thailand because we knew Nico had the potential to do very well there. We’re always looking at future opportunities in new countries, but it depends on partnerships.”

Nicolas Monges (middle) came on board as General Manager of Yacht Sourcing’s new Thailand operation last year

If the co-founders do have a concern, it’s staying on top of a business that’s growing as fast as they want it to but maybe too fast for them to handle on their own – especially if they plan to double their payroll within three years.

As such, they’re lining up a general manager to bring in the organisation and business practices suited to the company’s size, and allow Fabre and Senous to focus on what they do best.

“I think we’re one of the most professional [yachting] companies in Indonesia, but we want to go to the next level,” Senous says. “After all, if you compare this region to Florida or the Caribbean, there’s still a lot more to come.”

www.yachtsourcing.com

The original article appears in Yacht Style Issue 51. Email subscribe@lux-inc.com for print subscription enquiries or subscribe to the Magzter version at: www.magzter.com/SG/Lux-Inc-Media/Yacht-Style/Fashion/

Yacht Style Issue 51: ‘The Personalities Issue’ Is Out Now!

 

The post Yacht Sourcing’s Dynamic Duo Driven by Blue Sky Thinking appeared first on LUXUO.

from Motoring – LUXUO https://ift.tt/31JPwdM

Masters At Work – South Beach Residences, Crown Residences @ One Barangaroo and Kalari Kovilakom

Peek into works of these maestros who demonstrate that their creativity can rise above design parameters, spatial obstacles and restoring historical elements – South Beach Residences, Crown Residences @ One Barangaroo and Kalari Kovilakom.

Dining area of penthouse located at South Beach Residences

INTERIOR DESIGN MASTER 
The graceful and striking South Beach Residences designed by Foster + Partners along the historical Beach Road has not gone unnoticed. Not only does it afford breathtaking views of the Marina Bay area, but it is also fronted by icons such as Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Flyer and The Esplanade, not forgetting tail-end views of Orchard Road’s Raffles City and Dhoby Ghaut stretch. This posh development will offer 190 units where buyers can opt for the two-bedroom units to the cavernous five-bedroom penthouse. All the units will be furnished with quality appliances and imported fittings from well-known international brands such as Miele, Duravit and Bulthaup. In addition, these pampered homeowners will have the convenience to access the services of a five-star JW Marriott hotel just below it simply by using their “Resident Card”. The mixed-use development will also offer 510,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, complemented by a mix of retail offerings.

South Beach Residences: The seamless flow of the living area to dining space

In fact, one of the penthouse units at South Beach Residences was masterfully designed by Angela Lim of Sumisura, which led to its purchase by a homeowner. This four-bedroom penthouse with 5,000 sq ft over three levels has two bedrooms on each floor with a pool, alfresco dining area and sauna room on the roof terrace. The brief was to create a contemporary home with décor influenced by the penthouses of New York. As the developer had close ties with Sumisura, they approached Lim to take on the challenge. She said, “The design brief was to create something befitting of such a penthouse in the Big Apple and to take advantage of the high ceiling in the living and dining space.”

Angela Lim, Sumisura

The homeowners love the two spacious master bedrooms, its high ceiling, functional dresser cum study area, one on each floor. The renovation took about 12 weeks and the results were satisfying. The end result is a home to start conversations when guests pop by. Firstly, the dining area exudes elegance all thanks to a 7-metre high ceiling where an array of white cone-shaped lighting pendants illuminates this space.

South Beach Residences

A linear bar table was created to allow the residents to sit on bar stools and enjoy sips of cocktails while taking in the CBD views from afar. In addition, a beautifully customised canopy drapes over the dry kitchen space to channel an interesting café-feel to the dining space. The penthouse was embellished with premium decorative accessories from Lalique. Some key designer furniture pieces were selected from the Hamilton Conte brand. A custom white marble was cut to create the dining table and coffee table. Under the deft hands of Lim’s expertise, the posh abode was transformed to contain the luxuries, aesthetics, functionality and creature comforts that reflect the homeowner’s previous lifestyle of living in New York.

STARCHITECT’S FLAIR
Chris Wilkinson (CW) of pre-eminent architecture firm WilkinsonEyre and renowned international interior design firm Meyer Davis (MD) whose works are feted worldwide are the geniuses behind Crown Residences at One Barangaroo. This creative duo’s Midas touch for the Barangaroo strip in Sydney has not gone unnoticed. The fruition of their efforts is Crown Residences at One Barangaroo – a 71-storey building where 82 private residences are housed. The project’s curved architectural geometry is striking from every angle.

Chris Wilksinson of WilkinsonEyre

This curved structure maximises the views of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, providing denizens enviable vistas of Sydney’s iconic harbour and beyond. The gleaming steel and glass building’s striking architectural form is made of three petals that twist as it rises, allowing each residence to have unique, discreet and optimised spaces. Will Meyer (WM) and Gray Davis (GD) of Meyer Davis offered their finesse in spatial aesthetics and embellishments to bring warmth, comfort and engagement to the apartments. We peek into their creative minds and find out what makes them tick to create Crown Residences at One Barangaroo.

What was the design brief?
WM: To design beautiful penthouses.
CW: To design one of the best penthouses in the world, taking advantage of the incredible panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.

What is your philosophy when approaching penthouse designs?
CW: Our aim is to create some beautiful spaces with a sense of openness, which take advantage of the best views. Movement, flow and spatial relationships are important, as are light and materials. I like axial vistas where it makes sense, but it is not always possible.

Aside from designing spatial sensibilities, what other elements come into play when designing a luxury penthouse? i.e. the surroundings, the culture/history of where the building is situated, etc?
GD: The materials, finishes, colour palette, and lighting is heavily informed and inspired by the majesty of the Sydney harbour. With this strong reference to place, the interiors will reach beyond to the exterior, wrapping the property in design elements which speak to the surrounding environment.
CW: The penthouses must have a symbiotic relationship with the architecture of the building, which, in turn, relates to its surrounding context. Penthouses don’t exist in isolation, they relate to the form and setting of the building. They should respond to its history and purpose but there is the potential to make a contrasting statement.

Crown Residences at One Barangaroo

What was the biggest challenge when designing this penthouse and why?
GD: Creating a sense of connection to the surrounding environment and the resort while being so high up in the tower. The penthouse features dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows.
CW: From an architectural point of view, the biggest challenge was working with the complex geometry of the building. Its sculptural form means that each floor is different, and the external cladding follows a twist and double curvature related to its shape. This makes room divisions difficult where they connect to the perimeter. However, this all adds interest and diversity to the design.

Could you also explain about the facade’s design and how it blends with the penthouse design?
CW: The fully glazed façade follows the double curvature of the sculptural form of the building which creates an interesting challenge for the design of the interiors.

In your experience designing penthouses, what aspects of penthouse design will remain timeless?
WM: An airy space with an abundance of natural light, paired with natural materials to add warmth and create a serene living space which feels spacious yet intimate. I go for interiors that blend with architecture while maximising the spectacular views. A place where you can welcome your guests and entertain.
CW: I have to say they are light, space, form and circulation.
Read more about the property here.

RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURE
Kalari Kovilakom may not be a household name but it belongs to the CGH Earth Group renowned for their restorative hospitality experiences. The firm is accredited by the NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers), is an experiential definition of the traditional standards and values of this system of healing. At this sprawling resort, Kalari Kovilakom offers therapeutic engagement of the senses through ancient traditions and techniques of Ayurvedic healing.

Kalari Kovilakom By CGH Earth Group

So how does one restore and rejuvenate a 200-year-old palace? Well, Kalari Kovilakom’s serene and isolated location of Western Ghat offers mountain ranges that fringe its terrain. It’s situated near Kollangode in the Palghat District of North Kerala, India. This is a place where tranquillity courts history; belonging to the Vengunad chieftains, direct descendants of Prince Dharmavar- man, the Kalari Kovilakom Palace was originally surrounded by land-rich, Venga trees touting
healing properties. The place naturally caught the attention of prince Dharmavarman, believed to have come to Kollangode to seek healing for a serious skin ailment, who then turned it into a kingdom. But it was his grandson Vira Ravi who was said to have inherited the land and begun the legacy of Kalari Kovilakom. As the palace is steeped in history, restoring this kingdom was the right thing to do. It took the visionary zeal of the CGH Earth Group to retain the palace’s legacy and historical value while converting it into a place for traditional Ayurvedic healing.

Architect Ajit Koujalgi

When it comes to a commitment to building restoration, nobody knows it better than renowned Auroville-born architect Ajit Koujalgi. He also happens to be Chief Architect and Co-Convener of the Puducherry chapter of the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Koujalgi graduated from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, in 1970 and had been working at Auroville and Puducherry since 1971. His European work stint in the early 1980s exposed him to heritage conservation and was instrumental in his work in India. He had been involved with INTACH since 1987. His work gained recognition with the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation, particularly, the restoration of Hotel de l’Orient in 2000. In 2008, his team won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation for the restoration of Vysial Street.

Architect Ajit Koujalgi helped to preserve this 200-year-old palace

Undoubtedly, CGH Earth turned to Koujalgi for his expertise in building restoration. The company’s vice president Shilendran M is a firm believer in restoring properties with a rich history. However, in India restoration efforts are often viewed with suspicion because locals think criminals want to buy ruins for their underhand activities. Nevertheless, Kalari Kovilakom’s restoration work was carried out in stages with the original structure of the building being retained as much as possible; even by using local and similar materials. Even the lay of the land was preserved in order to show guests its beautiful isolation where verdant landscapes abound. Today, Kalari Kovilakom offers 18 well-appointed suites with modern amenities and a clinic with 12 treatment rooms. The living spaces and the lush gardens at Kalari Kovilakom complement the healing process with its nurturing and warm environment and an unobtrusive, quiet adherence to discipline. Unfortunately, Kalari Kavilakom is Koujalgi’s posthumous work as he passed on in 2014. Nevertheless, this a place where traditions honour the past and where modern creature comforts work cohesively to offer a holistic, healing experience – it’s an ode to Koujalgi’s painstaking work.

The post Masters At Work – South Beach Residences, Crown Residences @ One Barangaroo and Kalari Kovilakom appeared first on LUXUO.

from Properties – LUXUO https://ift.tt/39qcn0f

Regarded as one of Ferrari’s most distinctive and arrestingly beautiful relic sports cars, the legendary California Spider is an enticing dual-purpose model, designed primarily for American clients who favored the competition pedigree of the 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta.

The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider is For Sale

 

Providing the perfect balance of exhilarating power with a luxurious open-air design, the California Spider transitions seamlessly from the race tracks to scenic cruises along the winding California coast.

With only 106 models manufactured throughout 1957 to 1963, this limited edition Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider is the seventh long wheelbase example built, featuring an ultra-desirable covered headlights arrangement and geared with a Columbo V12 engine, plus some of the best bodywork the time period has ever seen – including one-piece side vents, Tour de France-style taillights and a remarkable rear-end treatment.

Representing exceptional beauty and sophistication, this 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider was sold new in Geneva, passing through the hands of a multitude of bespoke brand collectors, the car travelled from Switzerland to Japan before arriving in California for a final restoration in 2005.

Debuting in 2007 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider has raced and showcased at numerous events including the California Mille and Colorado Grand tours. Receiving an authentic Ferrari Classiche certification in 2008, the Spider is currently for sale, sporting a dark red over tan color scheme and equipped with immaculate factory hardtop and gleaming Borrani wire wheels.

The post The 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider is For Sale appeared first on LUXUO.

from Motoring – LUXUO https://ift.tt/386DjSt