The luxury 56m motor yacht GALAXY, built by Benetti in 2005, underwent a comprehensive refit in 2014 of the interior accommodation with modifications to the exterior in order to give a 5 star charter experience.
“ The IY&A awards promote the importance and value of good design in the enrichment of quality of life, giving suppliers, manufacturers and designers an opportunity to express their talent, celebrating individuality and originality on a prestigious platform that is synonymous with excellence. ”
Designed by Stirling & Co Designs, with feature marble by ShellShock Designs, the project has been successfully shortlisted for the Power Yacht Refit up to 30 metres Award in the fifth annual International Yacht & Aviation Awards 2015. Jonathan Kern, CEO of ShellShock Designs comments: “design et al has a reputation of inspiring readers with exposure to new and innovative designs. The IY&A awards promote the importance and value of good design in the enrichment of quality of life, giving suppliers, manufacturers and designers an opportunity to express their talent, celebrating individuality and originality on a prestigious platform that is synonymous with excellence.” The new owner of GALAXY wanted to build on her successful charter reputation by injecting a bright, fresh, youthful and contemporary spirit into her original high gloss timber interior. The new design was conceived to give her a new identity with a less formal interior suited to a younger and more relaxed lifestyle for groups of friends, whilst doubling as a chic party vessel for high profile events. As well as providing a neutral backdrop for his 20th Century art collection, the owner felt the calm sophisticated atmosphere needed dramatic focal features to offset the rich monochromatic textured surfaces. This includes feature marble by ShellShock Designs as well as pieces from key suppliers such as Crystal Caviar and Dudgeon Sofa. After waking up with the sun flooding through the new wide windows, the owner can enjoy breakfast in the panoramic upper deck dining room, surveying the view and planning the day: Relaxing in the mart chairs in the bright upper deck lounge, al fresco lunch in the shade on the new wired glass table, sunbathing on the helideck, descending
in the glass lift to change for cocktails at the backlit onyx bar, dinner illuminated by the warm glow of the stunning agate wall, snuggling up in the new curvy chaise longue in the owner’s cabin portholes looking down at the fish in the sea attracted by the new underwater lights 5m below, watching a movie enveloped in surround sound in the new Nikki Beach-styled private cinema, ending up on the sun deck again for a night cap under the stars at the underlit glass bar by the Jacuzzi. The design concept adopted the approach of inserting new features into the existing interior to add both interest and functionality. New white marmorino window surrounds in all areas complemented the existing maple and walnut while reflecting natural light into the interior. New inbuilt window seats maximise connection with the water giving panoramic views out. A new internally lit onyx bar on the main deck provides a new meeting point for guests (as well as a discrete host station for crew during parties) offset by an astonishing eyecatching backlit black agate wall behind the new dining table, created by Stirling & Co Designs using Black Agate supplied by ShellShock Designs. The observation lounge was re-orientated to look out - not in - and provide a haven of tranquility that can be transformed into a private cinema at the touch of a button. The use of new materials and products in the new modern interior creates bright, comfortable, flexible spaces allowing effortless change in use and mood from family to party mode by day or night supported by hugely improved service provision by the crew. Subtle changes introduced in the refit of a yacht can not only dramatically change the appearance and identity of the interior, but also radically improve the quality of life, enhancing the enjoyment of all on board by adapting the service culture to suit the ever changing needs of owners and guests.
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