i+D - March/April 2018 - 34

Off the Charts - By Jesse Bratter

Waves of Inspiration
Ally Maloney, of Maloney Interiors in Rhode Island, can attest to the
difference. Maritime codes and classifications, weight tonnage, and marine
construction methods and materials play an imperative role in every
interior design decision she makes. With formal training in both residential
and yacht design, and living in such a hub for boating as New England, she's
keenly aware of the unique challenges that come with creating a luxury
seacraft. "On a yacht, the woodwork often enwraps the walls and flows into
the furnishings, which are more often than not built into the boat as opposed
to being stand-alone pieces. Everything from the millwork and cabinetry to
the furniture and equipment must be scaled to fit not only the smaller-thanaverage rooms, but also the unique shaping of a curved hull," she says,
noting the necessity to do even more custom work on a yacht than in a
luxury home. "Some additional things I always consider are the placement
of grab bars, so that when a boat rolls, the passengers can grab hold of the
bar. And, all corners and finished edges should have a radius, so that when
someone falls or bumps against it, they won't be injured by a sharp corner."
While Maloney might generously use house-appropriate textiles like silk,
cotton, and sateen for draperies, pillows, and bedding on yachts where
continuous temperature and humidity-controlled air-conditioning is in place,
she'll go for synthetics and outdoor-grade textiles that are treated to be
mold and mildew resistant when the interior air won't be quite so under
control. For woodwork that satisfies function and form, she's drawn to white
oak, cedar woods, acacia, and eucalyptus as hardy alternatives to the more

commonly found teak-all of which fare well in marine environments. But,
it's the new possibilities that excite her the most. "Boat manufacturers are
trying to appeal to the tastes of younger boaters; they're modernizing the
aesthetics through the styling of their boat lines, as well as offering modern
amenities on-board," Maloney explains. "Progress in material technology
and construction methods paves the way for many new trends; for example,
advances in structural glass have allowed yacht designers and builders to use
more of it. Who wouldn't want a wall of windows on their yacht to take in
the beautiful views of the ocean?"
Elliot March and James White, co-founders of March & White in
Los Angeles, New York, and London, are just as motivated when it comes
to the exploration of materials in their custom work for superyachts. "The
artisans and craftsmen that we work with for superyachts bring another level
of quality to the project and really understand our concepts and creativity,"
says White. "This is something that has influenced our residential work;
we're privileged to create some incredible private spaces, and some of the
homes we're designing demand the same level and layering of detail, which
undoubtedly changes the aesthetic. Historically, many superyacht interiors
have been designed to feel like floating homes-many with dark wood
panels and interiors that don't match the exterior. But, there has been a big
move within the younger generation of owners toward yachts with a real
focus on fun, exploration, and wellbeing. We see superyachts heading in
the same direction as these new owners-an openness to striking forms,
something different and unique, explorer vessels with luxurious interiors that
work with the exterior and reflect the concept of having fun on the water."
Like the upper lounge deck they once designed that morphs into a catwalk
so the client can host fashion shows on-board. "We developed a lap pool
that could drain very quickly, and the motorized floor raises up to form the
platform," says March. "It's a bit mad, but super fun."
That fun, however, comes with responsibilities. Aside from extensive
UV testing for wood veneers, stringent fire regulations for all textiles, and
space planning with children's safety and visibility in mind, almost everything
needs to be bespoke and permanently affixed. In fact, according to White,
"we choose the majority of the plates, cutlery, accessories, and the artwork
before the yacht leaves the shipyard so they can be completely integrated
and sea fastened."
And, while March and White, who also are trained architects, might work
with 20,000 square feet of interior space or lengthy superyachts like the
123-meter Al Lusail, their luxurious lean does not mean gratuitous. "For us,
the space within a yacht feels extremely precious. Every detail, finish, and
design solution must have a purpose on a superyacht or else, in our view,
it should not exist," March says. "Plus, we try to ensure that the materials
we use are as sustainable as they can be. We never use any non-sustainable
animal products. And, some of the younger generation of clients we are
working with place this very high on the list of must-dos, which is very
encouraging for the future of the industry."

Yacht interiors demand inventive
finishes and materials that
eventually translate to residential,
hotel, and restaurant interiors.
(Image: March & White)

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i+D - March/April 2018
i+D - March/April 2018

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