The epitome of decadence, a superyacht demands a highly sophisticated lighting scheme that will create the perfect atmosphere, highlight the owner’s artwork, enhance luxury finishes and make the most of the ever-changing scenery

What is the most important element of the design of a yacht’s interior? Mark Berryman of Mark Berryman Design considers lighting to be high on the list. ‘We try to explain to clients that lighting can really make or break an interior,’ he says. Whenever possible, Berryman likes to involve a lighting specialist to perfect the mix of the types of light he considers essential. ‘I think most of us working on yachts approach lighting design in the same way as any other residential project, with different layers of light for different moods and tasks — and that’s best done by specialist,’ he advises.

One such specialist is David Caddick of The Light Corporation. ‘Clients are now so used to high levels of sophistication in homes and hotels that they expect yachts to be equally luxurious, if not more so,’ he says. ‘Clients can be a little extravagant when it comes to their yachts, especially the interiors, and are happy to indulge themselves with the finest things available. A yacht is seen as a toy, albeit a beautiful, exciting and exclusive one.’ Key to achieving that luxury is lighting, which, according to Caddick, has come on leaps and bounds thanks to a host of innovative new products. ‘Interior design on board has changed rapidly to reflect what is happening on shore, so that now you see some very contemporary, beautifully designed and finished interiors,’ he says. ‘But, until recently, the lighting in these schemes looked like the poor relation. Now inventive lighting — designed specifically for yachts — is catching up.’

Those luxurious and contemporary interiors demand a similarly up to date lighting scheme. ‘The key consideration is to give the yacht a welcoming feel,’ says Sally Storey of Lighting Design International. ‘In the past, the standard solution was a small coffered ceiling and a grid of downlights that did not relate to the room, only the ceiling pattern. However, the lighting should relate to the interior by highlighting artwork, focusing on the centre of the coffee tables and so on.’

Kamini Ezralow of Intarya believes lighting a yacht interior begins with the design scheme, just as it would on land. ‘Good lighting falls into two types: task and ambient lighting, where you don’t see the light source, just the effect, and decorative lighting, which can be very beautiful,’ she explains. ‘But everything on board needs advance planning.’ But alongside those practical challenges, of which more later, comes a unique opportunity for creativity, as Ezralow explains. ‘A yacht is a wonderful platform for design because it is a moving environment,’ she says. ‘Unlike a residential project in a static location where you factor the surroundings into the design, a yacht might be in the Mediterranean one season and the Caribbean the next — the only constant is the water. Having such a blank canvas allows you to be creative and fresh, and lighting can really help you achieve that by showing off and enhancing special features,’ she says.

Don’t forget the exterior rooms, advises Caddick. ‘Outside life on board is very important and many yachts now have a ‘beach’ area with sun loungers, spa pool and bar, plus space to run off the jet skis and other toys on board,’ he says. ‘This needs to be lit for evening parties, so think about in-ground and low-level wash lights, plus concealed linear lighting around seating areas and bars, preferably with a colour-changing system for when the party really gets started.’ Parties, adds Storey, are key to the interior too. ‘So much of the atmosphere is created by the lighting and with boats becoming more of a place for entertainment, lighting has increased in importance too,’ she says. Caddick says: ‘A lighting control system for multi-scene setting is a must so that the lighting can be flexible to suit all occasions.’

David Milner of Lantic Yacht Entertainment Systems and Veritais AV design and installation services says that, once light fittings have been chosen, it all comes down to the systems. The way the lights are switched on and off (walkabout remote control, standard switch plates for walls, touch panels or integration with the AV systems), the ‘mood settings’ and the circuits may be similar to land-based interiors ‘but the big difference on yachts is keeping the cabling infrastructure down’, he explains. Milner uses LED lighting to restrict the amount of power required. ‘That’s important because it brings the energy consumption down, whether from a generator when the yacht is offshore or from shore power when in the marina. Although the bulbs cost more than standard bulbs, LED ones can last 10 or 20 times as long,’ he explains.

But interior LED lighting is not without its problems, as Adam Lay of Adam Lay Studio explains. ‘Until the last year or two, LED lighting has only really been used on the outside of superyachts where light colour, particularly warmth, is less critical.’ However, things are changing rapidly. ‘LEDs have developed to such a degree that light warmth is now much closer to that achieved by halogen fittings,’ he says. By recessing the light source inside the fitting, he is also able to reduce the ‘star effect’ created by the brightness of LEDs when you look directly at them.

Yachts are big business. The number of orders placed for new superyachts (30m and over) has increased since last year and clients are demanding increasing sophistication on board. ‘As designers,we have a responsibility to push the envelope and to surpass the client’s expectations’,’ says Ezralow. ‘And lighting is part of that.’

Case study 1
Arkley

Motor Yacht of the Year 2010 at the World Superyacht Awards, Arkley is a 60m motor yacht with a sumptuous interior by Mark Berryman Design. It was launched this year from the Lürssen Shipyard. She provides accommodation for 12 guests with one VIP suite, four guest suites and a full-width owner’s apartment.

European oak is used as a backdrop for the interior, punctuated with bog oak and wenge. The owner wanted the boat to have an open-plan feel with large spaces. The ceilings could easily have become vast uninteresting areas so Berryman designed a pattern in the surface of the oak to break up the spaces and define the different areas of the boat.

‘The lighting was very important to us and is something that is very often overlooked,’ says Mark Berryman. ‘The main downlighting was an off-the-shelf item but to highlight areas we wanted to use LED fittings for deck heads and skirting boards. We commissioned a German company to produce bespoke fittings, which really highlight the tactile finishes, including wood, woven leathers, split bamboo, marble and the textured- glass internal screens. If you take away the lighting, the interior has no soul.’

The yacht is equipped with programmable lighting scenes in all areas. It also features lighting specifically designed to enhance the artwork and sculpture. ‘Rather than using just one light source, we used two or three light fittings to cross beam across the artwork, creating a nice even spread of light,’ says Berryman.
www.markberrymandesign.com

Case study 2
Northern star

This 75m motor yacht was designed by Espen Oeino and built by Lürssen Shipyard, with an interior by Pauline Nunns and lighting by Lighting Design International. Designed for cruising in Arctic and tropical waters, Northern Star has six decks and accommodation for 12 guests, and was a category winner at the prestigious 2010 World Super Yacht Awards.

‘The brief was to create a style that reflected the feel of a country home,’ says Sally Storey of Lighting Design International. ‘The owner wanted the lighting to reflect different moods and accentuate his art collection. At the same time, he wanted the boat to feel like a home,’ she explains.

The scheme had to be designed well before it was installed because details such as the low-level bulwark lights outside needed to be cut into the structure of the hull. Arranging the downlights was particularly tricky, since these needed to be coordinated with removable ceiling sections. ‘It’s easy to think of centering the lights but this may not be the best solution, especially when lighting artwork or the centre of a table,’ she adds. ‘Detailed coordination is essential.’

One of the very striking elements of this boat is the link between the exterior and interior. The external dining and seating areas are lit with IP-rated LEDs. ‘This helps break up the expanse of low ceiling and added drama is provided by LED uplights to the columns,’ Storey explains.
www.lightingdesigninternational.com

This article was first published in idfx Magazine.