Spanish designer Ignacio Bourgon has been crowned the winner of this year's Young Designer of the Year Award, in association with Oceanco, after impressing the judging panel with his 65 metre yacht concept Air.
This year’s brief required designers to assess how their client – a young entrepreneur who had made their fortune in music streaming – would use their yacht and were tasked with creating a high-tech, environmentally-friendly design to suit. While the design was left entirely open to interpretation, participating designers were provided with an interview that detailed the lifestyle and cruising plans of the owner, as well as a technical platform with engineering architecture provided by Lateral Naval Architects.
Of the six finalists, three designs stood out, but Bourgon was revealed as the winner by secret ballot, having not only created an aesthetically pleasing yacht that was practically ready for construction, but one that also fulfilled the vast majority of the owner’s requirements.
According to the judges, Bourgon’s digital and hand renderings were well executed, his GA plan showed well-sized compartments that were practical for owner and crew alike, and the rendering of his design for the master stateroom was very impressive.
The winning concept, named Air, is aimed at a ‘green-fingered’ owner and makes use of biophilic elements throughout its five decks. The master suite, positioned forward on the main deck, comes complete with its own interior garden sequestered in the bow as well as two vegetable patches.
Air takes its design cues from both nature and the electric vehicle market, according to Bourgon, and is characterised by "clean and minimal shapes" and tinted glass. “Air is designed to inspire. It should offer an oasis of physical and mental well-being while encouraging environmental awareness," he said.
The nature theme continues on the main deck aft where a two-tier waterfall swimming pool inspired by the Travertines of Pamukkale in Turkey sits. A glass bottom reflects light down into a beach club bar below where a 7.5 metre tender can be stored, while the waterfall feature fills a second pool on the swim platform. Other highlights include a library on the bridge deck and a large curved wine rack integrated into the dining saloon.
Air's 'green' design extends to its energy supply too. Solar panels are integrated into three levels of the superstructure while windows utilise heat mirror technology to reduce energy consumption on board. Smart technology on board will include a digital ceiling where sensors are able to anticipate lighting needs as guests move about the boat.
Bourgon was announced as the winner of the coveted Young Designer of the Year Award at the BOAT International Design and Innovation Awards in Milan, held as part of the Superyacht Design Festival.