The talents of the superyacht designers and teams behind the most notable yachts delivered last year were recognised at the ShowBoats Design Awards last night.
The winners were announced in the stunning surrounds of Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria, during a prize giving ceremony in front of an audience of superyacht owners, designers and icons of industry from around the globe.
The evening's big winners included Palumbo and the creative team behind the innovative Columbus Sport Hybrid 40m, which picked up three awards for her fresh, elegant interior design, harmonious holistic design and environmental considerations. The judges felt that stylist Hydro Tec, interior designer Hot Lab Yacht & Design and the build team were firmly on the same page for this project and this was reflected in their decision to award multiple prizes to her talented creators.
Baltic Yachts 32.64m sailing yacht Inukshuk was a double winner, earning prizes for both her interior and exterior designers. In the Interior Design - Sailing Yachts category, Inukshuk was deemed a runaway on visual appeal, functionality, use of space and innovative features. The passion of the method by which Adam Lay’s cerebral design approach met the owner’s brief—'with nature not with glamour'—was key to the win. In addition, the judges agreed that her exterior styling by Frers Naval Architecture and Engineering shows the seamlessness of the design vocabulary between naval architect and owner; resulting in a fast and safe family sailing yacht that offers exceptional comfort.
Andrew Winch and his design team were commended for their work on custom tenders to Feadship's 99m Madame Gu and 62m Sea Owl, resulting in a joint first-place and the studio receiving two Neptunes for different tender projects.
The Young Designer of the Year Award, sponsored by Oceanco, once again produced a high standard of finalist entries from aspiring yacht designers all over the globe; many of whom were present at the gala evening. The winner, chosen by a panel of the industry’s leading yacht designers and naval architects, was judged to be Raphael Laloux for his project Symphony. In the judges' opinion, he created an elegant, well balanced vessel that entirely fulfilled design brief—a challenging one at that this year with the competitors tasked with designing a SWATH superyacht—while introducing some novel ideas.
The final award presented was the Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Fincantieri Yachts, honouring yacht designer Terence Disdale who this year celebrates forty years in the superyacht industry. Guest presenter Tim Heywood described his designs as 'distinctive, timelessly modern exteriors with rich, interiors that create a calming, stylish and welcoming ambience.'
Boat International Media take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the sponsors and partners of the 2014 ShowBoats Design Awards who have helped to make the event a resounding success. Special thanks are extended to our gracious gala evening hosts and gold sponsor, Swarovski, and to silver sponsors Hodgdon Yachts and Blohm+Voss. Thank you to bronze sponsors Oceanco, who continue to support the Young Designer of the Year Award, and to RINA and Greenline Yacht Interiors. Our gratitude also goes to our new award sponsors for 2014; Boutsen Design, Fincantieri Yachts, JFA Yachts, Front Street Shipyard and to DKT Artworks who supplied the beautiful Judges’ Commendation prize.