Page 102 - The Book For Men Spring/Summer 2023

strap hanging artfully from the ceiling, chairs that are affixed to the dining table with almost-invisible clips, and built-in furniture that appears unfixed. “It was interesting to design these functional requirements and at the same time create these beautiful details to them,” says Eland.
Similar to many of the studio’s other spaces, the hull of the boat emphasizes tactile surfaces, natural materials, and matte finishes in warm, neutral colours: beige, sand, earth. On the port side of the ship is a lounge area featuring a large, comfortable sofa and low coffee table in a cozy, homely setup that wouldn’t look out of place in a residential abode. This area is separated from the dining room by a short wooden flight of stairs that lead to the deck, the steps protruding out a bit so that lights on the bottoms can flood the space with warm, orange light during the evening.
Across the stairs is a long wooden table affixed to the ground on thin columns, with spaces for eight guests: minimal wiry chairs curve around one side, with a cream-upholstered bench on the other that matches the sofa in the lounge and ties the spaces together. In both the dining room and the lounge there’s a subtle contrast between the rich, dark wood of the wall panels and the creamy white walls around the ship’s windows, from which abundant light is cast across the space. The panels shift their appearance slightly based on the quality of sunlight that hits them, emphasizing the space’s vitality during the day and its intimacy
during the night. Stained oak was used in these walls and elsewhere throughout the ship: “We wanted to create an environment that nods towards the shipbuilding of the past, but without using rare tree species,” says Eland.
At the end of the dining room is a divider that rises up halfway to the ceiling, separating the space from the workstation, a wide desk featuring built-in recessions for keeping your utensils and objects safe from rolling away when the ship sways. The half-size of the divider, which matches the dark wood panels of the walls, finds a compromise between dividing the spaces and leaving the flow of the hull open, and thus more spacious. There is one area sequestered away from the rest of the hull for privacy: the master bedroom, present in the bow of the ship through a dark wooden doorway. Inside, the bed and cabinets are upholstered in a light suede to contrast against the dark woods of the walls and floors. Through another sliding wood-panelled door that’s camouflaged into the wall is the bathroom, with elegant slate-grey sinks and black hardware.
Norm Architects’ ethos is to “create spaces for the senses that are human-cen- tric,” and the Y9 is no exception. The uncluttered, simplistic-yet-luxurious design is lush with beautiful tactile materials and permeated by a visceral feeling of warmth and naturalness. “The yacht is created for people,” says Eland. “And we wanted to give them a unique — and spacious — experience. To evoke the same feeling as in a residential or hospitality setting.”
102 BFM / SS23 FEATURES / SMOOTH SAILING