Bene Office Furniture

Living spaces: Boats and yachts

There is something to the saying that spaces have character. Regardless of whether we want to work, learn, teach, communicate, entertain or relax in them – the space "created" for this purpose clearly references the idiosyncrasies of its users and their activities. But whether or not it ‘works’ is another question. That depends entirely on whether it touches us emotionally. In the final analysis, impact really is more than the quadratic root of room height + wall colour + floor space.

Space typically has one essential feature: namely, that it has demarcations. This means that space is normally understood as the "space between" walls, fences, and partitions. As much as people may feel bound to such linguistic definitions, sometimes they feel a passionate drive to overcome these borders and to anchor their own coordinates in a larger radius. Not many of us manage to launch off into extraterrestrial dimensions. But it works – at least it appears to – on this planet too. For example, on endless oceans, with boats and yachts.


Looking back

We don’t know exactly when mankind created the first watercraft and dared to venture out onto rivers, lakes and oceans. It is clear, however, that a lot has happened since those first dug-out canoes and rafts. Today, enormous container ships and trawlers traverse the oceans. There are also plenty of tankers, warships, luxury yachts and cruise ships, along with countless smaller commercial and leisure craft.

And then there are those famous ships that once sailed the seven seas in stories and legends, whether real or fictional: from the Flying Dutchman to the Bounty. Hollywood has also picked up on a number of ocean voyage stories and reignited enthusiasm for adventure on the high seas – or least for watching adventure. It’s no wonder - these stories aren’t just about unbound natural powers or treasures; they are also about the dream of freedom upon the waves.


Poorly planned, well sunk

Almost everyone knows the story of the Vasa, the Swedish warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 after King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden wanted an ever more fearsome, bombastic design. In the end, there were too many decks with too many cannons – and the pride of the Swedish navy capsized and sank after just 20 minutes underway.

An impressive exterior is therefore by far not all that matters, neither for military ships nor for civilian vessels. Safety stands in the foreground – but beyond that, design always has an emotional value. This applies to the simple raft with its appealing naturalness, as well as to the luxurious yacht and its promise of trendy vivacity.


Letting Loos

In addition to the design of the exterior hull and technical improvements, the interior of ships and yachts have also changed a bit. Interestingly, interior design on board and on land have a reciprocal relationship. There’s not just the living room transposed onto the ocean, but also the cabins that have been turned into living rooms on land. Vienna’s Adolf Loos, who people today would call a star architect, let the concept of cabins spark important design inspirations. This can be seen clearly for example in the Alpenhof Kreuzberg in Payerbach in Lower Austria. Designed by Loos, it still speaks his architectural language, with built-in cabinets, window shutters on rollers, and narrow, steep stairs with luxury handrails made of brass that lead to the terrace, which like a sun deck provides a view of the wavy mountain skyline. The famous American Bar and the men’s fashion store Knize, both in the centre of Vienna, were also designed by Loos and clearly bear the marks of his life below deck.


On land and at sea

The converse is also true: rooms on yachts have long drawn from design qualities taken from land – no wonder then that boats and yachts are increasingly used not just for short trips, but also for longer periods, as real dream ships and living spaces. Living on the water opens up new perspectives; views change; there’s a new feeling of space. You stay in your living space, but the world around you changes every day – and yet it is more enduring than you are yourself...

Of course, there are other demands placed on furnishing for sea voyages. All the pieces must be able to withstand both static and dynamic loads, as Burkhard List, managing director of List General Contractor, explains. His company in Bad Erlach works in all three areas of interior design: on land, in the air, and on water. The requirements for safety on the seas are high, of course. Other than that, you can do everything on board that you can do on land.


Life on the water

Who can say that he really lives on the water? Well, for example, an owner of one of the 110 apartments on the 200-metre-long and 32.5-metre-wide cruise ship, MS The World of the ResidenSea. Yes, there really is private property on a ship, a living space that is bigger than a private yacht. A unique way to travel the entire world in your own living space...

Of course, individuality plays a major role in these apartments because every single one is designed in accordance with the owner’s special wishes. And the company responsible for this design is – you guessed it – List. They designed over 16,000 m² of suites, corridors and public areas on board. The cruise ship MS Deutschland, better known as the "Dream Ship", was also furnished by List and takes passengers to distant lands.


The floating embodiment of a life of luxury

The design of luxury yachts can’t be too run-of-the-mill, that’s for sure. Luckily, almost anything can be done, given the necessary small change: exquisite materials, futuristic designs, high-tech solutions from the wind tunnel... whatever the heart desires.
Even fans of specific automobile brands don’t have to go without the brand they trust. Bugatti isn’t the only firm whose designers make extraordinary racing yachts; Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes, Audi and others also work in this fascinating field. Not really surprising, is it?
Whether relaxing or working, whether high adventure or pleasure – ships and yachts offer broad possibilities. They open up spaces and come into contact with their users.


Ronnie Sambor