13th March saw a unique opportunity, with superyacht designers Andrew Winch, Terence Disdale as well as Tim Heywood, all present at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour (DCCH). Speaking on stage together for the first time ever at the Superyacht Design Summit 2012, the old friends offered to 200 peer group designers, interior suppliers as well as owner’s representatives an engaging and amusing discussion.
Superyacht Design Summit 2012: The Bannenberg Reunion
Under the direction of Martin H Redmayne, Chairman of The Superyacht Group, the dialogue covered various topics including how the panel first met and worked for the iconic designer, Jon Bannenberg. Among those present at the event — including Pascale Reymond from Reymond Langton Design and Ken Freivokh, who both posed questions to the group — Dickie Bannenberg asked the panel if it was possible to correct a situation with a client if the chemistry was not right or you weren’t able to sell an idea. “Yes of course you can, if it doesn’t work first time, try again with another idea” remarks Winch. “I think your father would never have stopped trying to create something unique and dramatic, and that was one of his fortes.”
The design figureheads also shared advice on the best way in which interior suppliers could grab their attention, and how land-based designers could cross over into the world of superyacht design. “You have to find a client that you have done a successful project with,” suggests Heywood, “and then if you are lucky, they will come to you for their yacht. You’ve got to show a client that you can do it. The transition from doing a house interior to a yacht interior is not too difficult. There are certain things that you pick up along the way… However, you will learn these quite quickly.”
The panel also discussed the differences in designing an interior for a yacht verses a jet. Specifically, they touched on the requirements for fire testing and how this can impact hugely on the finish. “You would think that something that works on an aeroplane, might work on a yacht, and yet it doesn’t,” explains Disdale. “This is because fireproofing material inside a yacht has a very small life span, so if something is fireproof for three minutes inside an aeroplane, it’s pretty good. However, inside a yacht, it has to be fireproof for a couple of hours.”
The evening continued afterwards with a glitzy canapé and champagne reception in the Design Club, offering the opportunity to ask individual members of the panel questions and a chance to network with fellow delegates.
