Interview about Hermes Yacht , winner of the A' Yacht and Marine Vessels Design Award 2025
Hermes features a modern design, with side windows and soft flowing lines. The side windows create a close connection with the surrounding environment, reflecting the water and natural light during the day, while at night they light up with perimeter led that enhance the silhouette. The slender shapes promote efficiency, while the soft lighting creates a warm, comfortable atmosphere, ensuring privacy and refinement. In the lower bow area there are two cabins equipped with beds for overnight stays. The upper part of the glass roof can be opened via an electrical system.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe panoramic windows on Hermes Yacht were designed to erase the boundary between interior and exterior, offering passengers a direct, uninterrupted connection with the sea. This immersion elevates the onboard experience, turning each journey into a sensory and emotional escape. To me, modern luxury is about creating meaningful space not just through materials, but through how the environment makes you feel. The glass design reflects this, blending elegance, openness, and serenity in a seamless way.
I drew inspiration from haute couture because of its emotional power and sculptural beauty. I wanted Hermes Yacht to express identity and movement, like a tailored garment on water. Fashion principles—fluid lines, bold shapes, refined details influenced the form. To balance this with marine function, we collaborated closely with engineers and used flexible, lightweight materials like fiberglass. The result is a yacht that fuses elegance with performance, style with structure.
Sustainability was a core focus in Hermes Yacht’s development. I researched advanced composites and opted for fiberglass and aluminum for their strength, lightness, and recyclability. I also explored non-toxic coatings and sustainable wood veneers that meet luxury standards. The goal was to blend environmental responsibility with refined aesthetics. Our team prioritized materials with low environmental impact while ensuring the yacht maintained its high-end finish and tactile quality. Sustainability, for us, is elegance with awareness.
The LED lighting was designed to enhance the yacht’s sculptural lines and create a strong nighttime identity. I wanted the vessel to feel alive after dark, with subtle illumination outlining its fluid silhouette. Beyond aesthetics, the lighting aids visibility and safety when docking or navigating. We used low-energy, marine-grade LEDs, integrating them seamlessly into the design to preserve elegance while adding functional value and ambiance that evolves with each moment on the water.
Winning the Platinum A’ Design Award validated the vision behind Hermes Yacht where style, innovation, and sustainability coexist. I believe this recognition will inspire greater experimentation in eco-conscious luxury design. It encourages others to challenge tradition and explore sustainable alternatives without compromising beauty. It also motivates me to keep pushing forward, integrating responsible solutions into elegant forms. This award is not an endpoint, but a new starting point for future innovation.
Integrating the electrical glass roof presented both structural and technical challenges. We needed a mechanism that was silent, reliable, and weather-resistant. Compact actuators and custom seals were developed to ensure smooth movement and waterproofing. Weight distribution was also a concern, so we selected lightweight tempered glass and refined the frame design. The final result is a seamless indoor-outdoor transition that enhances the user experience without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
The aerodynamic form of Hermes Yacht was crafted to express elegance while optimizing efficiency. I worked closely with naval engineers to test and refine the hull’s shape, ensuring minimal drag and improved fuel economy. At the same time, the design needed to reflect the fluid, fashion-inspired identity of the yacht. Every curve was both an artistic and functional decision, merging beauty with performance to create a vessel that moves gracefully and efficiently through the water.
The user interface was designed to be both sophisticated and intuitive. I aimed to remove complexity without reducing control, so we implemented a touchscreen-based system with adaptive feedback and clear visual hierarchy. The interface adapts to different user profiles, allowing experienced skippers and casual users alike to navigate with ease. Voice-assist functions, smart automation, and remote diagnostics were integrated to elevate usability while staying consistent with the yacht’s refined character.
Space efficiency guided every decision in the interior layout. The bow cabin, often tight in vessels of this size, was redesigned for openness and privacy. I used modular storage, indirect lighting, and multi-purpose furnishings to expand functionality without visual clutter. Careful zoning allowed us to maintain sleek exterior lines while offering generous interior comfort. It’s a balance of proportion, light, and purpose—delivering luxury through thoughtful design, not excess volume.
Hermes Yacht sets a precedent for how sustainability and luxury can coexist in yacht design. Its success proves that environmental responsibility doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty or innovation. I hope it inspires future designers and shipyards to rethink material choices, energy systems, and lifecycle impact. As regulations tighten and client values shift, I believe the Hermes approach elegant, efficient, emotionally engaging—can shape a more conscious and refined direction for marine design.
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