ONBOARD talks to BERND WEEL at his design studio where every project starts with a blank canvas and a client’s vision. From there on, the design process is initiated
Established in 2013, Bernd Weel Design is an award winning Dutch design company specialising in yacht design. As a company based in the Netherlands, where quality and efficiency are highly valued, Bernd Weel Design creates realistic and above all groundbreaking yacht exteriors.
“Yacht exteriors have always been my passion. I look for pure and crisp lines in our designs. Lines that not only follow function but give a design its own character and identity. Surface design is always focused on how light will reflect upon it, creating highlights and shadows in the right place. Creating designs that stand the test of time, always seeking for ‘the essence’ in our designs.”
The studio, consisting of a small group of skilled experts, has a wide array of experience in the yachting industry and work closely with many renowned industry professionals.
Bernd Weel Design recently got awarded with the BOAT International ‘Outstanding Exterior Design’ award at the 2023 Superyacht Design Festival in Cortina, Italy.
Bernd draws on his extensive cross-sector knowledge to push design boundaries that delight clients. Having always had a deep devotion to all aspects of design, from architecture to automotive, he mastered his skills to perfection in Italy, before establishing his own independent design studio in 2013.
Bernd has built an impressive portfolio having worked among the most prestigious professionals in the yachting industry and loves to inspire the client through direct involvement in the process, providing authentic hand-drawn sketches, which are then developed into detailed 3D surface models whereby each detail is carefully designed and defined. Resulting in super accurate artist impressions that visually reflect exact reality before the vessel is build.
LATEST PROJECTS
Stratos Yacht; a high-end luxury tender of 50ft build in the Netherlands (Dutch Built 50, in short DB50). It is a unique composite vessel that is built to highest standards. The vessel is designed being a SUV (Sport Utility Vessel) on the water. Strong and robust, with high-end details that breathes high-end luxury. Very functional, and practical too thanks to the close collaboration with the founder Bas Lengers who has over 40 years of yachting experience. There is a bigger version in the making, the DB75, which will be even more groundbreaking than the DB50.
Icon Yachts; together with Icon we created project Mission for last year’s Monaco Yacht Show. A 64 metre explorer yacht which is designed for long and adventurous expeditions. It carries two shipping containers, which can be outfitted for different ‘missions’ all over the world. The vessel is also suitable for ocean research purposes, with an entire deck and section equipped to host scientist teams.
Dutch Design; a new brand in yachting which is introducing Sea Rover, a 42m explorer type yacht. When designing Sea Rover we focused on bringing the design back to only the essentials, long lines and clean surfaces form a minimalistic and contemporary design. Nothing is there what shouldn’t be there. We believe Sea Rover’s design will become timeless and a true classic in the yachting industry.
The design process of Sea Rover has been a creative journey with many design iterations between myself and the founder who has many years of yachting experience owning multiple yachts throughout his life.
A unique collaboration whereby we really took the time to keep on sculpting and shaping the design in order to get it spot-on right. Focusing on the essence of what is valuable and needed on board. Dutch Design has been all over the yachting magazines lately and Sea Rover will be announced in due time.
Holterman Shipyard; the collaboration with Holterman shipyard goes back a long time. We started our collaboration with the groundbreaking X105 Lady Fleur. That vessel has become famous for its floating dock in the stern whereby a 10 metre RIB boat can be lifted onto a hydraulically operated platform, the system has many advantages such as providing safe entrance and boarding the RIB, safe operation (no crane needed) in windy and choppy conditions, when the RIB is offloaded a swimming pool can be created by lowering the platform floor. Creating a safe place for kids to swim.
The design process involved a lot of sculpting, and playing with light reflections and shadows that define each surface. With this design we have created a unique design DNA that attracted a lot of new customers to Holterman over the past few years.
We decided to extend and expand the X105 to a range/series of yachts, whereby up to today Holterman has successfully built a total of six yachts ranging from 54ft to 105ft sharing the same styling and design lines from the X105. We are continuing the series with the latest addition, the X95. A yacht with a unique layout that will provide loads of volume and deck space. It will be built entirely in aluminum, a tribute to Dutch craftsmanship.
OUR VIEW ON THE FUTURE OF YACHT DESIGN
From our experience in the industry and feedback we get from our clients we think the functionality of yachts will continue to change as owners will combine leisure with remote living and remote working even more. Resulting in spending more time on board, living an active and healthy lifestyle. Focusing on wellness and wellbeing. For this purpose, explorer yachts are still the best way to go and therefore I think these will remain very popular.
In terms of styling, I think the minimalistic approach is more and more interesting, creating a certain balance and timelessness. Great to escape from daily life and not distracting from just enjoying the beauty of natural surroundings. Owning a yacht is all about on-board experiences in the end. I love functional design that goes hand in hand with style.
For more details visit www.berndweel.design
