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What is the definition of a superyacht? According to Forbes Magazine, a superyacht represents the epitome of creativity, craftsmanship and luxury. But can a superyacht also be a work of art? This is not an easy question to answer, because the line between craft and art is not so clear-cut.
Perhaps it would be best to compare a superyacht to a fashion designer's haute couture creation: It is not a standard product that you take off a shelf or buy from a catalogue; each component is specifically designed by the designer and made with care by craftsmen who strive for the highest standard. What applies to a hand-sewn haute couture dress also applies to a superyacht. Starting from a spotlight in the ceiling to the taps in the bathroom; every detail is carefully considered. The vision of the customer and the designer are reflected throughout the ship. A good superyacht is the quintessential example of a ship in the 21st century; the best that humanity has to offer at that point in time when it comes to luxury ships. In this respect, you can certainly compare the finest superyachts to works of art. The greatest works of art show the very best that art could achieve at the time, and not only in terms of artistic expression. Artists like Vermeer and Da Vinci were also at the forefront in their fascination with science and technology. Leonardo da Vinci is well known for numerous inventions, from fortifications and cannons to a first design for a helicopter. It has emerged in recent years that Vermeer probably drew his famous interiors using a camera obscura, which was a very new technique at the time.
They were so far ahead with their works of art, both artistically and technically, that they redefined the idea of what a work of art could be. The same goes for the most iconic superyachts, because this is where concept, design and engineering come together to set new standards. A great example is the Venus, which is a superyacht by French designer Philippe Starck for Apple founder Steve Jobs.
We are all familiar with Steve Jobs, considered to be the most innovative entrepreneur of the 20th century who gave the world the personal computer, the iPhone and the iPad. There was also another side to this high-tech visionary, however, which came to the fore in his love and attention to the craft. One of his most striking statements is about the back of a cupboard: ‘When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You’ll know it’s there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.’
We recognise this love of art and craft at Van Roosmalen. We do not opt for an easy solution because the customer will not see it anyway. A superyacht should exemplify quality and elegance in all of its choices. This is precisely what makes working on a superyacht such an intense and almost addictive experience. For us, the challenge each time is to bring the designer's and customer's vision to its ultimate expression. In the pursuit of building the ultimate ship together with the shipyard, we feel somewhat akin to great artists. In much the same way, we always go to extreme lengths to achieve the ultimate result.
Do you want to read more?
History about the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci
About Vermeer and the Camera obcura
Podcast from the Rijksmuseum about Vermeer and his usage of the Camera obscura
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/stories/podcast/story/camera-obscura-geloof
Professor Philip Steadman over zijn studie over Vermeer