While yacht design may seem a very specific niche, the basic creative principles for a sailing vessel are actually quite similar to those for any outdoor space. There's a set amount of square footage to work with, changing weather conditions to take into account, and a fine balance to strike between form and function. Those elements are always top of mind for the team at legacy U.K. superyacht firm Bannenberg & Rowell Design. They recently collaborated with Perennials on a durable and stylish textile collection and created a sleek, seaworthy furniture line called Oceana for its sister brand, Sutherland. The partnership marries Perennials and Sutherland’s expertise in making fade-, mildew-, and UV-resistant fabrics and elegant yet durable furniture with the sleek approach of ship design.
We did a deep dive with Simon Rowell, a partner at Bannenberg & Rowell, to learn his tips for designing both onboard and off, plus his favorite pieces from the latest Sutherland and Perennials collections.
Translating Elements of Yacht Design
"As designers, we concentrate on every detail: practical, aesthetic, emotional. That's universal. In both types of design I regularly see decorative schemes that tend toward the extremely generic or the indulgently flamboyant. Timeless solutions that still have character allow a space to evolve and feel lived in. That’s our preferred approach."
Tips for Designing a Waterfront Space
"Individual furniture pieces can't do everything. So consider a mix: large, fixed arrangements in combination with lighter loose items that can be pulled up and arranged in flexible layouts. An outdoor space benefits from an anchor arrangement of heavier pieces, like the Oceana Rectangular Coffee Table, while being inviting and approachable. Also make sure there is storage nearby for cushions (like the Catch a Wave Pillow), blankets, throws—practical stuff."
Inside the Oceana Collaboration
"We started with the Oceana furniture range for Sutherland. The vision and support of David and Ann Sutherland provided the drive for a collaboration that has evolved over many years. They had great faith in our team and tasked us to find a new range, inspired by our yachting world. We sought pieces that combine honesty, movement, character, and lightness with the robustness needed for use in the harshest of environments.
The chairs in the Oceana collection, for example, are based on the simplest of geometry, almost like a barrel that has been cleanly sliced away to reveal a radial frame. The back legs appear to elegantly twist, giving tension and a dynamic stance, but they are actually very simple solids.
The inspiration behind the name is pure vintage Jon Bannenberg, our late founder, who created some of the most radical new yacht designs, interior and exterior, of the 1980s and '90s. I hope our geometry links back to his bold circular motifs."
About Perennials by Bannenberg & Rowell
"We already knew Perennials' solution-dyed fabric technique [the fibers are dyed before weaving, making them richer and less likely to fade] offered almost limitless options in both color and texture. We sought to develop a basis for an expandable marine-inspired range. We started with the horizon colors (indigo blues to dusky sunset pastels) and undertook a similar exercise with texture (pleats and ripples) and graphics (wave-like movement, etchings, and shading). Then we worked with the Perennials team to develop a style and palette book, which moved into the initial Perennials by Bannenberg & Rowell collection—from a Tibetan knot rug to striped, textured fabrics for upholstery."
His Personal Favorite Pieces from the Lines
"I am a sucker for an elegant dining chair; I like both the Oceana Dining Arm Chair and Side Chair. And I love the herringbone Vertex fabrics."
Finding Balance Between Form and Function
"The challenges to yachting furnishings are everything you can imagine: salt, sand, UV light, sun cream, oils, washing down, shifting around. The wear and tear from people actually sitting down is the least of them! Both Sutherland and Perennials have solutions to all this already baked into their materials: teak, stainless steel, and robust fabrics. In both ranges we sought comfort and ease of use."
The Unique Challenges of Yacht Design
"The main one is time. Every element is programmed in from the earliest point. The slightest delay in providing information to and from builders, suppliers, artisans, and experts can create extremely costly delays. For shipyards, each project is closely followed by the next, and the process does not stop for indecision. There is also a less tangible problem with yacht interiors: Because of the level of control and inflexibility in the build and decision process, yachts can tend toward the untouchable museum or showroom aesthetic. We counter this by creating interiors that have soul."
The Future of Seafaring Design
"This is a quest for us: calibration and curation of beautiful engineering, design, and decoration. While yacht design has a reputation for extravagance and opulence, there is a new breed of client for whom the expense and commitment of commissioning an extraordinary vessel represents an opportunity to pursue a sophisticated environment. So less glitz perhaps, and more honesty, adventure, and well-being."
Shop the Collection
Oceana Rectangular Coffee Table
Oceana Dining Arm Chair
