ShowBoats International — May 2017

PHOTOGRAPH: JUSTIN RATCLIFFE

was shocked when Bill Duker asked us to

design his 230ft Perini Sybaris. He’d been a

client for years but we’d never done a yacht and

there were others far more qualified. He tasked us

with creating a floating gallery: the result is warm,

modern, subtle interiors which let the art stand out.

I’ve always taken a “bones first, bonnets later”

approach to land-based interiors and Sybaris was

no different. We did have the advantage of starting

with a blank piece of paper, though, which we rarely

do on land.

One of the most beautiful sights in the

world is a boat glowing alone on a dark sea. The

direction of natural light on a boat is unpredictable

so good lighting design is imperative on yachts. It’s

a great way of creating intimacy or making spaces

feel bigger.

I appreciate the enthusiasm designers bring

to their superyacht projects but I don’t always

like the outcome. Yachts that take a more-is-more

approach can leave one wanting. Restraint usually

adds clarity.

Yachts are all about economy of space.

Guest cabins should be like Japanese mystery

boxes where surfaces slide, swing and part to reveal

compartments beneath. The trick is making it

look effortless.

PHDESIGN

I

Peter Hawrylewicz, co-founder

Above: Bill Duker’s Sky Loft

apartment in New York’s

Tribeca was designed

by PHDesign

Right: PHDesign

furnished Bill Duker’s

penthouse in Miami’s

Apogee South Beach condo

Above: the Apogee

apartment in Miami.

Right: the main

staircase on Sybaris

Left: Bill Duker’s

Miami apartment.

Below left: The lighting

design on Sybaris

was carefully considered

“A MORE-IS-MORE

APPROACH CAN

LEAVE ONE WANTING”

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