The well known Dutch luxury yacht design studio, Guido de Groot Design, has recently had the opportunity to work on two challenging yacht interior projects. Both of these are based on two interior styles from the beginning of the 20th century – Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
A little research into Art Nouveau shows that it manifested itself mainly in Europe at the turn of the last century (1890-1910). It was known by different names in different parts of the continent; le style moderne originally in France, modernisme (in Catalonia, Spain), Jugendstil in Germany (young style), Secession in Austria, Stile Liberty in Italy and Nieuwe kunst (“new art”) in the Netherlands. It came to an end just before World War I, and was replaced by the more rectilinear Modernist style, which was perceived as easier to produce and this in turn, with its machine aesthetic, led onto Art Deco.
Art Deco is regularly the source of inspiration to designers, for reasons that are easy to be understood. Spectacular buildings such as the iconic Chrysler building in New York, beautiful cars such as the Cord 812, interiors of ocean liners such as the Normandie, and the designs of Raymond Loewy all still stimulate designers and the owners of many yachts, by their glamour.
For both projects the Guido de Groot design team went to great lengths to translate the best of each style into a modern yacht. They ensured to retain a very clear design signature for each project; “Art Nouveau” with elaborate ornamentation and complexity, and “Art Deco” with the repetition of geometric shapes and motifs. Both projects were challenging but were carried out with great dedication.
Below is a choice of the stylish charter yachts with design by Guido de Groot.