Based in Hamburg, Germany, the high end design firm KATHARINA RACZEK DESIGN (KRD) celebrates two very successful years working on interiors across the superyacht, residential and aviation realms. Over the past 13 years, founder Katharina Raczek has taken the lead on interiors of such outstanding vessels as mega yacht Triple Seven, motor yacht Sapphire, luxury yacht RoMA, as well as the multi award-winning M/Y Siren and S/Y Ganesha.
Luxury mega yacht SIREN at anchor
“The last two years have been extremely exciting,” commented Katharina Raczek. “I won’t pretend that it wasn’t overwhelming at the beginning, but I could not be happier with where the studio is today. My goal was always to go beyond superyacht design and do residential interiors as well as private jet interiors, and we have successfully completed projects in all fields: land, sea and sky.”
Several of the studio’s projects have come from Raczek’s past superyacht clients. KRD has just completed work on a superyacht client’s guest house in the hills overlooking Cannes bay. “I have loved the atmosphere of this client’s entire mansion for years; it is very calm and relaxing, with shades of white,” commented Raczek. “She asked me to work with her architect to modernise the guest wing but at the same time to keep its true spirit.” KRD has also been involved in two very different Global 6000 designs for another superyacht client, taking Raczek into the aviation realm as well. “As space and form choices are limited in aircrafts, the material and detail selection becomes even more important,” she says, admitting that her profound passion for detail is something that is particularly appreciated in this arena.
Superyacht Sapphire Saloon – Photo credit to David Churchill
For Raczek, while moving from the superyacht world into aviation is fairly straightforward, land-based design requires an entirely different approach. In the yachting the support for the team of owner’s representatives, project managers, interior builders, as well as shipyard always allows the designer to concentrate entirely on the design and the client’s vision. On land, Raczek says, you are involved in the minute of all aspects of the project.
The fresh challenges of the land and sky projects provide new inspiration, but for Raczek, superyachts will always remain her first love and focus. At the moment, she is working on the interior refit of a 100m+ explorer yacht in Northern Germany; an important project and a legendary yacht that is due to be completed by the end of the year.
Katharina Raczek – Profile
About Katharina Raczek
Following her studies of interior architecture in Mainz, Germany between 1998 and 2002, Katharina’s career started when she began working with Hamburg’s superyacht design studio Newcruise as an intern. At just 26 years old, her first lead project was the interior of the 67m mega yacht Triple Seven. Following this important project, Raczek became the dedicated in-house interior designer at Newcruise and eventually a partner. In 2013, Katharina handed in her shares in Newcruise and founded Katharina Raczek Design in late 2013.
