Elevating design through evolved expertise
When it comes to boating being in the blood, Bas Mulder – owner of the Mulder Design studio – can fairly claim to be the archetype. Raised around the design, construction and operation of yachts, he has followed in his father Frank Mulder’s footsteps to continue the family tradition at the frontier of naval architecture and yachtbuilding – hardly surprising considering their major involvement in the construction of projects such as world’s fastest superyacht The World Is Not Enough, which was launched in 2004 and which, at 42 metres, was capable of topping out at 67 knots.
The World is Not Enough
These days, the Mulder Design team covers a vast array of projects, from sublime 10-metre daycruisers to stunning 100-metre superyachts, combining naval architecture, creative flair and construction design to create highly desirable, meticulously engineered vessels. Here, we ask Bas Mulder about the present and future of yacht design, and how the Mulder Design team are developing next-generation vessels for the next generation of owners.
Kim and Bas Mulder
The Mulder Design studio covers not just styling but also engineering and naval architecture combined with real-world construction experience. How does that shape your approach to a project?
BM: Having multidisciplinary expertise is key, because our aim is always to design and develop something feasible. It’s a creative path, but we also keep mind that you have to be able to build it, and be able to build it in an economically viable way. Sure, you can do crazy things with design but that’s not our goal. We are split 50/50 as a studio between yacht design and styling, and being a naval architecture and engineering office.
There are a lot of futuristic concepts out there, both in terms of styling and also alternative propulsion. What’s your take on the more outlandish designs?
If it’s really extreme then I think most people realise it’s something that’s far from reality but which perhaps inspires possibilities. I think what’s more important is that what is presented as being feasible actually is feasible. For example, there are concepts that look like normal yachts but which feature propulsion technologies that are just not there yet, and if it’s just not doable when the concept is presented I think that’s more harmful to the industry that an extreme design concept. Nevertheless we, as a yachting industry, should always keep looking forward and explore new technological developments.
70m Crystal Explorer concept
Do you think clients are becoming more open to pushing boundaries, particularly on larger yacht projects?
We have, in general, quite ‘contemporary’ clients but the business is not as futuristic as it might seem! You do get a couple of clients who really want to push boundaries on technology but they are the exception, for multiple reasons. First is price, because new tech can cost a lot when you’re the first to use it, and second not many want to be the guinea pig! Third, classification societies hold you back on a lot of things because – quite rightly in many cases – regulations take time to catch up to technology. Just think of lithium batteries, and the early problems that some sectors had with them. Most clients aren’t looking to push boundaries, they just want a nice yacht.
There are some nice technologies that are starting to emerge, and some of them will give us good opportunities to lower a yacht’s footprint and it’s good to think about those aspects. I also see it a bit like Formula 1 – it’s an extreme sport, but the technology developed in F1 pushes the boundaries and then the wider industry picks it up and applies it. I think the yachting sector should be a bit more like that.
Of course, we have direct experience of cutting edge – The World Is Not Enough pushed all sorts of boundaries!
115m White Coral concept
Alongside your core market of 30- to 60-metre yachts, you have also been designing larger yachts such as the 70-metre Crystal explorer and 115-metre White Coral. How does your engineering experience translate to the larger designs, and what do you draw on for inspiration?
First of all, like all our projects, design elements have to be feasible. For Crystal, a key feature was the large glass-domed staircase design, which was very organically shaped and which forms a centrepiece of the styling. But it’s not just drawn to look pretty – we spent a lot of time doing the glass calculations and we also discussed it with classification societies and manufacturers to make sure it was something we could design and build in such a way that it actually works.
In our latest concepts we’ve been seeing if we can create open spaces that aren’t hampered by things like engine room ventilation ducting, coming up with creative engineering solutions so you can open up a saloon and not have it cramped between big trunks in the superstructure.
70m Crystal Explorer concept
Do you think your role as a designer is to suggest design elements to a client that they might not have thought of, or to be led by what a client thinks they want?
It’s a combination – it’s really nice to work with a client who knows exactly what they want, because then you can really give them what they wish. But we also have clients who ask us to show them what we have and who give us freedom to develop the design. I would say a client who wants to see things and change things is what makes it fun. We see ourselves as collaborative partners in the design process, basically combining our expertise with the owner’s vision and experience.
70m Opal concept
There’s a current trend for big beach clubs and aft pool terraces – what do you think the next design evolution will be?
I think there will be a trend for more modular and adaptable spaces. Yachts have been getting larger because owners want to get everything in, although I think we’ll see yachts start to shrink a bit – but clients will still want to have the beach club and a gym and all the other things, so modular is the way to go. You can easily design a spa that converts into a proper gym – there’s top-notch gym equipment now which takes up minimal space and is easy to store. And audio-visual technology with big screens and huge sound systems all hidden and integrated into the interior design means you can have multifunctional entertainment areas where a saloon converts into a cinema that delivers the true cinema experience without having to build a dedicated cinema on board.
The arrival of diesel-electric propulsion systems, and pod drives across the yacht and superyacht size ranges, is also going to play a big part because you can be much more flexible on where the engine room is located and how large it needs to be – it means flexible owner and guest accommodation layouts and more volume to play with, and that’s particularly pertinent on smaller yachts.
70m Opal concept
You also design a lot of smaller production boats – do you see the same design trends emerging in that sector too?
Absolutely. We’re doing several smaller dayboats at the moment and we’re thinking a lot more about the changing way that people are using a boat, with a shift more to the social elements. We’re trying to create a bit more flow, with more user-friendly and more flexible spaces.
Also because we’ve designed boats for different geographic markets, from the Med to the US, Middle East, Australia and Asia, we see how different regions approach a day on the water and we look to design for those variations. Heading out with the family for a picnic is a totally different day to going fishing with your friends, but you’re using the same boat. So you need a nice table, but also rod holders and a bait bin. Everyone has a different approach on how their boating day looks, and we need to design that flexibility in from the start.
28m Onyx concept
What do you think will be key for the future of yacht design in general, and Mulder Design in particular?
It’s all about leveraging trends, looking at sustainability and advanced technology, and through that we can create innovative, future-proof yachts that meet the evolving demands of our clients. Then with our team’s multidisciplinary expertise we can put it all together and make nice, green, flexible projects – that’s the Mulder Design speciality
