Bannenberg & Rowell on Exceptional Design
\n \tProudly waving the flag for British design talent on the global stage, Bannenberg & Rowell Design has dominated the field of superyacht design for two decades. Recently making headlines as Lurssen\u2019s Project Hawaii nears delivery, we thought a catch up with the busy pair to be long overdue.
\n The son of the late Jon Bannenberg – considered the founding father of modern yacht design – Dickie Bannenberg and his partner Simon Rowell have given life to some of the ocean\u2019s most iconic superyachts, including Feadship\u2019s 70m Joy and\u00a0Benetti\u2019s 63m Metis, to name just a few.\u00a0
\nThe first question on our mind was how the team has adjusted to the perhaps poorly named \u2018new normal\u2019 of lockdown. \u2018Like many – a new found familiarity with Zoom and several other collaborative platforms. The danger is having too many and something slipping through! Everyone is doing well, some new skills learnt – some software, some musical, some language. And some bad haircuts.\u2019
\nBannenberg & Rowell are notably responsible for both the exterior and interior design of Lurssen\u2019s Project Hawaii, which was recently spotted undergoing sea trials and on which details have thus far been very thin on the ground. We couldn\u2019t help but ask the designers for more details on her interiors – to no avail. They did comment that they are \u2018very pleased with her exterior\u2019 though, on which the design duo has developed some themes first explored on Feadship\u2019s Joy.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u00a0The field of superyacht design is globally competitive and constantly evolving, with owner demographic shifting and with it the very landscape of superyachting. We asked Bannenberg and Rowell where they got their inspiration to keep each project innovative, even after so many years in the game.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u2018\u200bI like to think from all around, in quite random ways. It’s fun and instructive to mix influences: when we did an interior for an aircraft a while back, we referenced Sean Connery’s tailoring, Mad Men and silhouettes inspired by Louis Vuitton luggage.\u2019
\nIt is this synergy of influences and inspiration, we imagine, which makes Bannenberg & Rowell such a notable name in superyachting and beyond, and a top pick for the world\u2019s most prestigious shipyards time and again. Having worked on such a multitude of flagship projects, we asked Dickie if he could pick a favourite.\u00a0
\n\u2018My father would have said “the next one\u201d,\u2019 he told us. \u2018I’ll leave that one to him and say “the current one”.\u2019
\nAs it is a designer\u2019s vocation to turn an owner\u2019s dream into reality, we were curious to know whether Bannenberg has ever had to refuse a request. \u2018Not due to our choice. They are the owners we mustn’t forget, so it’s their prerogative essentially. There are things that couldn’t be done after pretty exhaustive investigation. Jellyfish towers and 30 knot armchairs spring to mind….\u2019
\nAs the delivery of Project Hawaii draws nearer, this studio is far from resting on its laurels. In terms of what lies in store for Bannenberg & Rowell:
\n\u2018Another Lurssen new build due for delivery next year and a large 100m + explorer due for delivery in 2022. Two interesting concepts – 43m and 50m – coming in the next few weeks. Oh, and some furniture design.\u2019<\/p>\n
\t Dickie Bannenberg (right) and Simon Rowell (left) <\/p>\n
\t Lurssen Project Hawaii <\/p>\n
\t Feadship Joy <\/p>\n
\t Benetti Metis <\/p>\n
\t Project Echo HSV <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bannenberg & Rowell on Exceptional Design Proudly waving the flag for British design talent on the global stage, Bannenberg & Rowell Design has dominated the field of superyacht design for two decades. Recently making headlines as Lurssen\u2019s Project Hawaii nears … <\/p>\n