After talking to Olivier Racoupeau, designer of the new upcoming Allures Horizon 47 in the last article, it was about time to talk to his wife: Isabelle Racoupeau is a renowned interior designer who´s expertise had been proven in various models released by Berret-Racoupeau design bureau over the last decade: How is it like to work with her husband? How does work on external and interior designs complement each other? There are so many questions, so let´s dive right into it!
You might have read my articles about the new Allures Horizon 47 which is due to be launched later this year. I am sure that this design will be disruptive in a sense that it really presents something previously unseen and unheard of in monohull design, moreover, improving luxury and onboard comforts for a go-anywhere yacht. The Horizon 47 is a perfect specimen at which the work of yacht designers can be seen: Creative, forward-thinking but also finding the right balance between their client´s demands (the shipyards) and the strive to adhere to sailor´s needs.
The Allures Horizon 47, in my view, is a perfect example of how a shipyard can re-define a well-established concept, come up with something really new and at the same time carefully groom their existing customer base, whilst winning a new group of clients. The first article was about her exteriors, designed by Olivier Racoupeau. In this second part, I´ve taken my chance to ask a few questions to Isabelle Racoupeau: She and her team were responsible for the interiors. In this, it´s a nice chance to also shine a light on how the couple works together.
Introducing Isabelle Racoupeau
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “First of all, congratulations Isabelle for this wonderful interior of the Horizon 47! It´s really something unexpected and completely new! Chapeau! Say: When you went for the design of the interior, had Olivier already finished the exterior? Who´s idea was it to integrate the large side windows with the “horizon-recess”?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: “Hello Lars and thanks for the compliments! To answer your first question right away: No, not at all! The interior design comes at the very start of the concept, on the contrary. Olivier and I worked together on a concept that was centered on sea views, the quality of life on board the boat, as well as safe movement for crew and guests around the vessel. Consequently, the very idea of incorporating a large “porthole” to look outwards emerged right from the start. It really is one, if not the, integral part of this boat’s concept.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “I am in sailing for a decade now and I didn´t knew that you are indeed an interior designer for sailboats: I am sure that this fact is a complete surprise for many other people too. Maybe that´s due to your husband´s big name …? Please tell us a bit more about your design background and previous projects.“
Isabelle Racoupeau: „I really don’t know if this comes as a surprise to many people. I think my husband’s reputation means that people inevitably associate my name with Berret-Racoupeau’s naval architecture work. However, I’ve actually been working in interior design for 18 years now. It was back in 2008 that I joined the company. We set up the interior design department, which I took charge of. Since then, we have been making the interiors of almost all the boats designed by Berret-Racoupeau, as well as for other brands where we handle the interiors exclusively.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “It shouldn´t come as a surprise, you are right! Maybe that´s the fate of interior designers of always being a bit in the shadows. As this wasn´t your first work with Grand Large Yachting – what was special about the Horizon 47? Did you have free reign on decisions?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: (smiles, knowingly) “You are right, let´s focus on the boats. What makes the design and concept of the Horizon 47 so special is, in fact, the life on board. We tried to focus so much more on the quality of the view owners and guests would have from inside, watching the outside world. Also, the the ability to move around the boat in complete safety was of utmost priority. This goes for being at anchor as well as for being underway, even in heavily moved water. To be honest, Olivier and I had already been thinking about this concept for a few years now. When the request by Allures Yachts came, we decided that it was the right time to move forward with it. So we developed it for the future Allures. The rest is history: We then drew up a set of specifications and a brief with the shipyard in order have their demands and requests properly incorporated. The interesting thing is that they had as well asked for a design that would put an enhanced convivial life on board on the top priorities.”
How do designers come up with ideas for interiors?
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “I have talked to a lot of naval architects an boat designers, from icons like German Frers or Södergren to Soto Acebal, your husband of course, Marc Lombard … so I have a pretty good understanding how designing a boat´s exterior works. I have no idea whatsoever how an interior designer tackles such a task: How did you approach the H47 project, to begin with?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: „Regarding the interior design of the Horizon 47, I would say that the ideas really came from the concept itself. In other words, as this is a long-distance cruising yacht, the interior design aims to create a space where you feel safe and secure. Just as if you were in a cocoon. This was kind of the underlying motive here. So the idea was to create an interior that is comfortable, soothing, reassuring and enveloping, whilst still offering a great view of the outside. This meant we would need to shape something that would provide excellent visibility, an unobstructed views of the sea, the ocean, what is happening at anchor, and even whilst underway. A true cocoon with a view of the sea“
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Do you use pencil and paper? Sketching and playing around “by hand”, before switching to the digital world? How does Isabelle Racoupeau work and what have been the principal major stages in designing the Horizon 47 interior?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: „Yes, that’s right. I indeed start off by working with a pencil and an eraser. I jot down ideas and sketches, draw up rough designs for the furniture, and choose the materials that best suit the desired atmosphere and meet the durability requirements for a marine environment. I work like this at first, to refine and clarify my ideas. Then, we move on to a more digital approach with my team. I have the pleasure to be working with a highly specialized team with excellent expertise in the field.
When we reach that stage, we start modelling the interiors of the boat using software such as CATIA. We then create 3D models of all the boat interiors we design, and texture the 3D models to produce realistic renderings. It´s indeed pretty amazing to see how it all comes to life, from a pencil-sketch to a fully detailed 3D-model!”
Are interiors for aluminum yachts different from others?
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “That´s interesting! By any chance, are you the type of designer who uses life-sized mock-ups? If yes, what can a mockup deliver which cannot be reproduced by CAD or VR? If you used one for the Horizon 47, which area was it and which points did you change because of the learnings of the mock-up?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: „Mock-ups are indeed a very interesting topic. Yes, we do use them, sometimes. We´d produce a full-scale mock-up to check the ergonomics and finish. As this is an elaborate and costly process, we do this particularly often for custom-built boats. However, we are currently developing a software that allows us to use a VR-headset to enter the boat directly in 3D. This way we can check the ergonomics as well, but it also allows us to work quicker. We can speed up the process of assessing whether the volumes are well-proportioned, whether they are suitable, or whether we like the design and the view to the outside. We can also apply changes more quickly. So this is a new process that we are using more and more. Nowadays we mainly use mock-ups more to validate the finish of the materials and to appreciate the craft of furniture-making.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “So what´s the greatest difference between the Allures 45.9 and the new Horizon 47 interior-wise? What can a sailor, crew and guests expect from this new yacht which is (at least not to this amount) delivered by the 45.9 as well? What are your favorite details about the Horizon 47 which make you particularly proud?“
Isabelle Racoupeau: „Yes there are differences, of course! The differences between the Allures 45.9 and the Horizon 47 are mostly the sense of space inside the yacht, the visibility outside, the amount of natural light in all corners and places of the yacht, and the brightness that envelops and floods the whole interior. To achieve something truly special, we have worked extensively on the shapes of the yacht´s furniture, incorporating plenty of softness and curves to give it a very cozy feel. I must say that I am very proud of the ambience and atmosphere that results, it was a great team effort and the outcome is magnificent!”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Lastly, did you find it difficult to design an interior that is both lush and luxurious on the one hand, but also communicates safety and ruggedness, which is one big aspect of an aluminum-yacht?”
Isabelle Racoupeau: „No, not at all! The safety and robustness of aluminum boats is an integral part of their DNA, so our interiors must adhere to this. Those two aren’t mutually exclusive. Aluminum can, in fact, be treated in a very elegant and refined way, even in the exterior lines – as you can see in the boat!”
Isabelle, merci beaucoup, for this interesting insight into your work. I more and more appreciate the work of interior designers – and I look especially forward to finally get to see the Horizon 47 live and in reality later this year!
You may as well like to read these related articles:
Master of the hexagon: Talking to interior designer Luca Ardizio
How I planned the new interior for my first refit project
Different interior design concepts in modern cruising yachts, parts 1 and 2
