Inside A Super Yacht Designed For And By An Architect (Yacht Tour)

Conscious of balancing key attributes of landscape, orientation and experience, architect Stephen Jolson of Jolson optimises the itinerant lakeside location of his houseboat, Halcyon. The super yacht thoughtfully interprets its unique context to create an architectural home that offers not just a refuge but an experience – one that allows a deep connection to the elements.

Halcyon is a graceful expression of Jolson’s combined interior and architectural expertise, its design seamlessly integrating with elements of the landscape to maximise the unique context. Living on the water means changing orientations and outlooks are to be celebrated. As such, an open plan ground floor with limited joinery, furniture and walls allows many outlooks, with a full-height wall serving as a division that enables the lounge and outdoor dining area to connect seamlessly. The first floor also houses two master bedrooms and two other guest bedrooms that share an ensuite. In the middle of the super yacht is a staircase that extends to the open rooftop, which houses a woodfired hot tub.

The super yacht takes advantage of its mooring by welcoming the textures of the landscape inside the architecture of the boat, recounting a strong connection between the water and the landscape with the interior design. Floor-to-ceiling windows, an open floor plan with minimal partitions and large, functional outdoor spaces were all incorporated to maximise the indoor-outdoor connection. In addition, the way natural light passes through the home in such abundance was key in influencing the layout of the bedrooms and the interior palette.

Materiality is another way that the textures of the landscape become part of the interior design of the super yacht. While the fully insulated fibreglass exterior architecture of the boat is strong and sleek, it is juxtaposed by a calm and soft interior that echoes the alluring contrast of the serene yet rugged Australian coastal landscape. A sense of calm is derived from a limited palette of materials – with the objective being to not overcrowd but to connect to the landscape as much as possible – featuring a combination of saw-cut oak floorboards, polished plaster walls, plasterboard and timber. Furniture is minimalist and contemporary, with tones kept neutral and raw.

Halcyon is not just a home but an experience in itself, whether it be watching the day change from morning to night as the tide comes in or glimpsing the reflection of the moon upon the water. Jolson creates a remarkable, architectural super yacht that encourages connection to the land and the people around.

00:00 - Intro to the Super Yacht
00:32 - Situated Rugged Australian Landscape
00:55 - Special of Living on the Water
01:41 - A Walkthrough of the Super Yacht
02:47 - The Change in quality of Light
02:57 - The History Behind The Super Yacht
03:33 - The Intricacies of Designing A Boat
04:08 - A Limited Material Palette
05:00 - The Privilege of Designing and Building A Boat
05:40 - Creating Experiences and Memories

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Photography by Lucas Allen
Architecture and Interior Design by Jolson
Build by Status Luxury Houseboats
Hydraulics by Faster Plumbers
Filmed and Edited by Cheer Squad Film Co.
Production by The Local Project.

The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.

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