The Antalya-based shipyard ARES Yachts has revealed interior design details of the 50.55m SPITFIRE superyacht project, penned by the hands of British design veterans Bannenberg & Rowell.
Set to be built from advanced composites – with construction on the hull slated to begin this spring – the inspiration for SPITFIRE is taken from one of the most famous and evocative aircraft in British aviation history: the Supermarine Spitfire.
Beautiful and sleek
Simon Rowell, Creative Director at Bannenberg & Rowell Design explains more: “This was a simultaneously beautiful and deadly design; a fast, nimble response to the challenges of the new battlefield of World War Two: the air. The spirit of the dogfight, immense individual bravery, optimised engineering, and even sacrifice – as part of the war effort British civilians were rumoured to have given up metal railings from their homes for the fabrication of spitfire parts – this is the spirit of the SPITFIRE project.”
He continues: “Aesthetically the Spitfire was immediately identifiable by its elliptical wing profile. Innovative sunken rivets created an unusually sleek aerodynamic surface. So the story of the ARES SPITFIRE is rooted in this ethos: it is nimble, efficient, dynamic, industrial and engineered. This can be found in our use of smooth surfaces, metallic sheen, earthy and marine colourways and taut honest geometry.”
Refined adventure
With Bannenberg & Rowell Design responsible for crafting a truly unified interior and exterior design, SPITFIRE sports a seriously sleek, low-profile superstructure with bands of dark glass and military grey. Her wide, rounded bow drops vertically from cutaway bulwarks and she has a low, open explorer-style stern befitting her adventurous potential.
Stepping inside, SPITFIRE’s designers have made use of natural colours which are inspired by military and naval camouflage, with materials including punched metal surfaces, leather and tinted glass. The subtlest hints of 1940s industrial architectural style can be found in her glazing bars and the glazing in the bathrooms.
With all guest staterooms boasting large ensuites and ample storage, the owner’s full beam suite can be found forward on the main deck, with four additional spacious guest cabins situated below.
A standout feature of the owner’s cabin can be found in its freestanding bed which offers epic 270-degree sightlines. Film buffs can also take advantage of the outdoor movie theatre found on the private forward cockpit of the owner’s cabin, with its retractable side screens and glass bulwark sections providing a truly stunning oceanic backdrop.
ARES Yachts Managing Director Piraye Sahinkaya Orhun said: “After years of painstaking development and planning, we are so proud to be sharing more details of our latest project with the industry. As a yard, building SPITFIRE will allow us to showcase our unrivalled expertise building in high quality fibreglass, as well as our profound understanding of what makes a safe high-performance hull.”
She continued: “Every moment on board prioritises the modern, active yachting lifestyle – as epitomised by SPITFIRE’s phenomenal and vast beach club area which can be set up with either a lounge and cinema space or a fully equipped-gym. She is perfect for a forward-thinking owner who is ready to both take on the world at pace, and take much-needed time for themselves.”
Read Also:ARES YACHTS creates project ATLAS for intrepid owners
Historical meets contemporary
Eschewing yachting convention, her rooms are playfully named after the project’s main inspiration and uphold its military theme. The master suite is called “The Boss’s Quarters”, the Bridge is “The Pilot House” and comes complete with a guest lounge – the “Ready Room” – which is a panoramic gathering place in the heart of the yacht’s control room. The main deck salon is “The Bunker”, accompanied by the “The D-Fac dining salon” which opens up entirely to the outdoors. However, in a more modern touch, her guest cabins are named “Buddy Quarters” to acknowledge the more democratic nature of the contemporary yachtsperson.
Despite her historical inspiration, SPITFIRE’s design epitomises contemporary open plan yachting and informal living for maximum enjoyment on the water.
On the middle deck, both the D-Fac and The Bunker use two sophisticated moving glazed wall systems to provide light, beautiful views and shelter from the elements, enhancing guests’ experience on her wide aft deck. Moving to the upper deck, the Wardroom harnesses the same system and combines seamlessly with the outdoor aft grill bar and sunbathing pads. Furthermore, in a truly unique feature, the Wardroom’s roof can be raised to bring in fresh air, height and light to the space.
Notably too, due to the vessel being built on speculation, potential owners can also enjoy an element of flexibility to tailor the interior design to meet their personal tastes – particularly in her carpets and soft furnishings – with options available by contacting ARES Yachts.
High performance platform
Primed and ready for adventurous cruising and marrying both high-performance and stability in her design, SPITFIRE offers a top speed of 20+ knots and a cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles. Her innovative and high-tech platform draws on the fast displacement hull dynamics of ARES Yachts’ highly successful ARES 150 BOLD offshore patrol vessel, with her naval architecture by Lateral Naval Architects.
Performance-wise, SPITFIRE is set up with hybrid diesel-electric propulsion for a range of flexible options under power.
Twin 290kW electric motors can tap her large battery bank and propel her for up to an hour. Emissions-free electric power can also run the yacht’s hotel systems overnight in total peace and quiet. Furthermore, the optional extra battery package can push the silent operation out to 11 hours, even in Mediterranean conditions. Her variable speed generators guarantee optimal quietness and efficiency for those on board.
As this iconic project comes to life and the industry awaits further updates, the final word can be given to Rowell: “From the seed of an idea which germinated over many years with our countrymen collaborators at Lateral, through to capturing the imagination of the feisty visionaries at ARES Yachts and the dynamic Denison Yachts & Christie Yachts Team, we just can’t wait to see this project come to fruition, and to share both our team and our ideas with an incoming owner.”
