IMAGE: © 2009 Alastair Callender. UK and EU Design Right. Registered Design. UK 4011030. Other rights pending
One of the most popular stories of the past year – not just on Megayacht News, but in international media including CNN.com – is undoubtedly that of Alastair Callender and his “super-green” superyacht concept, Soliloquy. I typically don’t feature concept projects here on Megayacht News, mostly because many cannot be engineered and built as proposed. But Callender’s project was so well thought out that it stands as a worthy exception to the rule. And now it’s gaining more momentum on the international stage, being exhibited at this week’s Abu Dhabi Yacht Show.
In brief, about a year ago, Callender envisioned an eco-friendly megayacht. Rather than just drawing what could be, he researched what was readily available. One of the first companies he contacted was Solar Sailor, an Australian-based producer of patented solarsails. These solarsails have proven time and time again to effectively harness solar and wind energy for ferries and other vessels. Solar Sailor’s team and Callender determined that Soliloquy would be capable of speeds to 8 knots powered only by solar energy. This, in turn, would make her emission-free and lower in cost to operate.
IMAGE: Jensen Interiors Ltd., Copyright 2010
Callender’s emphasis on employing renewable resources has since caught the attention of Jensen Interiors. The design team is particularly knowledgeable about LEED and BREEAM, the environmental-oriented construction codes employed in the United States and Europe, respectively. Because Jensen Interior’s private clients – megayacht owners and luxury homeowners alike – are beginning to embrace those same codes, the collaboration with Callender seems natural.
The company showcased some initial interior-design concepts at last September’s Monaco Yacht Show, and has since updated them. The results are what you see above and below. They’re also on display, alongside a model of Soliloquy, at the Abu Dhabi show.
IMAGE: Jensen Interiors Ltd., Copyright 2010
Simon Hamilton, Jensen Interiors’ design director, points out that many of the materials he selected complement Callender’s desire to save both weight and the environment. There’s bamboo flooring, for example, which is stronger and more sustainable than most woods, while also being lighter weight. The specific bamboo he has in mind is also not from areas populated by pandas, another nod to the environment. Meanwhile, coconut-shell and palm-wood paneling can also be used for soles, as well as wall coverings. Each material is typically discarded in favor of other parts of the respective plants.
Even the wallpapers that Hamilton has in mind are eco-friendly. One blends textile fibers and cellulose from sustainable forests, while another is VOC-free. As for furniture fabrics, wool, hemp, and leather are among the selections, with some produced either without pesticides or dyes containing heavy metals. There’s also the ability to reuse (read: recycle) the wool and leather. And speaking of reusing, additional fabrics are made from post-industrial polyester, which eliminates waste and the need to use energy to process virgin polyester.
IMAGE: Jensen Interiors Ltd., Copyright 2010
Abu Dhabi is particularly well suited to showcasing the efforts of these new collaborators. Callender says the region’s Masdar City was among his initial influences. That planned community, presently under construction, is reportedly the world’s first carbon neutral city, where no automobiles will be permitted and only renewable energy like solar power will be used. David Jensen, chairman of Jensen Interiors, appreciates Callendar’s inspiration, having clients in the region.
If you’re attending the show, stop by stand MA42 to see Callender and the Jensen Interiors team. And be sure to ask Callender to demonstrate how the various components on the model of Soliloquy work. Read what I wrote about him in my original story last June; he’s as much someone to keep on your radar now as he was then.
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