The profile of superyacht Sparta, designed by Heesen Yachts, is characterised by a reverse bow augmenting her length. There’s an assertive sweep of thermobonded tinted glass from bow to stern.
The earth-themed main salon features dining chairs with seat backs upholstered in real palm leaf. Winch avoided high-gloss finishes for a more natural look. The two paintings by Nat Maks use a traditional Japanese marbling technique.
A nook showcases a large ceramic vase from Linda Bird Gallery; the table lamps are from by Lisette Rutzou.
One of two his-and-hers owners’ suites, his suite features a work area, a dresser with Bardiglio Nuvolato blue-grey top and a 180-degree view of the sea outside. The skylight offers the perfect vantage point for stargazing. The constellation feature wall laser-cut by Alex Hull is inlaid with gold and mother-of-pearl.
Designer Alex Hull created the digitally carved staircase, traveling from lower deck to upper deck, from six European oak trees sustainably harvested in France.
The lower deck features a walk-in wellness area with Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym, beauty area, and lounge area. Palm leaf-inspired custom artwork lines the wall.
The handblown pendant light in this guest suite is from Preciosa. Amazonite tops the night table. The art work above the bed by Silverlining utiizes different types of leather, representing the inside of a butterlfy wing.
While the sink is made from Emerald Crystal quartzite, the walls are painted with a green plaster.
With a view of the tranquil waters and wide-open horizon, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed in this VIP cabin.
An exceptionally glamorous, 220-foot, $100 million vessel, Sparta was constructed by the long-established Dutch shipbuilder Heesen Yachts. With a range of 4,500 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 16 knots, she provides accommodations for 12 fortunate guests (attended by 14 crew members) in two owner’s suites, two VIP suites and two double guest suites. “Sparta is a low-volume, sporty and elegant yacht with lots of functionality for a boat of her size,” says Julia Roestenberg, senior interior designer on the project. Both the exterior and interior are the work of London-based Winch Design, a company founded in 1986, which is now globally renowned for bespoke superyachts and private jets. Sparta’s Snow-White exterior with metallic Venetian Red and Anthracite Gray details gives her a dashing contemporary look, while a reverse bow augments her apparent length and emphasizes her slender form.
The social center of Sparta is her main deck aft, featuring a salon that extends across the entire beam (width) of the yacht, with a dining area inspired by the private dining room of The Connaught hotel in London, and a seating area centered on a spectacular coffee table made from two parts of a giant oak tree trunk. Keeping weight to a minimum is a major challenge on superyachts and much of the custom furniture is hollow, while the marble tops on the vanities, nightstands and credenzas were milled down to be thinner and lighter.
Perhaps the yacht’s most important unifying design element is its magnificent oak staircase, which scrolls up between three decks. (There is also a glass-enclosed elevator.) Its designer, Alex Hull of Hull Studio in London, used wood from six sustainably harvested French oak trees to create the digitally carved paneling. “The staircase took 18 months from conception to production,” explains Jim Dixon, Winch Design’s studio principal, Yachts & Aviation division, “and after it was installed, the timber was allowed to settle into its new space for several weeks during sea trials.”
Sparta’s owner’s deck has huge “his and hers” suites with wraparound windows offering 180-degree views. Two marine-themed cabins for children are separated by a panel wall that can be opened. A work of art in itself, this is a tapestry of dyed goatskin vellum. And the carpet, with blue wave-like patterns, has a “Robinson Crusoe” island woven into its center.
The yacht’s lower deck is dedicated to the spectacular Japanese-inspired spa, which offers a large oval whirlpool, a steam room, sauna, gym, and a beauty treatment area.
Despite the yacht’s austere-sounding name, life aboard Sparta promises to be anything other than spartan.
