Designer kitchens feature in the most beautiful yachts and watercrafts
Kitchens on board yachts have changed. In order to meet the needs of the most demanding ship owners, today’s biggest shipyard architects and designers opt for designer kitchens. We are talking about kitchens that combine sophisticated lines with the highest performance.
When we speak of designer kitchens, we’re not just talking about kitchens which are beautiful to look at; we’re especially (and above all) referring to well-designed kitchens which are versatile, customisable and highly functional.
Kitchens designed for the shipbuilding sector and for luxury boats need to meet extremely high and rigorous quality, resistance and functionality requirements.
Yacht interiors that look like ones you would find in a house
Until recently, the nautical world was synonymous with a highly traditional style: glossy mahogany furniture, brass accessories, and white and blue striped fabrics. We’re talking about the so-called “Old Navy” style that we still see today on small-sized boats or older watercrafts.
However, the trend today has radically changed on board yachts and sizeable pleasure crafts. The traditional nautical style has given way to a more minimal and contemporary style. The interior spaces of luxury boats reflect the style you would find in a house.
Evidence of this trend is the fact that the most important architectural studios specialised in the naval industry or great ‘archistars’ are often called upon to design the interior spaces of mega yachts. The goal is to personalise spaces to the max, making the interiors more welcoming and, of course, capable of impressing guests.
Kitchens on board yachts become the central living space
The kitchen space has a privileged place in this radical transformation process that the luxury naval industry is undergoing. Actually, we should speak in the plural and say kitchens. Because, more often than not, on bigger yachts or vessels, there’s more than one kitchen.
Important kitchens always feature on board big yachts. These spaces used by the chef on board and by his staff are inspired by professional kitchens, that is to say kitchens with features which are of the highest standards in terms of ergonomics, performance and functionality.
We are talking about floating kitchens which can perform to high standards, are well-equipped and organised… kitchens which would not be out of place in a Michelin-star restaurant. It is right in these kitchens that chefs prepare their dishes every day for their shipowners and their guests. And it’s also where the most important dinners are prepared.
Kitchens on board yachts represent highly important strategic spaces. This is precisely why designers often consult the shipowner’s personal chef when planning them.
How kitchens on yachts are designed
It’s not easy to design kitchens for the shipbuilding industry, especially for luxury vessels and sizeable yachts. As previously mentioned, aesthetics aren’t enough. In these highly peculiar and complex spaces, kitchens need to comply with specific rules and meet extremely rigid standards.
But let’s see which features kitchens on board yachts and vessels need to have.
1. Personalisation
Kitchens on board leisure boats need to be customisable.
They are always tailor made and are inserted in spaces where the walls are not regular. They require ample space to store food. This is why choosing a partner who can make and install tailor-made kitchens, designed to perfection down to the finest detail and adaptable to an infinite range of solutions, is essential.
2. Functionality
Kitchens on board yachts need to guarantee the maximum practicality of space.
This is a fundamental aspect of any kitchen, but it is even truer for unique spaces (and sometimes tight spaces) such as kitchens on board boats. Perfect organisation and a rational use of space are guaranteed by the modular Gastronorm system, which features standard international measures for all kitchen containers and accessories (casserole dishes, containers, trays, etc.).
3. Ergonomics
Kitchens on yachts need to be planned with the greatest attention to ergonomics. Just like in the kitchens of a restaurant, chefs spend hours on their feet, moving from one position to another on board luxury boats. And if we also factor in the fact that watercrafts are constantly “moving”, then performing daily operations becomes even harder than on terra firma. This is why it is important to optimise and simplify the chef’s work in the kitchen by designing ergonomic kitchens which take into account movement and usage.
To this end, more often than not, architects and chefs work together to design a unique kitchen, tailored like a custom-made outfit.
4. Professional appliances
Electrical appliances play a very important role in the kitchens on board yachts and sizeable vessels. They must be functional, ensure high performance and be suited to such a peculiar environment. These kitchens need to be professional in order to allow chefs to prepare all kinds of dishes, even the more sophisticated ones, and organise cooking times in the best way possible. Fridges and freezers must also have lots of storage space in order to face even the longer journeys.
5. Materials
While it is true that kitchens on board boats are becoming more similar to those you would find in homes, it is also true that they need to operate in more complicated environments. What’s more, kitchens on board vessels are often operational 24/7 and several people work in them, just like in a restaurant. This is why kitchens on yachts need to feature resistant materials of the highest quality.
On luxury boats and sizeable ones, stainless steel kitchens are preferable. This material is fully waterproof, and it is scratch and impact resistant. Upon request, kitchens can also be made in special AISI 316 stainless steel; this material is particularly well-suited in environments with a high level of saltiness in the air.
6. Easy to clean
Kitchens designed for yachts need to guarantee the perfect conditions of hygiene and cleanliness. This is why it is advisable to opt for a fully stainless-steel kitchen. Stainless steel is a biologically neutral metal alloy. It is anti-bacterial and easy to clean. Kitchens designed for boats should also include joint-free worktops and feature interior compartments with rounded corners to prevent the gathering of dirt and bacteria. A clean and well-sanitised kitchen makes for serene sailing and peace of mind when it comes to the well-being of the vessel owner, guests and crew.
7. Safety
Kitchens for ships and pleasure boats need to be designed while taking into account problems connected to a constantly-changing environment. In order to prevent containers from accidentally opening while sailing, it is important to ensure that these are fitted with the necessary safety block mechanisms.
Kitchens on board boats should have no sharp edges – starting from the work surfaces – in order to make navigation safe and as comfortable as possible for the chef and his assistants.
Designer Kitchens for Yachts by Abimis
Abimis is an Italian company specialised in planning and creating professional designer kitchens. It offers the best furnishing solutions when it comes to kitchens on board yachts and luxury boats.
Kitchens for yachts by Abimis can be fully customisable, are made entirely in stainless steel and comply with the highest standards in terms of quality and safety.
