It’s a marine masterpiece. Our work on the stunning superyacht Madame Kate has seen Harris Grant winning ‘Best User Experience’ at the 2016 Crestron Integration Awards
The 60m vessel represents the last word in cosseted luxury for its owner and guests. Underpinning the vessel’s sophisticated AV, communication and environmental systems is a large-scale, technically complex Crestron-controlled DM/AV installation stretching from bow to stern. Also notable on this ambitious project is seamless vertical Crestron integration with a vessel-wide KNX installation, as well as Crestron integration with Bridge, VSAT, and TVRO (television reception) systems.
Neil Grant (2nd left) at Crestron Integration Awards 2016
Our custom user interface gives Madame Kate’s owner, guests and crew fingertip control over audiovisual entertainment and environmental systems from their personal iPad minis. TV, audio and video servers, lighting dimmers and scenes, blinds/drapes, aircon temperature and fan speed are all managed via the intuitive touch interface, created especially by Harris Grant with additional UX (user experience) consultancy from award-winning graphic designers Crab.
In addition, Harris Grant designed all IT systems aboard Madame Kate, including servers and networking plus wired and wireless LAN access across all areas of the vessel.
Madame Kate’s owners have enjoyed flawless operation of all on-board systems since the vessel was delivered in April 2015. As Second Engineer Sébastien Filippi reports; “It’s incredible – AV, IT and control systems have all been in use 24/7, ever since the owner and his family boarded the vessel on the day of delivery. We’ve just completed our first season at sea with no issues or interruptions. It’s been a total success.”
Maritime environments present special challenges to any AV installer. Audio, video and other entertainment sources must perform flawlessly alongside other systems while the vessel is at sea, often for months at a time. Ease of integration is typically hampered by physical vibration, moisture and extremes of temperature, as well as lack of space and access constraints on board. And most of all, the solution must discreetly complement the fit and finish of a typical superyacht’s high-end interior design, where style and luxury in every detail are a reflection of the clients’ uncompromising requirements.
A Crestron-based solution has allowed Harris Grant to provide Madame Kate’s owner with the same living experience enjoyed by residents of a high-end hotel or apartment, with effortless access to audiovisual entertainment and environmental controls.
Styled for a Latin American client by acclaimed marine architect Tim Heywood, the 60m new-build features the pioneering ‘Axe Bow’ hull concept that helps maintain stability at high speeds and in heavy seas.
Madame Kate is Amels’ second Limited Edition 199 yacht, following closely in the wake of its sister Event that Harris Grant completed work on in 2014. Based around a standardised hull configuration, Amels’ ‘Limited Edition’ concept lets clients work with interior designers of their choice to create a completely personalised environment that’s unique to each owner.
“It’s an incredibly personal thing”, says Neil Grant. “Every superyacht owner is different, with their own clear vision about what they want to achieve. The strength of our technical approach means we can build, refine and instantly reconfigure systems to deliver exactly the functionality that each client wants.”