on 4 Jul 2022
Britain's Opulent Designs International is creating extravagant custom elevators for new-build superyachts
When you’re decking out a custom superyacht interior, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Sure, a steel elevator will get you from one floor to the next, but where’s the flamboyance in that?
The owner of one superyacht in Florida has decided to elevate their vessel by commissioning UK-based carbon-fibre lift designer, Opulent Designs International, to design a bespoke superyacht lift from carbon fibre.
The ultra-lightweight lifts are constructed for Opulent Designs International in the UK by carbon-fibre specialist Supernatural-X at its 10,000 square metre facility. They will then be shipped to Holland Marine Lifts BV in Rotterdam for assembly and on-board installation.
A fully operational Opulent Designs carbon fibre lift is also being installed at Holland Marine Lifts’ own facility this spring as a working showcase for superyacht builders, designers and project managers.
As well as a huge weight saving – Opulent Designs’ lift cabins and shafts can weigh up to a twentieth of their steel counterparts – another big advantage is the flexibility that carbon fibre construction allows designers. Virtually any design is possible and the strength of the material (typically five times stronger than steel) makes for less bulky shafts, keeping usable living spaces on all decks as large as possible.
Opulent Designs International works with a number of designers and craftsmen – including renowned UK and international brands Silverlining Furniture, Shamsian and Taurini – to produce bespoke finishes for lift cabin interiors.
Different operating mechanisms are offered, all allowing lift cabins to appear through a hatch, appearing on an otherwise flush deck.
Opulent Designs International’s British team includes the former Managing Director of a Far Eastern lift manufacturer – responsible for the construction of the world’s first carbon fibre lift – and co-directors with extensive experience in the development and marketing of luxury property.