on 23 Jan 2023
The lunar-inspired 60m Lusine by detail-orientated Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts performs as smartly as it looks
With a volume of 1,079 tonnes, Lusine’s all-steel displacement hull, honed by Heesen Yachts naval architects, enables its twin MTU diesel engines to reaches a top speed of 17.5 knots, and at a cruising speed of 13 knots, the yacht has a range of 4,200 nautical miles.
“This is a design that represents next-level shipbuilding for Heesen,” says its Dutch architect and yacht designer Frank Laupman, founder of Omega Architects, who has more than a hundred yacht designs under his belt to date. “It takes an existing signature concept and customises it to a unique extent, from the height of the furniture backs, which have been lowered from standard to ensure unimpeded views, to the touch-and-go helipad on the top aft sundeck, which also doubles as a sports area.”
Exterior lines integrate the main, bridge and sun decks without interrupting the bold, horizontal sweep of the tinted windows.
Exterior lines integrate the main, bridge and sun decks without interrupting the bold, horizontal sweep of the tinted windows. “That meant pushing the optical centre of gravity forward, including the mast, to accommodate a closed deck,” explains Laupman. The resulting expansive aluminium superstructure of the Lusine makes the boat immediately recognisable.
Spacious deck areas forward and aft allow plenty of private spaces on board.
“This is a design that represents next-level shipbuilding for Heesen.” – yacht designer Frank Laupman, Omega Architects
Lusine means “Moon” in Armenian, and this superyacht takes its overall design cue from lunar mythology. The name reflects an exterior that’s an exercise in balance and harmony; the yacht’s logo is a waning crescent moon, and there are rounded silhouettes throughout, repeated in furniture shapes and inset exterior lighting.
Round and curved forms dominate the decor by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design.
The yacht’s outdoor deck space is sheltered from the elements by the cantilever of the bridge deck overhead, and the aft terrace acts as an extension of the owner’s 50sqm stateroom. The main deck’s sizeable 77sqm aft terrace incorporates an informal wet bar.
The interiors of Lusine have Art Deco-inspired elements, including polished wood veneers, steel lines and marble inlays, within a layout that maintains an optical sense of the yacht’s airy spaciousness and length. Heads and bathrooms contain 1920s voyage trunk-style cabinetry topped by generous onyx counters (see below).
An indoors highlight is the polished stripe-grained Macassar ebony dining table, featuring two ‘lazy Susans’ crafted in hammered bronze and agate. A games tabletop is inset with a lunar meteorite, a nod to the majesty of the natural world.
Rounded silhouettes throughout echo the lunar theme of this superyacht.
Interior designer Paul Costerus, a partner at Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, also in Holland, incorporated several other custom elements requested by the owner. Unusually, every guest en-suite stateroom features extra-wide single beds, to better comfortably accommodate family and friends (see below). Cabins feature joinery with automatic locking devices, for passengers’ peace of mind.
Two tender garages – one at the swim platform, the other positioned forward – each hold a Boston Whaler tender, as well as Jetskis and other marine toys.
The forward garage houses a tender and marine toys, as does a second garage at the aft swim platform.
Shunning contemporary trends in favour of timeless appeal, the interiors of Lusine blend understatement with a few statement elements, custom details and precision engineering. Her design is both a homage to the grand tradition of yachting and an opportunity to push the boundaries of interior architecture.
Two years in the conception and nearly four years in build, this thoughtfully crafted yacht blends custom detailing with precision engineering, resulting in a modern yacht with timeless appeal.
Technical Specifications: Heesen Yachts Lusine
LOA: 60.6m
Beam: 10.9m
Draught (standard keel): 3.5m
Displacement (half load): 800t
Engine: 2 X MTU 4000 series, diesel
Max speed: 17.5 knots
Cruising speed: 13 knots
Suites: full-beam owner’s stateroom; 2 VIP suites; 6 twin
Crew accommodation: up to 15