on 4 Apr 2022
Olokun, the third hull of Italian builder Tankoa Yachts' 50-metre all-aluminium line, is a sleek proposition with inspiration from Japanese minimalistic design
Recently launched at Tankoa’s shipyard in Genoa, Olokun features clean lines that lead the way inside and out, with a nod to Japanese design. The 50-metre all-aluminium yacht has an interior layout by renowned Milan-based Francesco Paszkowski and interior decor by Miami-based Casa Dio studio.
At the owner’s request, the yacht’s semi-displacement hull was customised in stylish black and topped with a metallic grey superstructure – somewhat evocative of the vehicles, boats and flying machines seen in the Batman Dark Knight series.
As dark hulls easily overheat in the sunshine, Tankoa specified special coatings from Awlgrip, the Netherlands, which can reduce the temperature of the metal hull by as much as 10 degrees Celsius.
Glass bulwarks and fold-out balconies maximise seaviews
Something of a ‘dream yacht’, Olokun is the third hull of the highly customisable weight-saving all-aluminium S501 line, which offers the choice of traditional or hybrid propulsion systems. Both options are fuel-efficient and nearly silent.
Olokun is fitted with twin 12000hp MTU 8V4000 M54 diesel engines. Her maximum speed clocks in at an impressive 17.5 knots, while her cruising speed is 14 knots. An ocean-crossing range of 4,5000nm is achieved while running at 11 knots.
The horizon is a focal point for the designers of S501: glass bulwarks and fold-out balconies maximise the many uninterrupted views of water and landscape. And while generous relaxation areas are wide open spaces to allow for roaming, sharing and privacy on Olokun, as they are in the first two S501 hulls, it’s the interiors of this third hull that both the owner and shipyard were most pleased with at launch time.
Something of a ‘dream yacht’, Olokun is the third hull of the highly customisable weight-saving, all- aluminium S501 line that has the choice of traditional or hybrid propulsion systems
Olokun‘s tailor-made interior decor by Casa Dio, a US studio with experience in the residential, aviation and marine sectors – was formed around three distinguishing principles: simple lines inspired by Japanese design; bespoke, one-off furniture pieces; and the use of top-quality fabrics from prestigious Italian brand Loro Piana.
Wood plays a key role in Olokun’s interior design
“We believe in innovation through the unusual minimalist but contemporary use of interior finishes and furniture,” says Dio Rodriguez, founder of Casa Dio. “The use of neutral colours throughout the carpentry and furniture allowed for a high contrast and timeless quality.”
The carpentry and furniture are imbued with neutral colours
The development of the interior and furniture design was specifically based on the owner’s tastes, which resulted in a lot of wood being used – a balanced mix of brushed oak in three different shades: natural oak, and what the studio calls Tokyo Black and Bitter Grey.
These three colours are alternated for vertical trims and ceilings, a theme that runs harmoniously through all decks. It also appears in bathrooms, paired with the tougher elegance of Compac high-tech quartz composite for light grey and black marbled trims, and in the cabins with jute and wool carpeting by Loro Piana. All furniture pieces were custom designed and manufactured by Casa Dio’s craftsmen.
High up on the owner’s wish list was a hammam lounge and relaxation area – to be as close as possible to the ocean, which led to the challenge of maximising the beach club space within the volume of the 50-metre yacht.
A major challenge was maximising the beach club space within the volume of the yacht
“To bring the owner’s requirements to reality, we transformed the beach club space to create the hammam and also converted the tender garage into a lounge where the owners would find additional space for relaxation,” says Rodriguez. “By doing this, we were able not just to meet, but also exceed the owner’s expectations.”
High up on the owner’s wish list was a hammam lounge and relaxation area – to be as close as possible to the ocean
The owner also requested the main saloon to be as large as possible, so it was decided to move the dining room to the upper deck, where there are two dining tables, one interior and one on the open aft deck, which can both seat a full complement of guests. For the interior dining room, Rodriguez and the design team worked on incorporating areas with access that can open up so that those on board can enjoy the view and interiors simultaneously.
The tender garage was converted into a lounge for relaxation
Through the décor, the yacht’s interior brings a sense of residential life at sea. At the same time, the exterior vistas and decks create an altogether more nautical experience, if a pretty elevated one. Located forward on the main deck, the master cabin is fitted with a private ensuite living room that can cleverly morph into a fully ensuite additional cabin if needed.
The transformable 50-metre format seems a success for Tankoa Yachts, which is a specialist builder of one-off yachts over 45 metres in length. Olokun was sold by Camper & Nicholsons in 2020. In September last year, it reported that it had sold its fourth and fifth hulls of this size, both hoped to be delivered by summer of this year.
Technical specifications: S501 Olokun
LOA: 50m
Beam: 9.4m
Draught (loaded): 2.4m
Displacement: 499T
Engines: 2 x MTU 8V4000 M54
Max speed: 17.5kn
Cruising Speed: 14kn
Range (at 11kn): 4,500nm