Life of the Party
Ameet Sarvaiya, chief technology officer at Dutch technology specialists Van Berge Henegouwen (VBH), reveals some of the latest innovations in entertainment technology that may lead to a new breed of owner taking the plunge.…
What VBH is experiencing is a growing demand from owners for their yachts to have the facility to party on a grand scale. This development is down to a number of factors, not least that the increasing average size of yachts means that more space is available for super-sized socialising. It can also be attributed to a new generation of owners for whom a superyacht is a platform for entertaining and impressing friends, business partners and other associates. These individuals are not only looking to be able to accommodate large groups of people, but also seeking to replicate the full nightclub experience, complete with professional DJs and the equipment they require.
Of course, even on the largest superyacht, space isn’t limitless. The key to having a super-sized entertainment zone is to create multi-functional spaces that can serve multiple purposes; for example, a sundeck by day that is easily converted into a party deck at night. Achieving this requires careful planning at the earliest stages of the design, so that all the necessary cabling is installed, and sockets and other access points are placed in the correct positions without being intrusive.
For those owners who want even more, VBH is developing concept designs that will take the party experience to a whole new level. For example, not every occasion will require a professional DJ, but the owner and the guests may still want the nightclub experience. For that, VBH is specifying that the regular AV system is integrated with ‘djay’ software, a digital music-mixing program that transforms anything from a computer to an iPad into a fully fledged DJ system which is seamlessly integrated with your music library and Spotify, enabling owners, guests or crew to act as the DJ. It is also possible to use the djay Apple Watch app, which would allow you to move around the dance floor and enjoy yourself while continuing to direct the party.
Audio installations are also likely to grow in power. In one project, VBH is proposing the installation of six custom-installed California Audio Technology (CAT) speakers, the most high-end, expensive personal speakers on the market, plus two 18-inch subwoofers powered by 600-watt amplifiers. Four additional speakers can also be connected using specially designed floor-standing poles on the fore and aft decks when required. A sound web audio digital sound processor (DSP) in the rack will be used for setting the right mood, based on the type of music being played. You can set different sound modes for the type of music you are listening to so that the DSP can enhance the music based on the genre/space. Church mode, for example, means that music sounds like it is coming from a church. Despite the system’s small footprint, it will provide more than enough punch for even the most dedicated club-goers.
Arguably the most noticeable innovations for future yachts will be in the scale and sophistication of lighting installations – both internal and external – and their ability to be fully programmable so as to integrate with the music to create any ambience. The new generation of owners expects the full experience: DMX lights, lasers, moving heads, strobes and video projection. At the same time, sound-to-light software can sync the lighting effects to the beat and mood of the music while sensors can enable the lights to react to individuals on the dance floor. The regular RGB LED lighting for the lounge can be integrated into the overall nightclub control, and cabling and sockets for specialist lights can be installed during the build along with mounts, allowing them to be dismounted and stored when not required. The club atmosphere can be additionally enhanced with VJ (video) content being played on screens mounted in locations such as behind the bar and dance floor.
The club experience can also be extended to the furniture and other fittings. LuxperienceLab, the bespoke design label of VBH, is developing an interactive bar that will take the club experience to a new level. “Party-goers will be able to use it to interact with other people at the bar, get help selecting drinks and enjoy an almost endless range of other experiences thanks to its programming potential,” Caspar Kleiman, manager at LuxperienceLab, tells me. He explains that a number of technologies are being combined to achieve this, including the application of video mapping and touch-foil sensors to transform what can be viewed on the bar's surface according to the wishes of those around it. By day, it might be set to display a range of information and animations about the yacht and its destinations then, by night, embedded, programmable RGB LEDs will be able to alter their colour schemes to match the type and tempo of music being played.
The advantage of such diverse and integrated technology is that the combinations are almost limitless. With programming and content selection done via a tablet with easy-to-use apps, every event can be truly unique. Of course, for many owners this may not be the yachting experience that they wish for, but for others it brings a whole new dimension to going afloat and may even tempt some HNWIs who previously would not have considered buying a yacht to give it a try after all.
Of course, even on the largest superyacht, space isn’t limitless. The key to having a super-sized entertainment zone is to create multi-functional spaces that can serve multiple purposes; for example, a sundeck by day that is easily converted into a party deck at night. Achieving this requires careful planning at the earliest stages of the design, so that all the necessary cabling is installed, and sockets and other access points are placed in the correct positions without being intrusive.
For those owners who want even more, VBH is developing concept designs that will take the party experience to a whole new level. For example, not every occasion will require a professional DJ, but the owner and the guests may still want the nightclub experience. For that, VBH is specifying that the regular AV system is integrated with ‘djay’ software, a digital music-mixing program that transforms anything from a computer to an iPad into a fully fledged DJ system which is seamlessly integrated with your music library and Spotify, enabling owners, guests or crew to act as the DJ. It is also possible to use the djay Apple Watch app, which would allow you to move around the dance floor and enjoy yourself while continuing to direct the party.
Audio installations are also likely to grow in power. In one project, VBH is proposing the installation of six custom-installed California Audio Technology (CAT) speakers, the most high-end, expensive personal speakers on the market, plus two 18-inch subwoofers powered by 600-watt amplifiers. Four additional speakers can also be connected using specially designed floor-standing poles on the fore and aft decks when required. A sound web audio digital sound processor (DSP) in the rack will be used for setting the right mood, based on the type of music being played. You can set different sound modes for the type of music you are listening to so that the DSP can enhance the music based on the genre/space. Church mode, for example, means that music sounds like it is coming from a church. Despite the system’s small footprint, it will provide more than enough punch for even the most dedicated club-goers.
Arguably the most noticeable innovations for future yachts will be in the scale and sophistication of lighting installations – both internal and external – and their ability to be fully programmable so as to integrate with the music to create any ambience. The new generation of owners expects the full experience: DMX lights, lasers, moving heads, strobes and video projection. At the same time, sound-to-light software can sync the lighting effects to the beat and mood of the music while sensors can enable the lights to react to individuals on the dance floor. The regular RGB LED lighting for the lounge can be integrated into the overall nightclub control, and cabling and sockets for specialist lights can be installed during the build along with mounts, allowing them to be dismounted and stored when not required. The club atmosphere can be additionally enhanced with VJ (video) content being played on screens mounted in locations such as behind the bar and dance floor.
The club experience can also be extended to the furniture and other fittings. LuxperienceLab, the bespoke design label of VBH, is developing an interactive bar that will take the club experience to a new level. “Party-goers will be able to use it to interact with other people at the bar, get help selecting drinks and enjoy an almost endless range of other experiences thanks to its programming potential,” Caspar Kleiman, manager at LuxperienceLab, tells me. He explains that a number of technologies are being combined to achieve this, including the application of video mapping and touch-foil sensors to transform what can be viewed on the bar's surface according to the wishes of those around it. By day, it might be set to display a range of information and animations about the yacht and its destinations then, by night, embedded, programmable RGB LEDs will be able to alter their colour schemes to match the type and tempo of music being played.
The advantage of such diverse and integrated technology is that the combinations are almost limitless. With programming and content selection done via a tablet with easy-to-use apps, every event can be truly unique. Of course, for many owners this may not be the yachting experience that they wish for, but for others it brings a whole new dimension to going afloat and may even tempt some HNWIs who previously would not have considered buying a yacht to give it a try after all.
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