Yacht Design • 35m Van der Valk

Design thinking for the next decade

LALABE’s design team treats the yacht as a floating home anchored by its “garden” —
the sequence of terraces, platforms and open decks that frame life on board.
For A Bit Lavish, this is the kind of project that connects yacht design,
architecture and lifestyle in a single story.

• Outdoor living treated as the core concept, not a secondary feature.
• Interior views always in dialogue with the sea and the terraces.
• Decks read as calm, horizontal layers – like a modern coastal villa.

“Every home needs a garden”

In Cannes, designers Guido de Groot and Paulo Calado
described LALABE as a house whose “garden” is actually the open decks:
aft platforms, lounges and shaded terraces that invite guests to stay outside
as much as possible.

The main salon is treated as the interior heart of the yacht, with materials and
sightlines that extend visually out to those decks, so the rhythm of life remains
the same whether guests are indoors or out in the breeze.

Fast-displacement below the waterline

Naval architects Hans Maarten Bais and Jaron Ginton
explain that LALABE’s hull grew from a close partnership between
Ginton Naval Architects and Diana Yacht Design.
One team focused on hull shape, appendages and weight, while the other led the
structural engineering.

The brief: combine a large, forward-set interior and expansive hull windows with
a fast-displacement form that can still cross oceans comfortably.

Comfort, efficiency, control

• Aluminium construction tuned to keep weight and centre of gravity under control.
• Fast-displacement envelope designed for efficiency on long passages.
• Target speed around 17 knots, without giving up range or comfort.

Rhythmic lines, relaxed cruising

Above the waterline, everything on LALABE has been custom-drawn by Guido de Groot:
the tiered decks, sculpted overhangs and cut-outs that frame the sea. The look is
quietly explorer-inspired, with strong horizontals and protected walk-arounds.

It’s a yacht meant for children, parents and grandparents to move freely and safely,
with the sea always in view but never feeling exposed.

Safety as part of the aesthetic

• High bulwarks replace most open railings for added security.
• Subtle colour and level changes help guests read the different deck zones.
• A generous swim platform and multiple lounging levels create a natural flow
  from water, to terrace, to salon.