Boat of the Week: From Sculpture to Paintings, This 131-Foot Superyacht Is a Floating Art Gallery

07 January 2021 - By Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report

Sculpture, paintings, photos and even pink neon lights embedded in the mirrored ceiling. Giraud's eclectic interior is part owner collection, part interior-design driven. But it works.

The artwork aboard 131-foot Giraud, curated by the owner, sets it apart from just about every other superyacht in the crowded 40-meter range. The sculptures, photography and paintings decorate every wall and many corners, making it more of a floating gallery than a conventional superyacht.

We had a chance to tour Giraud, part of Admiral’s Impero 40 series, at the Monaco Yacht Show, and while the boat isn’t the largest or newest (it was launched in 2013 with a minor refit to its upper-deck flooring last year), the interior made it truly special. First impressions on stepping into the main-deck salon are the bright, reflective surfaces that includes a high-gloss ceiling with sunken LED lighting. The lights give off pops of neon pink. Claudia Kempen’s interior includes leather furniture, stainless-steel trim and floor-to-ceiling windows. Dividing the dining area from the sofas are glass-encased sculptures made from bronze and ceramic. The cream-colored palette of the interior works nicely with the art work.

In the heart of the boat, a central stairwell featuring a striking bronze sculpture of a kneeling man anchors the floating, stainless-steel staircase. This is my favorite feature—and piece of art—on Giraud.

The master suite is defined by sea views and plenty of storage areas—including large wardrobes. But the suite’s brooding ambience is pierced by a light feature behind the king-sized bed that illuminates the room. A shared, glassed shower divides the his-and-hers ensuites. The owner also has an office space in the suite to be able to work while the boat is at sea.

“The setup is hugely convenient,” Giraud’s steward told Robb Report during the tour. “The owners often work here in the mornings before swimming in the afternoon.”

On the lower deck, the other guest accommodations include a VIP with a queen-sized bed, two doubles and one twin cabin with a Pullman berth. Though not as lavish as the master suite, these rooms still have a sense of style. The crew of nine also have generous quarters.

When launched in 2013, Giraud’s exterior design by Luca Dini was a bit of a trend-setter, with the vertical bow and buttoned-down profile. Many others have since copied that design. But the sand-colored aluminum hull mated to the off-white structure, along with soft edges and fluid lines, give Giraud a shark-like aesthetic.

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