Tillberg Design reveals details of in-build SilverCat 22m

Design firm Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) has revealed details of the SilverCat 22m semi-custom power catamaran, currently in-build at SilverYachts’ Chinese facilities.

The 22-metre luxury yacht has naval architecture from Espen Øino, while the TDoS Yacht team, under Daniel Nerhagen, has created the interiors and layouts based around an open deck concept, which combines natural materials with a non-standard splash of colour.

Tillberg Design of Sweden, now part of the Viken Group, is known globally as a designer of cruise ship and passenger vessel interiors but also has experience on numerous superyacht projects.

“The exterior design and the basic elements of the vessel were already complete when we were brought on board, but we had complete freedom when it came to the layout of the interior and open deck spaces and the design and style,” says Nerhagen. “The brief was for a lot of loose furniture so the yacht could be changed according to an owner’s taste, but overall, the brief was to create something different.

“And although it seems small compared to our cruise ship work, actually the spaces are very similar to what we do every day, like a large suite. Also, being a catamaran with a 10.8-metre beam, its interior volume is equivalent to that of a 35 to 45-metre monohull with a volume of 180 gross tonnes. This level of space to work with is unique.”

A key element of the interior design concept is the Scandinavian influence and focus on natural materials.

“One thing we like is calmness, and calmness comes usually through the materials we choose,” Nerhagen enthuses. “We like very natural colours – we chose oak for the wood in this design – and we try not to make it too dramatic because it’s all about subtle detailing.

“Some call it simplistic, but it’s absolutely not – it’s about letting the materials breathe and stand out on their own, and it’s about fine detailing but not adding layers and layers on top. Those layers don’t add anything; they just hide the beauty of the materials and the beautiful crafting that goes into them.”

On the SilverCat 22m, this Scandinavian chic is punctuated by pops of colour in details and soft furnishing elements, using orange, blue and white to add life and luxury to the interior and exterior spaces.

“Our brief was for something a little bit outside the box,” Nerhagen explains, “and when we talk outside the box, that means not putting beige on beige – a lot of yachts play very safe by just being white and beige with a little bit of wood for accent, but SilverYachts wanted to spice it up a bit. So we went for some really strong and vibrant colours to stand out from the crowd and to offer something a little bit different.”

Nerhagen says the specific colour selection comes down to the fact that in areas where these yachts will operate, such as the Caribbean or Mediterranean, the light is considerably stronger, and colours need to be much bolder. “Everything is much more intense in those places,” he says.

“The greens are much more green, the blue water is much more blue, flowers are much more pink. So that was also a driver – but it’s also set against that neutral background, so if an owner doesn’t like strong colours or wants different pops of colour, it’s very easy to adapt the style by changing the loose items, the pieces of furniture, the artworks and so on.”

TDoS says it took a bigger-picture look at the interior and open deck spaces, how they interact, and what elements of Espen Øino’s exterior styling could reflect in the interior elements.

“We’ve used some of Øino’s shapes from the exterior in interior elements,” says Nerhagen. “You can see that in the shapes of the dining table and in things like the armrests of the chairs. We tried subtly to play with the shapes from the exterior and then worked to make the transitions seamless.

“We did the exterior furniture and elements like the deckheads, then brought those colours and materials into the saloon as well. We really wanted to have this boat as a true indoor-outdoor experience because you can open up so much on the yacht. It’s not about saying ‘here is the inside’ and ‘here is the outside’; it’s about having completely fluid – and fluent – design language throughout.”

With the first SilverCat 22m already in-build in SilverYachts’ Jiangmen facility, the TDoS team were able to bring their cruise ship experience to bear in other facets of the project as well.

“We worked with a lot of durable materials because we have a lot of knowledge in that area, but we also assisted the shipyard in finding a good local turnkey contractor who we already knew and could vouch for,” Nerhagen says. “They could source things locally, which makes a big difference.”

After initial project discussions late in 2021, the project began for the TDoS Yacht team in January 2022, with the bulk of the initial design work running over four months with contributions from five of the TDoS Yacht designers, who have continued to engage with the SilverCat 22m through the refining and evolving of the design concepts.

“We’re super proud of the SilverCat 22m project, and we think it’s super sexy,” adds Antonio Romano, commercial director of the Viken Group. “It’s also really a showcase of the company’s diversity and the talents that lie within our team.”