We all know Starck’s work. He’s a famous designer and household name, but when you list some of the items he’s created in the past like the watch, toothbrush, chair, shoes, you come to realize that it’s all fairly utilitarian. He’s very realistic about this though, as you can hear at his Ted talk from a couple of years ago. Where he used to create attainable everyday objects in a better way, he has been designing some ultra high-end super yachts as of late, such as his Motor Yacht ‘A’ for a Russian billionaire, Andrey Melnichenko. Working with builder Feadship out of the Netherlands, they have now managed to create a classic reinterpretation of sailings glory days – The Wedge Too. At 215 feet the ship includes a complete owners deck, three VIP cabins, 4 guest rooms and facilities for 20 staff members. Stark explains, “I am an environmentalist and a left winger: yachts are among the most daftest capitalist toys imaginable…I decided I might as well at least help her create something different; a yacht that is not a mountain of gold. So I designed something that was timeless and elegant…”

15 Responses to “Wedge Too | Philippe Starck”

• Dan says:

  August 17, 2009 at 4:56 am

  Wow.

  And how much is it?
• Chloe Shlosberg says:

  August 18, 2009 at 4:31 am

  Very Cool! His work is amazing! I love these Yahts!
• Lone says:

  August 18, 2009 at 6:35 am

  The constrasting white and warm woods make it essentially a whale of a sloop. Interesting that its a modern exterior surrounding a classic core but Im just not feeling it. Im almost waiting for Roman slaves to push out oars from the windows and call for ramming speed or to find a Playboy logo on all the surfaces of the command deck.
• Andy Gillette says:

  August 18, 2009 at 10:16 am

  I have to kind of agree with Lone on this one. Pretty much a yawn as far as design goes.

  Starck was mostly awesome for his refusal to let design be mere aesthetics. I have trouble finding the utility in a yacht that’s a lot like any other big expensive boat, except the interiors have obviously been designed (er, selected from modern furniture catalogs). And, really, what are the odds that he had anything to do with that? He went to one meeting and was like ‘I am famous, give me millions,’ and promptly pawned this off on his team of anxious, 20-year-old interns.
• Oliver says:

  August 18, 2009 at 12:12 pm

  this is an absolute great ship — like it!
• Speedmaster says:

  August 18, 2009 at 1:40 pm

  Wow, an absolute work of art!
• Mel Torme says:

  August 18, 2009 at 4:31 pm

  @ Andy Gillette
  Have to disagree with your line of thought there, boss. I have worked personally with Starck and I can tell you that he is involved in each and every project. His design office is made up of him and only 1-2 other designers, however, he generally has final sign off on anything and everything. He did probably get a couple million for this boat (probably only a small percentage of the actual cost). He also is one of the hardest working men I know, but has fun with it at the same time. The man barely lives at home because he is so busy traveling around being apart of all the projects he is involved with.

  I’m not saying the boat design stuns me or is his best work, but just because you’re jealous you don’t have royalty and contributor checks rolling across your desk, doesn’t mean you have to dog the guy.
• Flecha says:

  August 18, 2009 at 4:49 pm

  I don’t understand why this is on here. This yacht was designed in 1999, and was finished in 2002.
• Joe Fotheringham says:

  August 18, 2009 at 5:39 pm

  @Flecha – It was launched in 2002 but most people outside of the superyachting community still don’t know about it. We prefer to talk about new and innovative items, but once in awhile we find something that we think has been overlooked.
• trimtab21 says:

  August 18, 2009 at 8:34 pm

  looks like Philippe is loosing his creative edge.
• JCashell says:

  August 19, 2009 at 1:47 pm

  @trimtab21 I disagree with you. Sure, the interiors don’t look that great, and the exterior is more classic, but that’s exactly what it is–Classic. I think that this has a lot of hallmarks of Stark’s design, while at the same time remaining classically nautical and welcoming. While this is in no way a revolutionary design, it still creates a functional and enjoyable aesthetic. Furthermore, you have no idea what the client was asking for; there could have been plenty of debate between Stark and the client, resulting in a design that neither was happy with. We just don’t know.
• victorgm says:

  August 19, 2009 at 4:34 pm

  I just don’t see any coherence in Starck, he just says what he knows people want to hear (TED talk) but he acts differently, just like the market needs him. “Design is dead” (Starck’s words not my) because of guys like him.
  He his very talented, no doubt, but he has done more harm than good to our unsustainable consumerist society.
• amitabh bacchan says:

  August 19, 2009 at 5:31 pm

  boring and old……
• Lowell says:

  August 19, 2009 at 6:21 pm

  Yes it is a beautiful boat, but it looks like a standard Feadship design to me (I work in a boat yard so I see alot of boats and read all the magazines this is not blind saying) . I was more impressed a few years back when Starck came out with this. But that is just my .02

  http://yachts.monacoeye.com/yachtsbyname/mediafiles/blohm_voss_970_a_002.jpg
• Ken says:

  August 21, 2009 at 1:42 pm

  Design must be so difficult with such fine materials