In Profile:
BAZ Yacht Design

Name: Barbaros Atal – Bilge Zaptçıoğlu Atal
Company: BAZ Yacht Design
Position within company: Co-Founders
Website: bazyachtdesign.com

Tell us a little about your background in design
Barbaros graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering department which was a childhood dream as grew up in the lovely city of Izmir on the Aegean coast. Worked for yacht builders and refit companies till 2014. Met Bilge, life and business partner who is the co-founder and head of interior design in BAZ Yacht Design.
Bilge studied architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul. After graduation she worked at several interior design and architecture studios. Her yacht design adventure started after meeting Barbaros. They established BAZ Yacht Design together in 2014.  After establishing the studio, she only focused on yacht interior and exterior design projects.

How would you describe your personal design style?
We can quickly say modern, sophisticated and timeless. However, speaking frankly, we do not feel comfortable by defining exact specific design styles in a limited perspective.  We would like to listen to the yacht owners wishes-tastes first and then start to create their dream with our vision. So, at the end there are variety of styles with the same vision but different personalised touches.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Nature mostly. We spend half of our time on our sailing yacht Mediterra which we have also organised as our personal office.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
More sustainable & nature friendly materials and innovations within more open and luminous spaces where borders get loose and also you have more privacy at the same time.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2024 and beyond.
Naturalist, eco-friendly and Sustainable – Flexible – Texturised – Comfortable -Intelligent

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Understand and don’t underestimate the client’s needs and wishes.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
It is hard to choose a specific project as all of them is important  for us. The shortlisted project North Star refit was one of our favourite work as a major refit, and our ongoing concept project of 49m Project KAI exterior & interior design we also enjoy working now as it is our own inhouse concept.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?
Samples! New material samples, new products & exhibitions. We need to see, touch and understand the feeling of new materials and products.

 How important are The International Yacht & Aviation Awards?
One of the most prestigious and remarkable awards organisations in Yachting Industry which adds new dimensions and new horizons for designers, engineers and builders.

What projects are you currently working on?
Currently we are working on interior design of a new series of 19m day cruisers and a new inhouse concept of 49 meters Project KAI aluminium 3deck diesel electric hybrid yacht.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
We are in the period of opening our Hamburg, Germany branch office and plan to expand our services on a more global venture.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
North Star project I can say as we had very limited time, the greenlight for the design phase was given almost end of January where the owner wanted to have the yacht back for season in June. Therefore, we had 4 months, full busy 7 days a week.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:
Sailing in Mediterranean, walking in pine forest.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Sailing on Turkish and Greek coast. But we love all Med coast and culture.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
Barbaros: Musician (sax player) and Chef