interview: THE ICON watercraft world premiere at cannes film festival 2023

BMW and tyde premiere THE ICON at cannes film festival 2023

Away from the screens but not from the glamor, BMW and TYDE debut THE ICON electric watercraft at the Cannes Film Festival 2023. The world premiere reveals the fast, luxurious water travel of the future – all with zero emissions. The water vessel combines the expertize of boat manufacturer TYDE, battery technology of BMW, and design by Designworks, as its Head, Holger Hampf, explains to designboom on the first voyage.

‘We all speak about the awe of the ocean and how we can conserve it, but then we enjoy this beauty by using combustion engines. Designworks decided to design a solution with THE ICON,’ begins Holger Hampf, Head of Designworks, in an interview with designboom.

The world premiere of THE ICON coincides with Cannes Film Festival 2023

All images courtesy of the BMW Group

luxury water travel of the future

Flying on hydrofoils, THE ICON appears as if darting across the ocean surface. The 13.15-meter-long watercraft measures a spacious 4.5-meters in width at the rear but narrows to a semi-pointed tip to aid aerodynamics. The front recalls a flat hull initially, but the glass structure actually curves as it flows round the flanks. This origami-inspired structure supports a seemingly floating canopy that shelters occupants as they enjoy the views out.

‘A connection with nature is the biggest luxury. People can enjoy their surroundings on this watercraft. Its large windows give a new, pure experience with no emissions nor engine sound. The glass then makes the roof seem to float,’ adds Holger.

The glass of the origami-inspired structure curves from the tip along the sides of the watercraft

‘The triangular shape of the glass – where it leans outwards – gives a unique aesthetic externally but also creates an interesting effect internally. Like waves, the lighting and water reflects inside. The stainless steel of the furniture then reflects this in turn,’ continues the Head of Designworks.

The vast glass sides are mimicked by angled doors. Natural light floods into the interior, and the furniture is designed to take advantage of this. The bodies of the armchairs and sofas are shaped from metal sheeting to not only reflect the vessel’s structure but literally the sea, sun and surroundings. The chairs rotate 360-degrees with an easy push button for the foot, to swivel to look out or socialize with other passengers. A command station, with its 32-inch touchscreen, joins the circle.

Joined by the command station, the chairs rotate 360-degrees with an easy push button for the foot

There is a minimal elegance to the interior design. It proves that luxury can be conscious. A lush green- and blue-hued carpet enriches the floor. Soft, woven upholstery comfortably dresses the seating of the armchairs and sofas, further cushioned by pillows. Handrails combine cold, clean metal with warm, tactile timber to play on different senses.

The furniture can be rotated and configured for socializing or gazing out across the ocean

‘As designers, it was very liberating to use hydrofoils. It enables the watercraft to have a very shallow hull, as the technologies can be housed efficiently there. We created a platform so that the interior can be configured for the user, without affecting performance,’ explains Holger Hampf, Head of Designworks.

THE ICON enhances the know-how of BMW, Designworks and TYDE to deliver luxury water travel without emissions. The slim, flat hull holds a powerful electric drive system, supplied by six high-voltage batteries from BMW i. As the watercraft edges towards its top speed of 30 knots (55 km/h), it lifts up on to hydrofoils. These wings enable it to fly above the surface, reducing energy consumption, with a range of more than 50 nautical miles.

The future watercraft flies on hydrofoils to reduce energy consumption

BMW soundscape by hans zimmer

The design sets a new, luxurious standard for noiseless and emission-free water mobility in the future, whether privately owned or configured for public use. The travel experience has been enhanced with an exclusive soundtrack scored by the award-winning composer Hans Zimmer. The soundscape embodies the living nature of the ocean to fully immerse occupants with their surroundings. The sound starts as the watercraft begins to pick up speed to take flight.