London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, May 14, 2026

Meet The London Design Firm Disrupting The World Of Superyachts

“I think the biggest compliment we’ve received is, ‘Oh my God it looks different!’” describes Albin Berglund of working with yacht owners, the top slice of society who are not easy to please.
Berglund, along with Marie Soliman and Sarah Colbon, has just launched Njord, a new yachting arm to the established London design firm Bergman Interiors, which takes its name from the Norse god of wind and waters.

With over 25 years of combined experience, Soliman and Berglund have been innovating the often staid world of luxury interiors and architectural design.

But recently, they noticed a sector-yachts-that seemed to attract people with limitless budgets despite limited variations in the design and execution of the Herculean boats.

And it was with this knowledge that they joined forces with Sarah Colbon, a long-time marketing and management executive in the yachting industry with a bursting little black book and created Njord.

“I've worked with some of the major and iconic yachts,” describes Colbon of her experience. And she’s right-the likes of Black Pearl-the 350-foot, three-mast superyacht built by Oceanco and managed by Divergent Yachting that consistently tops media lists of the world’s most-impressive vessels.

Exciting the client who has everything is not easy. It’s not simply a matter of choosing and installing the most expensive items at every bend. “It's our part of the job to get them excited, and that means finding things that they haven't seen before,” says Berglund.

It’s about designing something that is surprising but also functional. But how do you surprise a client who travels the world and has seen every finish of wood and cut of marble?

“We challenge, and we push the boundaries,” explains Soliman. “When you say ‘boat’, you have a very specific idea of what will you see. The same happens in hotel lobbies and lounges or gyms. But the idea behind Bergman was always to break that mould. And we are doing the same here with yachts.”

Even Colbon, who has now come onboard as a partner, notes that when she first saw Bergman’s designs of an infinity pool released on social media she took pause. “I was like ‘Oh this is a breath of fresh air!’”

Collaboration is also an important part of the process. As designers, the Njord team consult the boat captain and crew throughout to ensure each element is not only beautiful but functional. Where some designers tend to be blind to those around them, the aim here is to listen and celebrate every voice and idea. “It’s all about the family on the boat,” says Soliman.

And it’s not simply lip service.“We are creating that amazing community of captains, crews, craftsmen and artisans,” says Soliman. “These people will be members of our club because we are organising amazing events and connecting people on both a professional and personal level. We will show movies, launch products and create a journey for everyone involved.”

It’s also about celebrating the unique artists and craftsmen behind each piece and artefact inside the yacht. A perfect example of this is Mathieu Lehanneur, a French artist and furniture designer who makes large and elegant marble pieces, manipulating the glossy edges of the stone to resemble the surface of the ocean. “It’s about collaborating with the right people and not just running it by yourself,” says Soliman.

And it’s not just yachts the team has their sights set on. “We want to enter the world of floating hotels and cruise ships,” explains Berglund. “We want to design anything on water.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
The Great Western Exit: Why Best Citizens Are Fleeing the Rich World [PODCAST]
The New Robber Barons of Intelligence: Are AI Bosses More Powerful Than Rockefeller?
The End of the Old Order [Podcast]
Britain’s Democracy Is Now a Costume
The AI Gold Rush Is Coming for America’s Last Open Spaces [Podcast]
The Pentagon’s AI Squeeze: Eight Tech Giants Get In, Anthropic Gets Shut Out [Podcast]
The War Map: Professor Jiang’s Dark Theory of Iran, Trump, China, Russia, Israel, and the Coming Global Shock [Podcast]
Labour Is No Longer a National Party [Podcast]
AI Isn’t Stealing Your Job. It’s Dismantling It Piece by Piece.
Lawyers vs Engineers: Why China Builds While America Litigates [Podcast]
Churchill’s Glass: The Drunk, the Doctor, and the Myth Britain Refuses to Sober Up From
Apple issues an unusual warning: this is how your iPhone can be hacked without you doing anything
Kennedy’s Quiet War on Antidepressants Sparks Alarm Across America’s Medical Establishment
The Met Gala Meets the Age of Billionaire Backlash
Russian Oligarch’s Superyacht Crosses Hormuz via Iran-Controlled Route
Gunfire Disrupts White House Correspondents’ Dinner as Trump Is Evacuated
A Leak, a King, and a Fracturing Alliance
Inside the Gates Foundation Turmoil: Layoffs, Scrutiny, and the Cost of Reputational Risk
UK Biobank Breach Exposes Health Data of 500,000, Listed for Sale on Chinese Platform
KPMG Cuts Around 10% of US Audit Partners After Failed Exit Push
French Police Probe Suspected Weather-Data Tampering After Unusual Polymarket Bets on Paris Temperatures
CATL Unveils Revolutionary EV Battery Tech: 1000 km Range and 7-Minute Charging Ahead of Beijing Auto Show
Crypto Scammers Capitalize on Maritime Chaos Near the Strait of Hormuz: A Rising Threat to Shipping Companies
Changi Airport: How Singapore Engineered the World’s Most Efficient Travel Experience
Power Dynamics: Apple’s Leadership Shakeup, Geopolitical Risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe's Energy Strategy Amidst Global Challenges
Apple's Leadership Transition: Can New CEO John Ternus Navigate AI Challenges and Geopolitical Pressures?
Italy’s €100K Tax Gambit: Europe’s Soft Power Tax Haven
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Meghan Markle Plans Exclusive Women-Focused Retreat During Australia Visit
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
UK Stocks Rise on Ceasefire Momentum and Renewed Focus on Diplomacy
UK to Hold Further Strategic Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
UK Students Voice Concern Over Proposal for Automatic Military Draft Registration
Rising Volatility Drives Uncertainty in UK Fuel and Petrol Prices
UK Moves to Deploy ‘Skyhammer’ Anti-Drone System to Strengthen Airspace Defense
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
UK Stocks Ease as Ceasefire Doubts in Middle East Weigh on Investor Confidence
UK Reassesses Cloud Strategy Amid Criticism Over Limited Support Measures
×