Heesen 164 Bijin Emerges from Hot Lab Refit

One of the most noticeable changes was the hull color, which was updated from oyster white and grey to a crisp Matterhorn white and jet black, accented with a bold red boot stripe. Courtesy Hot Lab / Alessandro Guerreri

Milan-based design studio Hot Lab, part of the Viken Group, has revealed the results of its latest refit project: the 164-foot Heesen superyacht Bijin. Formerly known as Sibelle, the yacht was sold in October 2024 before entering a nine-month refit at Monaco Marine in La Seyne-sur-Mer.

Originally delivered as Sibelle in 2015 as the first in Heesen’s 164-foot Fast Displacement Hull Form series, Bijin will be used for private as well as charter bookings. Courtesy Hot Lab / Alessandro Guerreri

The project was carried out in close collaboration with the yacht’s experienced owners, who were active participants at every stage. Their close ties with Hot Lab allowed for an open exchange of ideas, shaping a refit that reflects both the owners’ tastes and the studio’s design approach.

Hot Lab reimagined the yacht with a Japandi-inspired aesthetic, combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth. Courtesy Hot Lab / Giovanni Malgarini

On the exterior, the yacht’s hull was repainted from oyster white and grey to a crisp Matterhorn white and jet black, accented with a bold red boot stripe. Inside, Hot Lab reimagined the yacht with a Japandi-inspired aesthetic—combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth. The redesign emphasizes lighter tones, softer shades of brown and subtle Oriental touches in details such as headboards and loose furnishings. Austrian contractor List GC handled the interior fit-out, working alongside Hot Lab, the crew and the owners’ design team.

Austrian contractor List GC handled the interior fit-out, working alongside Hot Lab, the crew and the owners’ design team. Courtesy Hot Lab / Giovanni Malgarini

Originally delivered in 2015 as the first in Heesen’s 164-foot Fast Displacement Hull Form series, Bijin was recognized at the 2016 World Superyacht Awards for its design and engineering innovation. Its new name, meaning “beautiful woman” in Japanese, reflects the elegance of the transformation. Bijin will be used privately and for charter, with her first season in the West Mediterranean already fully booked.

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