The Studio in the Tropics, or studio boat as it was described in a special exhibition at the Quai Branly Museum (13 November 2018–10 February 2019), is the project of Titouan Lamazou, artist and inaugural winner of the Vendée Globe.

Lamazou’s idea was to build a vast catamaran which would be a sort of floating painting academy where artists and even scientists could take up temporary residence. Taking inspiration from double-hulled Polynesian canoes, the studio catamaran was initially designed to be 164’ long, but this was reduced to 85’ (27 m).

For the design, VPLP drew on the concept for Manifesto which features very broad spaces that can be used for indoor and outdoor studios and accommodation, and Oceanwings propulsion. These VPLP-designed wingsails are reefable and furlable.

The mariner-artist wanted the catamaran to be a zero-emission boat, hence the massive use of solar energy. Educational actions to raise awareness among children of the world’s diversity and the need to protect the planet will also be on the studio boat’s agenda.