Design, In Detail
From cocoon-like spaces to dare-to-be-different décors, today’s superyacht designs are more creative than ever—setting trends for tomorrow, too.
Custom Yacht Design Breaking The Mold
To say that the 115’ (35m) GUILTY is different from other superyachts is an understatement.
Launched in 2008, she has a camouflage-like collage of yellow, black, blue, purple, and white across her hull and superstructure. The owner commissioned the renowned artist Jeff Koons to create this, an avid collector of his works. The interiors are equally attention-getting, with neon lettering, murals, and more from the owner’s vast contemporary art collection.
“It was definitely pushing the boundaries back then,” says Michel Chryssicopoulos, IYC’s Global Managing Partner, who was involved in her construction. The angular GUILTY remains in the possession of her original owner, who, Chryssicopolous adds, is still delighted with it.
And therein lies an important point: Though few yachting enthusiasts go to the same degree as the owner of GUILTY, everyone can agree that this is what custom yacht design is all about. With the global pool of buyers having expanded dramatically in recent years, more people are exploring designs that are less traditional. A few of the more innovative, imaginative ideas are laying the groundwork for what future owners may want, too.
Finding The Right Partner
First, though, it takes more than just an owner and a designer to execute a novel concept. It also requires a broker knowing which shipyard is up for the challenge, Chryssicopoulos notes. The Italian Sea Group (TISG) is among them. IYC has introduced several owners to TISG, resulting in some powerful design statements. The 143’ (44m) power catamaran THIS IS IT is a prime example. “Nothing is symmetrical, literally nothing,” Chryssicopoulos says. “It’s nearly perfect that nothing is symmetrical. When you actually walk around the boat, you won’t even notice.” Credit comes down to curves galore creating a cocooning effect, and metallic surfaces in bronze, gold, and platinum reflecting natural light. In fact, “despite it being a super-modern and high-level design, it’s still a cozy project that makes you feel warm,” Chryssicopolous says. “It follows the owner’s brief, which was, ‘I want to feel at home and I want to feel well, and I want my guests to feel cozy.’”
Two other TISG projects that Chryssicopoulos is supervising take an entirely different design approach. They’re 236’ (72m) motor yachts featuring styling and interiors by the celebrated fashion designer Giorgio Armani. Just as Armani’s clothing has long been synonymous with practical simplicity yet also rich with details, the yachts are sober with some down-to-the-minutia details. For instance, there’s a lack of steps on all decks, other than necessary staircases. “It was a huge no-no,” Chryssicopolous says. Another example is the design and execution of the handrails: stainless steel on the outside and an equal amount of teak on the inside. “It gives this warmer feeling to the touch, but from the outside it matches the more austere and metallic profile of the yacht,” he explains. Overall, “the profile itself is unique, it’s one of those designs that really grows on you the more you see it.” It’s certainly grown on others, too: One of the two yachts resold before delivery.
A Growing Focus On Wellness
Another creative approach to design gaining a lot of favor emphasizes wellness. “Traditionally when we were looking at both new build and brokerage, my client base would always look at master cabins that had some form of office, or study, and now people are moving away from that and bringing in wellness areas,” says Richard Gray, IYC’s Head of Sales UK. Hull number two in the Deep Blue 43 range at Cantiere delle Marche (CdM), a yacht he’s overseeing, features an entire wellness deck.
“We’ll have a steam room, sauna, comprehensive gym, juice bar, and cold plunge pool, all on the sundeck,” he explains. All this is aboard a steel-hulled yacht engineered like a ship. CdM initially staked its reputation on rugged-looking explorers, and while the looks of its yachts have changed, the emphasis on robust construction and machinery hasn’t.
The New Explorer
Matthew Stone, IYC’s Managing Partner in California, attests to this. “Historically speaking, when someone would hear of an expedition boat, they’d think of the rugged, tough-looking, utilitarian-style vessel, where now CdM can put the same attributes in a white yacht,” he explains. “The vessel is more appealing to the family.”
Speaking of family, the owners of the Dutch shipyard Moonen create a family-like atmosphere for customers, Stone says, striving to be more hands on with them. “They truly foster each individual relationship and go above and beyond,” Stone explains. The husband has even flown out to meet with him and some of IYC’s clients interested in Moonen’s classically styled, long-range steel and aluminum series, like the Martinique line. “They’ve been very successful with the Martinique line,” Stone continues, pointing to deliveries like BOTTI and MOONSHINE as proof of how no two are alike. The 118’ (36m) BOTTI has a highly customized exterior and Palm Beach-esque interior, while the same-size MOONSHINE has colors and textures evocative of moonlight. “They have the same (exterior) design team, but two incredible interiors, which is a testament to both owners, the shipyard, and the designers,” Stone asserts.
Gray also works closely with Moonen and agrees with Stone’s assessment. “They’re building two boats a year on speculation and waiting for the client to come in and amend the interiors, and their ranges have done well,” he says. “The Martinique is a fantastically well-designed yacht.”
A Hands-On Approach
Interestingly, another shipyard that has quite a strong relationship with customers takes a bit of a novel approach to design. Croatia-based Tramontana Yachts, a new shipyard, is owned by 30-year-old Antonio Ivanisevic, who established it to tap into his country’s history of shipbuilding. “You’re talking to the builder and the owner in one person,” says Martin Juhar, the IYC Sales Consultant representing the three Tramontana-built yachts currently available for both sale and charter with IYC.
Remarkably, Tramontana has launched three steel-hulled motorsailers in the past three years: 158’ (48m) CLASE AZUL, 172’ (52m) SCORPIOS, and the 2024 delivered 171’ (52m) REPOSADO, each different from the next in terms of design. CLASE AZUL has contemporary flair and striking stonework; SCORPIOS has a light, airy, and relaxing ambiance; and REPOSADO boasts a serene, minimalist design with burgundy accents, open layout, and flowing lines.
The shipyard has each in charter, to test the market’s reaction and of course attract customers. “They’re not just a builder who send a yacht off and it never comes back,” Juhar says. “They directly operate their charter yachts, and gain unparalleled insights into guest experiences and crew feedback, allowing them to refine design and functionality. This unique approach truly sets Tramontana apart."
Lifestyle Driven Choices
Striving to meet customer expectations is a priority for Heesen Yachts, too. Sara Gioanola, its PR and press office manager, says its younger clients spend time differently aboard compared to older generations, so this impacts the looks and amenities. ‘Younger buyers prefer modern and versatile interiors over traditional opulence,” she says, prioritizing open-plan layouts as well as spaces promoting healthy living. Charter guests do as well, and the successful 180’ (55m) MOSKITO, a Heesen delivery from 2021, has delighted them with her sauna and beautifully tiled steam room in the beach club. Similarly, “younger purchasers are also placing a higher value on sustainability and eco-friendly features,” Gioanola says. As one of the few shipyards making its own interiors, “We are dedicated to utilizing alternative materials, such as sustainable woods and materials that can be recycled,” she says. These complement choices like hybrid propulsion and energy-efficient systems.
Designers and their suppliers have been taking note of the lifestyle-driven design choices as well. Valentin Goux, president of Rinck, which creates custom millwork and furnishings, sees younger clients pursuing a more relaxed way of living onboard and desiring greater comfort and eco-friendliness. Older generations, meanwhile, prefer Art Deco and some centuries-old influences. Regardless, “the level of expectation is the same,” he notes. “Even if it’s a much simpler, lighter volume, it has to be absolutely perfect,” and materials must be beautiful. “Even when it looks simple, it’s extremely complicated,” Goux adds.
That holds true for the custom furnishings that Rinck is making with Zuretti Interiors for The Lounge by IYC at the Monaco Yacht Show. The space, for IYC clients and partners, will feature curvy shapes, including curved wood, which is challenging to execute. “We are known to be the people you call when you don’t have a solution,” Goux says, smiling.
Pushing Boundaries
Just as it takes superior craftspeople to executive highly specific and high-class designs, it takes clients not satisfied with the status quo. They don’t have to be like the owners of GUILTY or THIS IS IT. “It takes a special breed of people to do that,” Chryssicopoulos says. However, he continues, yacht owners who create something unexpected do tend to open doors. “I think you will definitely get a part of the market that will say, ‘I want to do something maybe not as bold, but I’m willing to take more risk on my next construction,’” Chryssicopoulos believes. After all, he continues, “Everything is something that when we first saw it, we thought, ‘Oh my God, this is crazy.’ I think that’s how any industry will keep on evolving.”
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This article was featured in the Fall/Winter Issue of HORIZONS Magazine. Browse the full issue here.