The superyacht industry may seem alien to some, but trends spawned in the marine world often cross over into static design and architecture. With superyacht owners demanding the latest in design and innovation – and having the funds to pay for research and development – designers in this field are seldom faced with limits on creativity or budget. As a result, each concept penned by a superyacht designer is often more outrageous than the last. And while many superyacht concept projects remain on the drawing board indefinitely, they go on to inspire the boundary-pushing builds of the future, both on land and at sea.
From living gardens to floating beach clubs, here are the most incredible new superyacht concept trends making waves in design.
Living gardens
Interior designers have been incorporating living plants into properties on land for many years, but due to the set-up and seasonality of yachting, most vessels are filled with manmade features. Now, the industry’s most forward-thinking designers are looking at ways to bring nature onboard.
Pegasus is a futuristic new concept centring around a giant hydroponic garden that provides the yacht with air purification. At the same time, it generates fresh, edible food for the kitchen. The designer calls it his ‘tree of life’.
“I am interested in addressing humanistic needs in harmony with the environment,” says the yacht’s designer Jozeph Forakis, founder of Milan- and New York-based studio Forakis Design. “Sailing is a beautiful way to be close to nature, yet motor yachts have become synonymous with reckless exploitation of resources. Pegasus is a dream, albeit a serious one, to radically shift this – in perception and in reality – based on science fact, not fiction.”
The ‘tree of life’ grows out of a pool on the lower deck and grow vertically through the yacht’s four levels. It’s circled by a spiral staircase and surrounded by gardens on each deck –one such space has a circular ‘living wall’ embedded with vegetables, herbs and flowers. The sense of zen created by this greenery is then incorporated throughout the design of the 289-foot yacht.
“Hydroponic farming is already quite advanced and will be an important technology to help feed the world in the near future,” Forakis adds. “Here, we have integrated the system as a main architectural and design feature and as a constant reminder of our natural origins.”
Pushing boundaries even further, Pegasus is also designed to be fully 3D-printed, with a “virtually invisible” mirrored exterior that reflects the surrounding landscape.
Onboard aquariums
Plants are not the only living things built into the yachts of the future. Design studio M51 Concepts has envisioned a world in which the ocean’s creatures will live onboard, as well as beneath, a superyacht.
The firm’s new concept Swell, aptly named after the after the movement of waves, brings the ocean inside. Her open-plan lounge features two multi-story aquariums, designed to house jellyfish.
“The jellyfish aquariums were the starting point for the interior, and I wanted them to be the standout feature as I find jellyfish have a simple beauty to them – hence the flowing minimalist interior design,” says Anthony Glasson, designer of the intriguing 252-foot superyacht.
The giant oval pools become living artworks as the jellyfish move through them at their leisure. “Jellyfish Aquariums can’t have sharp corners because they can get stuck, so the round tanks are well suited to the rocking of the yacht at sea,” Glasson adds.
Beach clubs
Modern owners desire a close connection to the ocean, so designers are opening the aft of yachts to create what resembles a luxurious beach club. Dutch studio Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design has released several such designs, including BEACH, a trio of contemporary superyacht concepts.
“At the beach, you live in the present, follow the tides, and embrace the outdoors. It’s enough to bring about a feeling of tranquillity and revitalisation,” says designer Sander Sinot. “We named our new design concept BEACH, reflecting the clear connection with outdoor living and the idea of being close to the water in perfect harmony with the aquatic environment.”
On each of the BEACH models, the large exterior deck is transformed into a beach club with an infinity pool, sunbeds, and a multi-purpose lounge. Steps descend to the waterline to give guests direct access to the sea, while the platform can also be the launchpad for tenders and water toys.
“It is a perfect place to linger and come together prior to and after water sports, or to work-out or enjoy a beauty treatment, or just to have a good time. It allows larger groups, from the shore or other yachts, to join onboard and enjoy the ocean to the absolute fullest,” the studio says.
This beach club concept can also be seen on Poetry, a 426-foot superyacht concept with a refreshing, bold design vision. On the lower aft deck lies the beach club, which encompasses a sunbathing deck with a bar and lounge, plus a fully equipped wellness spa with a hammam, sauna, gym and beauty salon. An additional sea pool can be created at the flick of a switch.
Sinot describes Poetry as representing a “next-generation yacht design”, comparing the facilities to a private resort. The studio also reveals the club is designed to “nurture the body and soul of the owner and family” while “amplifying the experience of being close to the water”.
Dynamic curves
Aeolus, one of the most exciting concepts of the year, is a masterpiece of curves. The 430-foot Oceanco superyacht was named after the Greek god of the wind and inspired by the spirit of the sea, with exterior styling by Giles Taylor (former director of design for Rolls-Royce Motorcars) and interiors by British studio Njord by Bergman Design House. Designed to mimic rolling waves, she features sweeping curves and fluid lines that flow throughout her exterior and contemporary interior.
“Aeolus’s design sculpture is harmonious and borne of the function and flow envisaged for her future owner,” Taylor says. “Her curves do not make her overly feminine because there is a masculine quality to her bold, forthright architecture. Apart from the deck surfaces themselves, not one surface is flat or brutally geometric, which provides a unique aesthetic that sets Aeolus apart.”
“Organic nature, sensual being and playfulness played a big part of Aeolus’s design, bringing that exterior language to her interior for a soft and cocooning feeling,” adds Sarah Colbon, co-founder of Njord. The yacht is also ahead of the curve in the way it approaches sustainability, and biomaterials lie at the core of the interior.
“Every element has been rigorously considered, including sourcing and traceability of materials and working with some of the world’s most innovative artisans in biomaterials and sustainable development such as Desserto, a premium vegan leather alternative that is made from climate-positive cactus plants,” Colbon says.
Read more: Superyachts | Interior Designers I Interiors | Design | The High Life