British studio Lateral Naval Architects has unveiled a new 83.3-metre superyacht concept in collaboration with design firms byJC and Lawson Robb. Known as HUB, the design has been developed to "challenge the established norms of yacht architecture".
HUB has been built upon Lateral’s Free From Bulkheads (FFB) technical platform, which itself was curated to go against conventional yacht design by enabling watertight bulkheads to finish at the lower deck. According to the studio, the platform came to life from the philosophy of a skateboard: "Beneath the deck, all the necessary machinery. Above the deck, anything is possible."
As such, HUB features an unconstrained lower deck adjacent to the waterline, allowing for more innovative layouts onboard for an "elevated" user experience.
At 83.3 metres with a volume of 2,500GT, HUB has been drawn as a "nexus of connectivity and expression", encouraging shared experiences in a convivial environment.
Core to the yacht's design is its emphasis on life on the water. This is seen within its layout, which is open-plan and has a seamless flow between living areas - designed to be versatile yet holistic across each exterior and interior space.
HUB is comprised of three decks, each said to have its own distinct character, but conceived as one continuous experience with asymmetric layouts. The lower deck is home to a water-level " Beach Cave", which combines a watersports centre with a welcoming social space and features opening hull platforms.
Above, the main deck is bright and informal, bathed in natural light thanks to large areas of glazing and "fluid divisions" in place of the usual conventional saloon design. HUB concludes at the upper deck, where a skylounge and outdoor dining offer another relaxed retreat.
Powering HUB is an all-electric propulsion and energy system - more specifically, Lateral’s Electric Hybrid system. The developed system incorporates batteries, as the primary means of energy for hotel, propulsion and manoeuvring loads, and diesel generators for battery charging and high-speed cruising - the latter of which has been chosen for its efficiency and energy density.
The result is a solution which sees flexible space distribution and a compact machinery space below the lower deck, in addition to extensive operation with "no noise, lower vibrations and zero local emissions", the studio notes. HUB is expected to achieve a range of 7,000 nautical miles with a top speed of 16.5 knots.
"HUB is not a reaction against tradition for its own sake," read a statement from the studio. "It is the product of asking straightforward questions and following them where they lead; about structure, about space, about what luxury really means when you strip it back to experience rather than appearance."
Key specs include a beam of 13.8 metres and 900 square metres of "luxury space".
Last year, Lateral unveiled Outlier, a new technical platform designed to "break conventions" and "unlock new design freedom" in the 2,000GT superyacht segment.
Read More/Lateral Naval Architects unveils 89m concept with "features of an over 5,000GT vessel"