Iconic interiors: Superyacht designs that made waves

What makes an icon? When it comes to yacht interiors, it might not always be what you’d expect. There are the obvious head-turners and there are the yachts that stand the test of time. Among all these we find the rare icons, the ones that set the bar, that broke the mould, that tested new ground. Some of these hold up today, while some we look back on with a what-were-they-thinking arch of an eyebrow, but there is no denying they define an era. From glamorous to garish and daring to boldly discreet, each of these yachts is a symbol of their time.

Delphine

Built for automobile pioneer Horace Dodge and named after his daughter, Delphine was America’s largest steamship yacht, at 78.5 metres. She defined early 1920s glamour, with a smoking lounge and a pipe organ for entertainment in an interior that made her suitable as the flagship for Admiral Ernest King, commander in chief of the US Fleet during the Second World War.

Delphine is also an icon of restoration. She caught fire and sank in New York in 1926 and the family salvaged and restored her to as-new condition. She then ran aground in 1940 and was repaired. Finally, in 1997, she was sold for scrap and underwent a six-year, $60 million restoration, pictured here. Today she’s the only yacht of the era with her original steam engines in service.

Although commissioned and launched as a private yacht for financier Sewel Avery in the 1930s, it was her rebirth as the US presidential yacht that made her name. She served five presidents – Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, making her the longest serving US Presidential yacht – but was best regarded for the time she served President Kennedy, who renamed her Honey Fitz after his grandfather.

The 28.35 metre yacht took interiors to a new level in the early 1960s when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy helmed her refit (pictured). Mid-century furnishings and details were added to suit a family – and president – at sea, including a colour TV in the saloon. Her current refit, carried out by Moores Marine, upholds this mid-century styling.

Today, copious amounts of glazing is de rigueur, but it wasn’t always the way. A trailblazer in the arena of floor-to-ceiling, back-to-back windows, Azzurra II, designed by Gerhard Gilgenast, was truly pioneering. The 47.5 metre superyacht’s upper deck master suite has 21 large windows boasting panoramic views, while floor-to-ceiling windows in the upper saloon bring in huge amounts of light.

This gave a stunning spaciousness to the cream coloured, white leather interior, with a fittingly 1980s mirrored ceiling, which helped to open the space further. It was a breakthrough boat for interior designer Paola Smith and its high-glam interior style, with gold and lacquered furniture, defined styling for a decade.

One of the most transformative yacht rebuilds ever completed, Dennis Washington saw the Japanese yacht Evergreen gutted to make way for a blank canvas with more than 2,300 square metres of interior space on which to create a dream interior and an unrivalled spa.

The 100.9 metre Attessa IV is known for her grand, gold-embellished staircase, spiralling through five decks, and a showstopper of a lobby featuring Botero sculptures. But what is perhaps most iconic is the blend of modern shapes with antique furnishings and fixtures.

A massive glass dome in the upper saloon was created specifically to showcase an enormous Chihuly chandelier, while romantic 19th century fireplaces and evocative authentic art deco pieces, most sourced by the owners, fill the saloons and cabins of this family boat.

A stark, militaristic exterior – trailblazing in itself – required a clean yet bold interior design. Marco Zanini created a Bauhaus-inspired interior for 70.7 metre Skat that called for simplicity, so its design eschewed clutter and superfluous elements.

Far from a traditional yacht interior, Skat favoured open spaces, fewer pieces of furniture and no heavy woods, though colourful furnishings and original Lichtenstein and Vasarely artworks meant it was far from dull.

Despite her name, Ice’s interior is far from cold. The concept was purity and environmentally friendly, and – while not an interior item – she was one of the first yachts to be fitted with Azipods. Terry Disdale’s interior for the 90.1 metre explorer yacht (ex-Air) is a study in modernism, which adheres to balance, clean lines and intentional décor choices.

The focus is on modernism and space over luxurious details and only a few different interior materials are used throughout the yacht. This sets the stage for yacht interiors to serve as a backdrop for the owner’s collection of modern art. Even the bathrooms have an artistic feel, the enormous baths were carved from limestone blocks.

Most yachts feature works of art, but then you have 53.8 metre Sea Force One, of which the entire interior seems to be an immersive art experience with modern works and light installations at every turn.

Even a decade after her launch, she still sets the bar in terms of art-heavy – and certainly unique – interiors. It might not be surprising that she also makes an ultimate party yacht, which was also part of the brief. This bold atmosphere, with lots of lighting and AV effects, heavily influenced future yachts such as Solandge.

The unconventional exterior of the ultra-iconic 119 metre Motor Yacht A belies the elegance of the interior, which designer Philippe Starck called “opulent”. While other yachts succeeded by blending interior and exterior spaces, Motor Yacht A clearly divides the two.

White furnishings play well off the open-plan design, which makes the limited interior living areas seem more abundant. With A it’s all about visual impact. If there had been no A, there would have been no Predator, no Yas and no Venus.

This award-winning 46 metre represents the best of the trend in “modern classics” – reimagining the elegance of 1920s yachting with the technology of today and an affection for the long, low profile, fantail stern and external brightwork associated with classic yachts.

Is there anything as charming as a fantail stern with overhanging deck above, as witnessed as recently as 2017 with the launch of Soprano? Sycara IV has been sold and renamed Nadan.

The interior of Sycara IV, by Ken Freivokh, is a nod to this bygone era, warmed by madrona burl wall panels with inlaid macassar ebony. Family-style cruising yachts of this compact size have been a recurring theme since the 2008’s global financial crisis.

56 metre sailing yacht Panthalassa showcased a remarkable interior by Foster & Partners with flowing, highly architecturally inspired shapes and furnishings.

She also showcased an abundant use of glass and a showstopper of a central oval staircase that connects all three decks. Perhaps the biggest impact with this interior is that it opened up the builder to working with outside architects, such as the famed Norman Foster, who tugged the GA into new usefulness.