Iconic interiors: Superyacht designs that made waves

Ahead of her time in myriad ways, 88 metre sailing yacht Maltese Falcon has an industrial-chic interior that matches the high-tech appeal of her stunning FalconRig. It was designed by Ken Freivokh around her original owner Tom Perkins’ modern art collection, with heavy use of leather, glass, wood and steel that gave an edgy yet smart atmosphere.

Rather than hide the bases of the three masts behind walls and cabinets, Freivokh boldly makes them part of the décor, a technique repeated in other mega-sailers, such as Aquijo.

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.

“Make it impressive” was Shahid Khan’s brief for his 95 metre Kismet. Impressive it certainly is, with a dramatic interior by Reymond Langton.

A massive staircase leads from the main saloon, replete with piano and opulent bar, to the upper deck, and the atrium is dominated by a magnificent art deco chandelier. Kismet is an icon for what is possible in an over-the-top superyacht interior and a layout based on being able to entertain large groups in style.

Yachting design newcomer CG Design was able to bring fresh eyes to 83.5 metre Savannah, creating an unusual layout with immense dimensions and an open main deck surrounded by sliding curved glass, leading to the pool on the same level.

In fact, everything on this boat is curved – except the plumb bow. She’s equally ground-breaking for her cosier spaces, such as the Nemo room, that connects guests to the sea, and for a spectacular catwalk connecting two saloons on her upper deck.

While some might still prefer heavy woods or overly luxurious details, the 77.25 metre explorer yacht's interior by Christian Liaigre represents the growing trend of contemporary modernism and support of the sport lover's lifestyle.

This "new modern" can be defined by subtle, refined and open areas – and the luxury of space. Curves and masculine, unadorned joinery are in abundance, and Cloudbreak also boasts a winter garden.