Iconic interiors: Superyacht designs that made waves

After serving as a surplus naval vessel in the Second World War, Greek ship owner Aristotle Onassis converted Christina O into a superyacht. It was an era when the golden age of Hollywood was recreated in interior design, and Christina O reflected this, with formal bedrooms and stylised living areas.

The original features of this 99.15 metre classic are well preserved – the famous Ari’s Bar is made of timber from a sunken Spanish galleon and has orca whales’ teeth to hold handbags. The updated cabins are named after Greek islands and adorned in a pastel colour scheme, selected by Jackie O. She hosted the Hollywood and political elite: Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill, JFK, Rudolf Nureyev… it’s a guest list as famous as they come.

She was designed by Jack Hargrave for Ogden Phipps, the owner/breeder of a string of famous thoroughbreds including Buckpasser, the boat’s original name. A true style icon of the Seventies, Buckpasser featured avocado green carpets and bedspreads that matched the wallpaper.

Later updated by American celebrity Frances Langford under the name Chanticleer, the yacht was then used to transport her and husband Ralph Evinrude (the outboard engine king) between their Canadian summer home and Florida.

During her ownership Chanticleer was redecorated in shades of pink, given a cockpit for fishing and the three small round portholes lighting the passage to the forward dining room were converted into vertical ovals – a shape now the norm but then very much ahead of its time.

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.

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.

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.