🎨 WHO’S BEHIND THE DESIGN?

In November 2004, the design for what would become the most discussed superyacht in history reportedly emerged in a matter of minutes at Philippe Starck’s home in Venice, Italy. Starck (the exterior designer) has noted in subsequent interviews that his conceptual process was nearly instantaneous, a stark contrast to the years of engineering that followed.

The brief provided by Melnichenko was remarkably minimalist, specifying only a desired length and a requirement for six guest cabins, leaving the rest of the creative execution entirely to Starck’s discretion. This freedom allowed Starck to bypass the conservative ‘wedding cake’ styling prevalent in the early 2000s, where decks were stacked symmetrically with little regard for fluid integration with the marine environment. Starck’s intention was to create a ‘stealth yacht’ that achieved a state of harmony with the sea, drawing inspiration from the hydrodynamic silhouettes of submarines and the natural reflections of whales in the water, with a hull design so smooth that it leaves almost no wake at 25 knots. 

The design intentionally obscures the vessel's true scale; from a distance, its ‘tumblehome’ shape and lack of external decks make it difficult to determine its size or the number of people on board.

The chief technical challenge of the build was the reverse bow, inspired in part by the Zumwalt-class destroyers of the US Navy. Martin Francis and the Blohm+Voss team had to ensure that the wave-piercing profile did not compromise the ship's stability or cause it to dive in heavy seas. The result was a hull that reduces vertical acceleration, providing a smoother ride for guests and increasing fuel efficiency by slicing through resistance.