While concept yachts may appear as mere displays of design innovation to outsiders, they are crucial tools within the yachting industry. These designs, like the 101-meter “Lily” by Vripack and Oceanco, serve to illustrate future possibilities and entice clients with the allure of customized luxury. Vripack, known for anticipating emerging trends and the desires of modern yacht owners, drew inspiration for “Lily” from the water lily, symbolizing purity and renewal.
Lily is more than just a beautiful form; it’s a study in asymmetrical design. This approach informs both the internal layout and the hull, maximizing space, amenities, views, light, and airflow. The lily analogy becomes apparent at the superstructure level, where the yacht’s overlapping decks and sweeping hull evoke a lily’s petals closing protectively.
This generous 101-meter length, even in the expanding world of superyachts, allows for exceptional features. Lily includes a helicopter landing pad, tender docks, and hangars capable of storing four tenders and the helicopter itself.
Marnix Hoekstra, Vripack’s co-creative director, explains that Oceanco sought a yacht design “for the change makers who want to leave a mark.” He adds that “this new generation is quite experiential and appreciates multi-directional design, [which] resulted in a radical and fresh layout within a unique outer shape.”
If built, Lily would combine an elegant, unbroken sailing yacht-inspired steel hull with an aluminum superstructure. Extensive use of one-way glass would connect those onboard with the ocean while maintaining privacy – a key consideration for modern yacht owners. Sun shading is also prioritized, with the main leisure deck featuring a waterside pool and gym.
The interior layout is organized around a series of half decks, with a glass stairwell and mezzanine forming the yacht’s core. The owner’s suite, traditionally a showcase of opulence, occupies two levels and includes a private sundeck and even an “interior lily pond.”
Interestingly, Vripack proposes a “virtual bridge” located amidships rather than in a high, central position. This innovative approach frees up space and enhances views for the owner.
Lily is part of Oceanco’s “Beyond Custom” design series, a showcase of formal, material, and technological innovation that pushes the boundaries of modern shipbuilding. To that end, Lily incorporates a hybrid Dynafin propulsion system and the latest fuel cell technology, aiming to significantly reduce running costs and the yacht’s environmental footprint.
Hoekstra concludes that Lily offers “a boundaryless onboard experience, like the ocean itself, providing pure freedom within the whole concept.” He emphasizes that “it reflects our belief that it’s in the uniqueness of an idea where the true value for the future owner lies. Lily neatly straddles the line between blue-sky thinking and buildability.”