In an effort to inspire yacht owners of the future, Feadship unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show one of the most futuristic superyacht conceptions. The 268-foot design Pure, conceived by Studio De Voogt, derives its name from sculpted exterior lines, flush-tinted windows, an open-plan interior, and future-proofed onboard systems, which include the elimination of the traditional helm in favor of a forward-facing owner’s suite.
The designers’ controversial “Command Center” on the yacht’s lower deck, where the captain will navigate, aroused eyebrows. The traditional bridge will be replaced with radar, AIS, maps, depthsounders, and cameras, supplemented by intelligent augmented reality visualization and the Feadship Foresight program. It takes courage to replace a conventional helm with a submarine-like configuration that relies solely on electronics and not on line of sight. The configurations are found on naval vessels, but not on a superyacht.
“We recognize that the Command Center is a controversial proposal,” said Bram Jongepier, a senior specialist at De Voogt. “However, elevating the bridge alters the profile. The Command Center is a viable solution, and we at Feadship see this as a major, debatable topic.”
A three-deck elliptical glass atrium, retractable glass-bottomed Jacuzzi, and a large beach club with three fold-down terraces aft and on both sides are also notable features.
The atrium incorporates large panes of glass to provide a clear line of sight across three of the five platforms and is situated halfway inside and halfway outside. The expansive central space, which floods the interior with natural light, forces visitors to seek privacy on private balconies.
Jan Schaffers, the designer, stated, “We developed this design with a mixture of joy and tenacity, determined to tweak every angle until it worked flawlessly.” This environment is equally suited for hosting spectacular gatherings and displaying captivating art collections.
However, the anomalies continue. The yacht Pure is equipped with an adaptable “energy-hybrid” propulsion system that will allow it to evolve over time. Pure is designed to respond to advancing technology, dependent on the viability of sustainable fuels, with diesel-electric vehicles in 2024, hydrogen fuel cells in 2027, and methanol fuel cells in 2030.
“Pure synthesizes all the knowledge gained in recent years regarding the types of spaces, exteriors, and propulsion solutions requested by owners,” Schaffers explained. “Many of us are naturally reticent to explore our true needs, but Pure takes a deep dive into this topic.”