T hen two Dutch powerhouses unite, innovation follows. Vripack and Oceanco join forces once again for LILY, the second Beyond Custom yacht design, redefining the future of bold, boundary-breaking yachting.
Reshaping the parameters of yacht design has become Vripack’s signature. From global explorers to sustainable sailing yachts to world-first sportfishers, the Dutch design studio pens yachts that carve out new opportunities for the boldest of owners. So, when Oceanco, the famed Dutch yard responsible for groundbreaking builds such as Black Pearl and H3, invited Vripack to collaborate on its second next generation Beyond Custom yacht design, the synergy was clear.
Lily is a 101-metre (331ft) multi-dimensional work of art. With its asymmetrical, split-level design that optimises sight lines, air flow and owner experience, it doesn’t just push boundaries but eviscerates them entirely.
“The key requirement from Oceanco was to conceive a yacht for the change makers who want to leave a mark,” says Vripack’s co-creative director, Marnix Hoekstra. “Lily neatly straddles the line between blue-sky thinking and buildability, which is exactly what Beyond Custom is all about.”
The premise of the design is inspired by a water lily – a flower that emerges from the water and symbolises resurrection, purity and enlightenment. Viewing the yacht from the aft reveals an exterior that wraps around like the curving leaves of a protective cocoon. An asymmetrical bow features a unique walkway starboard side and a helicopter landing pad portside. Underneath sits ample storage for four tenders and a helicopter.
The elegant steel hull and aluminium superstructure mimics the shape of a sailing yacht with uninterrupted lines. The omission of side walkways and terraces gives the outward appearance of a smooth impenetrable surface, yet one-way glass windows that flank the profile maintain guests’ uninterrupted relationship with the ocean from within.
“Being protected from the sun and keeping cool in the shade sits high up on the wish list for a lot of younger owners, so we’ve ensured Lily’s design allows for more sun shelter than is typically found aboard a yacht,” says Hoekstra.
On the interior, folding and overlapping decks appear unconnected, emulating the look of a lily’s closing petals and creating playful light and shadows. An extensive use of glass and split levels diminish barriers. Guests board the yacht via the main deck — or “leisure deck” — and are met by a vast 4-metre-high ceiling and large wellness area with an integrated waterside swimming pool, gym and watersports gallery. It’s overlooked by the aft deck lounge and balcony on the deck above and has a generous bar and dining area forward.
“We were struck by how a lily’s petals overlap one another and only touch at the centre of the flower,” explains Hoekstra. “We’ve echoed that structure transversely by layering the decks to create split level platforms and one and a half deck heights.”
As guests are drawn further into the heart of the vessel the half decks eventually come together via a glass mezzanine and stairway which leads to nine 50msq (538ftsqr) double guest cabins, an open-plan cinema and a cosy children’s play nest accessed via a thrilling suspension bridge. The split-level layout gifts optimised sight lines from all angles, which is further enhanced by the addition of a virtual bridge.
The top deck is dedicated to the 450msq (4840ftsq) owner’s split-level quarters, where the bedroom, ensuite and wardrobe is positioned half a deck lower for ultimate privacy. It’s complemented by a vast 315msq (3390sq) private sundeck terrace and an interior lily pond that is open to the elements and from which the elevator arises. It’s here where the yacht’s natural air flow originates, drawing oxygen down from the sky. Because the interior is not geometrically structured the acoustics and air flow take care of themselves, as is the case in nature.
Forward amidships are geometric crew areas, which are laid out to be super functional to aid highly efficient service. Discretion is also on point with dedicated crew access running below the main deck allowing service to continue smoothly away from guest areas.
As with all Beyond Custom Yachts by Oceanco, Lily is based upon Lateral Naval Architects’ Energy Transition Platform (ETP) and is equipped with hybrid Dynafin propulsion and fuel cell technology.
“For Oceanco, Beyond Custom is about conceiving the type of project that doesn’t come out of any other shipyard, and Lily is a concept that steps beyond our industry standards,” says Hoekstra. “It’s a boundaryless onboard experience, like the ocean itself, providing pure freedom within the whole concept. It reflects our belief that it’s in the uniqueness of an idea where the true value for the future owner lies.”
