The superyacht industry is evolving rapidly, with current trends emphasizing customization, wellness, sustainability and cutting-edge technology. Additionally, yacht owners today seem to want bigger, newer and more extravagant pleasure boats, so yacht designers are letting their imaginations run wild and coming up with innovative concepts that inspire the future of yachting.
Driven by a desire to better meet the needs of modern yachtsmen, Dutch naval architecture and design studio Mulder Design has stepped out of its comfort zone and unveiled a 115-metre (377-foot) yacht concept with a “seductive” profile, a timeless multi-level deck design and all the creature comforts typically found on large luxury superyachts. Called “White Coral,” it boasts a decidedly modern aesthetic while remaining utterly timeless.
We are saying that the studio is entering a new chapter with this new concept because Mulder Design is mainly known for developing yachts that go up to 60 meters (197 feet) in length. This new project is the largest that the studio has ever designed so far and has been in the making for several years.
“When we started this project a couple of years ago, we wanted to make a bigger yacht, as our projects usually go up to 60 meters,” Bas Mulder, owner of the Dutch design studio, explained. “We decided to really show what we can do, so we went with 115 metres and from there we took a rough idea, developed and expanded the concept and produced some sketches which we showed at the Monaco Yacht Show.”
Apparently, the initial sketches piqued the interest of a potential client, who asked to see more of the design, so they continued with “further development of the concept and its extension into full 3D renderings.”
Photo: Mulder Design
Typically, superyacht concepts are just design exercises and many are destined to remain forever in the realm of fantasy, with very little chance of being turned into real vessels. This is usually because the studios have no experience with naval architecture or engineering and may overlook some essential aspects when designing their extravagant designs. However, Bulder explains that their “holistic understanding” ensures that White Coral is a viable concept firmly rooted in reality.
With this new concept, the study “We wanted to demonstrate that, far from being mere technical designers, we can offer our skills and experience in creating stunning exterior designs for yachts of any size, while taking into account the needs of the interior and thus perfectly blending function and form.”
The few renderings revealed by the studio show a robust superyacht with a forward-sloping pyramidal superstructure, flowing and finely detailed lines, a vertical mast and inverted mouldings, which are certainly a Mulder-style feature.
With a long history of creating designs with classic, enduring looks rather than something that can be traced to a specific era or fashion style, it was natural for the Dutch studio to give White Coral a timeless aesthetic. The concept is distinguished by classic proportions and a timeless, multi-level deck design. Elongated, simple lines from bow to stern enhance its elegant, commanding stance on the water.
According to Mulder, the clean design, without complicated details, makes it “adapt more easily to the individual taste of each customer, while ensuring that the overall design is fundamentally harmonious.”
Photo: Mulder Design
In terms of features, White Coral is designed with all the modern amenities you would expect to find on a 100-meter-plus luxury yacht, including a fully certified helipad and a below-deck helicopter hangar in the bow (a feature the team has successfully implemented on past projects), a glass-bottom pool on the main deck, and a spacious beach club with opening hull hatches that lower to create terraces over the sea. The sun deck, meanwhile, features a hot tub, a sit-down bar, and sun loungers. Additionally, the designers promise a relaxed exterior and interior style on all decks.
Both the outdoor and indoor areas have been designed to ensure that those on board can seamlessly connect with the surrounding ocean and feel its calming power. This is actually the inspiration behind the ship's name. White coral, an organic gemstone sourced from the depths of the ocean's surface, symbolizes peace, calm, purity and fearlessness in Vedic (Indian) astrology and is said to possess healing powers.
No details were revealed regarding the project's internal layout and accommodation capacity; the studio said the team only worked on a general layout to define the spaces needed for guests, crew, accommodation and technical areas.
Founded in 1979, Mulder Design has a long history of creating enduring designs. Over the years, they have provided superb exterior styling, naval architecture and engineering for memorable motor yachts. Nearly 1,000 of their designs have been brought to life, with some of the most notable including the 69.2-metre (227-foot) Benetti Spectre, the 52-metre (170-foot) Cheoy Lee Seashaw and the 39.3-metre (129-foot) Heesen-built Kartal Yuvasi.