Could this turtle-shaped syperyacht be the world’s biggest yacht? If its $8 billion bill can be footed, then maybe. But there are other obstacles to overcome, too.
Who would have excepted a giant turtle-shaped yacht to ever be a reality, but here we are – and this is not just any ordinary superyacht (as if), it is billed as the world’s biggest yacht: a floating city that's large enough to accommodate hotels, apartments, shopping malls, parks and other facilities, and up to 60,000 passengers. As CNN reported, the Italian agency Lazzarini Design Studio drew up the plans for this imposing vessel, imagined as a turtle with outstretched fins. It's so massive that it can no longer even be called a superyacht , but rather a terayacht, according to the architects.
It comes with a suitably grand name: Pangeos, a nod to Pangea, the ancient supercontinent that once incorporated almost all of Earth’s landmasses. When Pangeos isn't moored near land, it will be accessible by plane or boat with dedicated ports built into the structure. A useful idea, since the manufacturer has not yet established any cruise itinerary and rather imagines that its turtle will travel around the world.
If built, this turtle-shaped yacht will be the world’s biggest yacht ever
Stretching 550 meters in length and reaching 610 meters in width in places, Pangeos could become the world’s biggest yacht ever. That is, if it can be built, which is already an obstacle in itself. As its website states, "the terayacht requires a shipyard of the same scale," which currently does not exist. The project would require a 600 by 650 meter yard, also involving dredging a square kilometer of seawater with a circular dam. Once the yacht is built, the dam will open, flooding the area, and launching the vessel. According to Lazzarini, the coast of Saudi Arabia would be the ideal location to begin construction.
Sustainable automotive tech is at the heart this superyacht's design
Since the goal is often to minimise drag, boats rarely stray from a standard V-shaped construction (let alone adopt the shape of marine animals), but Pangeos's fins serve another purpose. According to the manufacturer, these tips will capture the kinetic energy of waves, allowing the boat to sail continuously without generating emissions. The roof will also be equipped with solar panels to provide additional power if needed; electric motors will also be integrated. Pangeos will reportedly be powered by nine high-tech electric motors, each rated at 16,800 horsepower.
How much does this turtle-shaped superyacht cost to build?
According to the agency, the total cost of building this titanic liner is around $8 billion. Construction times will take at least eight years, and the firm doesn't expect construction to begin before 2025. Taking into account the cost and forecasts, the company has come up with a plan: in a similar way to NFT financing , it is selling Unreal Estate , allowing interested parties to buy virtual tickets, hotel rooms, and even houses for a version of the yacht in the metaverse , which should be ready for (virtual) boarding in 2024.
Lazzarini Design Studio, experts in superyachts designed this turtle-shaped yacht
Born in Rome in 1982, Pierpaolo Lazzarini is an Italian designer and founder of the Lazzarini Design Studio. After earning his stripes in the automotive industry, he moved on to large-scale projects, with yachts as the star. Lazzarini is responsible for the design of the Shape , a futuristic superyacht with a stunning design. Featuring six luxurious suites, this new Italian vessel features a customizable "emptiness" in its architecture.
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The world’s most beautiful superyachts designed by superstar architects
Throughout contemporary design history, architects have demonstrated a love for nautical themes. Le Corbusier wrote about being inspired by ocean liners in his 1923 book, Towards a New Architecture; Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava cited sails as a reference point for their designs for the Guggenheim Bilbao and the Milwaukee Art Museum respectively; and even Frank Lloyd Wright – who only designed one coastal home – used the opportunity to create a house shaped like a ship’s bow.
It’s no surprise, then, that many architects have also turned their attention to yacht and ship design in recent years. But just how do their creative tendencies transfer from skyscrapers and cities to the nautical and maritime? Below AD looks at seven superyachts designed by architects to help answer that question.
Unique Circle Yachts, Zaha Hadid
Perhaps one of Zaha Hadid’s greatest strengths was her ability to make nearly anything she touched instantly recognizable as her own. And nothing proves this more than the group of five superyachts the architect designed in 2013. Featuring bold, white curves and organic lines, the design is classic Hadid – only in nautical form. “Each yacht is an engineered platform that integrates specific hydrodynamic and structural demands together with the highest levels of comfort, spatial quality, and safety,” Hadid said in a press release at the time of the boats’ debuts. The architect worked with German shipbuilding and engineering firm Blohm+Voss, which brought boating-specific technical expertise to the project.
YachtPlus Fleet, Norman Foster
Though yachts may appear to be a relatively newer fascination among architects, Norman Foster has been working on them for years. He began taking on naval projects in 1993, though he has most recently completed three superyachts – Ocean Emerald, Ocean Pearl and Ocean Sapphire – as part of a series of yachts known as The YachtPlus Fleet. Similar to a time share, eight buyers share ownership of the boats and are granted a total of 30 days per year onboard. Each ship is made from aluminium alloy and feature spacious cabins for maximum comfort.
Kirribilli, Renzo Piano
Working with Vismara Yacht Design, Renzo Piano and Emanuela Baglietto (an architect employed at his firm) designed the 60-feet monohull Kirribilli. Launched in 2001, the sailing boat features deliberate minimalism and simplicity – an homage to racing yachts of the 1930s. The flush deck complements the topsides of the vessel, which were originally painted emerald green but are now white.
Foggy, Frank Gehry
Foggy, as this yacht is called, got its name from the designer’s initials: F-O-G, for Frank Owen Gehry. Though it may sound a little self-indulgent, it makes sense when one learns who the client was – Gehry himself. According to Dezeen, Gehry is an avid sailer and often often draws inspiration from sails when designing buildings – besides the Guggenheim Bilbao, take Foundation Louis Vuitton as another example. Working with naval architect Germán Frers, the sloop is made from larch wood with a glass lattice work on the deck. “I never had the resources before, and once I did I was busy doing my buildings,” the architect told Town & Country in 2015, speaking on his lifelong dream of designing a boat finally coming to fruition.
Flagship, Zaha Hadid
Until recently, it was assumed that the Unique Circle Yachts were Hadid’s only nautical designs throughout her career. However, in early January of this year, it was announced that the architect had also worked with Vitruvius Yachts to design a new ship for the British Royal Family. Though the project, which was originally put into motion by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has now been called off, it’s exciting to see what could have been. “All design contributors were keen to capture the essence of UK heritage and embrace a forward-thinking and innovative approach to the design of the flagship with sustainability at the core,” Vitruvius’s website states.
B60 Sloop, John Pawson
Known for his minimalist take on design, John Pawson’s stark white sailboat, called B60 Sloop, sits firmly within his design vernacular. The vessel is a result of a collaboration with Milan-based yacht designer Luca Brenta, and it features a 60-foot carbon fiber hull and two striking white sails. “The project’s functional goal is to create the ultimate day-racing yacht, built for recreational rather than competitive purposes, but with the highest levels of manoeuvrability,” Pawson shared in Dezeen in 2008.
Oneiric Catamaran, Zaha Hadid Architects
Representing the latest offering from Hadid’s design firm, architects at Zaha Hadid Architects recently unveiled concept renderings for Oneiric, a proposed catamaran in collaboration with Italian shipyard Rossinavi. Powered by green technology, the boat features three levels of solar panels and an AI-driven control center that manages energy consumption. “The serenity on board is visual as well as auditory,” the firm said in a press release. “Oneiric’s full-electric mode is capable of silent operations.”
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