Marine

Zaha Hadid Architects' catamaran offers sleek solar-powered luxury

Zaha Hadid Architects' catamaran offers sleek solar-powered luxury
The Oneiric will host up to eight people in luxury, plus a crew of seven
The Oneiric's fluid design is reminiscent of Zaha Hadid Architects' previous works and is meant to "blur the boundaries between ship and sea"
View 11 Images
The Oneiric will measure a total length of 44 m (144 ft) and will be built primarily from aluminum
1/11
The Oneiric will measure a total length of 44 m (144 ft) and will be built primarily from aluminum
The Oneiric will host up to eight people in luxury, plus a crew of seven
2/11
The Oneiric's fluid design is reminiscent of Zaha Hadid Architects' previous works and is meant to "blur the boundaries between ship and sea"
According to Zaha Hadid Architects, the Oneiric can cruise "up to" 100 percent of the time in electric mode, depending on conditions
3/11
According to Zaha Hadid Architects, the Oneiric can cruise "up to" 100 percent of the time in electric mode, depending on conditions
The Oneiric's swim platforms offer an easy connection to the sea
4/11
The Oneiric's swim platforms offer an easy connection to the sea
The Oneiric will contain multiple areas for entertaining guests
5/11
The Oneiric will contain multiple areas for entertaining guests
The Oneiric's guest cabins will feature luxurious materials and high-end interior design
6/11
The Oneiric's guest cabins will feature luxurious materials and high-end interior design
The Oneiric's planned entertainment facilities will include a small cinema
7/11
The Oneiric's planned entertainment facilities will include a small cinema
The Oneiric's master cabin will have an ensuite bathroom
8/11
The Oneiric's master cabin will have an ensuite bathroom
The Oneiric's master cabin will offer superb views and will receive natural light with skylights
9/11
The Oneiric's master cabin will offer superb views and will receive natural light with skylights
The Oneiric's main saloon will be spacious and luxurious
10/11
The Oneiric's main saloon will be spacious and luxurious
The Oneiric's interior will be furnished with custom lightweight furniture
11/11
The Oneiric's interior will be furnished with custom lightweight furniture
View gallery - 11 images

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has turned its considerable design expertise to the exclusive world of luxury yachts, with a new catamaran concept for Italian shipbuilder Rossinavi. Named the Oneiric, it's hailed as the shipyard's green technology flagship and could run fully from solar power on shorter daytrips.

Assuming it actually goes ahead, the Oneiric will have a total length of 44 m (144 ft) and will be built primarily from aluminum. Its overall form is a far cry from the wild superyacht designs conceived by ZHA years ago, and instead offers tasteful fluid lines that subtly echo the firm's recent architectural output.

It will boast ample lounging space, multiple interior and outdoor dining areas, easy access to the sea for swimming, plus a mini cinema, a large master cabin, four guest cabins, and a like number of crew cabins. The master cabin itself will boast an ensuite bathroom and a 180-degree view, while the main saloon will be spacious and furnished with high-end custom lightweight furniture.

Technical details are still lacking at this early stage but we do know that the catamaran will usually be powered by an unspecified form of electric propulsion, with some kind of standard gas-guzzling motor as a backup. When operating in fully electric mode, coupled with Rossinavi's so-called Zero Noise technology, it promises to be very quiet in operation.

The Oneiric's interior will be furnished with custom lightweight furniture
The Oneiric's interior will be furnished with custom lightweight furniture

Additionally, the Oneiric's solar power tech sounds genuinely impressive – though again ZHA doesn't expand on its solar panel or battery capacity.

"Three levels of solar panels are seamlessly integrated into the design to charge a highly efficient battery pack," explained ZHA. "An artificial-intelligence-driven control center monitors energy consumption and battery status, as well as observes environmental impact to advise on the most sustainable navigation.

"On a day trip, Oneiric can cruise up to 100 percent of the time in full-electric mode with zero emissions. On transatlantic crossings, the yacht can cruise in full-electric mode up to 70 percent of the time, saving approximately 40 tonnes [44.8 US tons] of CO2 compared to a conventional vessel. The solar panels, continually charging the battery pack during daylight hours, are also designed for the periods when the yacht is not in use and, when moored, it can power a family villa on land."

The Oneiric's master cabin will offer superb views and will receive natural light with skylights
The Oneiric's master cabin will offer superb views and will receive natural light with skylights

While the Oneiric remains a concept at present, we'd guess Rossinavi would be happy to make it a reality if someone with deep pockets asks. We've no word on the expected cost, but a luxury catamaran designed by ZHA is not going to be cheap.

Source: Zaha Hadid Architects

View gallery - 11 images
3 comments
3 comments
Mushi
890 Jump!
Demosthenes
Uncomfortable, cold, unusable
tokyotea
Cross the Atlantic under 70% solar power? Does ZHA know that there is an all-solar catamaran manufacturer out there whose products cross the Atlantic entirely under solar power pretty regularly? And, they're constructed of fiberglas instead of aluminum, making them just a bit more family sized and reasonably priced than this monster is going to be.