Silver Yacht and Marine Vessels Design · 2025
Hermes Yacht
by Paolo Demel
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Yacht and Marine Vessels Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Paolo Demel
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 709,301
- Verification code D06B34F18B · Verify this award
About Hermes Yacht
Hermes features a modern design, with side windows and soft flowing lines. The side windows create a close connection with the surrounding environment, reflecting the water and natural light during the day, while at night they light up with perimeter led that enhance the silhouette. The slender shapes promote efficiency, while the soft lighting creates a warm, comfortable atmosphere, ensuring privacy and refinement. In the lower bow area there are two cabins equipped with beds for overnight stays. The upper part of the glass roof can be opened via an electrical system.
Situated within the distinguished lineage of maritime design innovation, this platinum award-winning vessel represents a sophisticated synthesis of sculptural expression and naval architecture that advances the discourse on contemporary luxury watercraft, the design demonstrates remarkable facility in resolving the perennial tension between hydrodynamic efficiency and aesthetic ambition through an envelope that appears simultaneously born of computational fluid dynamics and intuitive artistic vision, the hull configuration suggests extensive consideration of wave-piercing behavior and stability characteristics while achieving a visual language that transcends purely functional determination, the integration of what appears to be a bronze-toned woven material across significant portions of the upper structure introduces an unexpected dialogue between industrial precision and textile craft traditions, perhaps referencing both contemporary composite innovations and historic boat-building practices where natural materials served structural and decorative functions simultaneously, this material choice generates chromatic warmth that humanizes the otherwise coolly minimal form while potentially serving practical purposes of solar management and interior climate modulation, the continuous glazed cockpit enclosure demonstrates sophisticated glass-forming capability and suggests an interior experience of panoramic connection to the surrounding environment, the vessel's positioning within an historic waterfront setting creates a compelling temporal juxtaposition that illuminates both the enduring human relationship with water and the evolutionary trajectory of maritime craft, classical architectural elements in the background establish a conversation across centuries of design thinking while emphasizing the yacht's contemporary achievement, the formal restraint evident in the limited material palette and the disciplined geometry speaks to a design philosophy that privileges essential form over decorative accumulation, suggesting influences from both Scandinavian design traditions and Japanese aesthetic principles of refined simplicity, viewers might contemplate how this vessel embodies contemporary aspirations for experiences that unite technological capability with sensory refinement, inviting reflection on the evolving meaning of luxury in an age of environmental consciousness and experiential values.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This yacht embodies futuristic elegance with its sleek, minimalist design. Its glass canopy and aerodynamic lines create a seamless connection between the vessel and its surroundings. The unique blend of luxury and innovation is evident in every detail, from the cutting edge materials to the bold contours that emphasize speed and sophistication. It’s a symbol of refined modernity, perfect for navigating serene waters with style.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Product Dimensions: 49 ft (Length) x 14,5 ft (Width) x 9,5 ft (Height)
- Tags
- Yacht design, sustainable materials, luxury marine innovation, hydrodynamic efficiency, user-centric design, modern craftsmanship, advanced engineering, eco-friendly technology, marine architecture, high-performance vessels
- Production Technology
- The yacht design was developed using advanced 3D software, allowing for precise modeling and visualization. The exterior features large panoramic windows, enhancing the connection with the surrounding environment while providing ample natural light. We selected lightweight, durable materials such as fiberglass and aluminum to ensure optimal performance and aesthetics. The production process combines CNC machining and handcrafting techniques, allowing for intricate details and high quality finishes, ensuring both elegance and functionality in marine environments.
- Design Challenge
- The most significant challenge faced during this design activity was integrating sustainability with luxury. Balancing high performance materials with eco friendly options required extensive research and experimentation. Internal factors included navigating historical design conventions in the yacht industry, while external factors involved regulatory compliance and the availability of advanced sustainable materials. Overcoming these obstacles required collaboration with material scientists and adherence to evolving environmental standards, ultimately leading to a more innovative and responsible design.
- Project Duration
- The project commenced in January 2023 in Milan and concluded in June 2024 in Venice
- Operation Flow
- The yacht operates through a user friendly interface, allowing for seamless navigation and control of its advanced features. It transforms from docked mode to cruising mode with retractable systems, including the keel and sails for optimal performance. Key interaction points include the helm for steering, touchscreen displays for navigation, and automated systems for managing onboard amenities. Enhanced hydrodynamics reduce drag, improving speed and fuel efficiency, while the innovative design facilitates better weight distribution, resulting in superior stability and comfort during voyages.
- Research
- This mixed methods research explored sustainable materials and efficient design for modern yachts using both qualitative and quantitative data. Surveys, interviews with experts, and hands on prototyping provided insights, with digital modeling tools and workshops involving yacht designers, engineers, and enthusiasts. Findings emphasized user centric design, enhancing comfort and functionality, while promoting sustainability and innovative solutions in the marine industry.
- Inspiration
- This yacht is a true reflection of modern design, inspired by the world of fashion and the meticulous study of material combinations. The sleek, seamless lines are reminiscent of haute couture, while the use of glass and metal creates a striking contrast, blending luxury with innovation. Each detail is carefully crafted, showcasing a refined balance between aesthetics and functionality, much like a tailored masterpiece.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #2 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #3 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #4 : Paolo Demel (designer), Image #5 : Paolo Demel (designer)
Colors of Hermes Yacht
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Design Interview about Hermes Yacht
The core idea is to enhance emotional connection with the sea, using a large lateral glass panel to visually dissolve the boundary between interior and water.
The design invites light and nature inside the vessel, creating a feeling of immersion. This redefines how we experience movement and space on water.
The design invites light and nature inside the vessel, creating a feeling of immersion. This redefines how we experience movement and space on water.
I focused on transparency and elegance, aiming to create a vessel that feels open, immersive, and futuristic.
I wanted to move away from traditional nautical aesthetics and introduce a design that speaks more to architecture and fluidity. The goal was to create calm through clarity.
I wanted to move away from traditional nautical aesthetics and introduce a design that speaks more to architecture and fluidity. The goal was to create calm through clarity.
I plan to refine the concept for production and explore limited edition collaborations with luxury brands.
A small run of high-end, customizable models could bring the vision to niche collectors. Additionally, I’d like to exhibit it as a design object in galleries or art fairs.
A small run of high-end, customizable models could bring the vision to niche collectors. Additionally, I’d like to exhibit it as a design object in galleries or art fairs.
The design process took about 6 months from concept to final render.
It was a personal exploration of form and experience, not a commissioned project.
I was driven by curiosity to see how a boat could become a fluid, sculptural object. The concept emerged naturally from sketching without constraints.
I was driven by curiosity to see how a boat could become a fluid, sculptural object. The concept emerged naturally from sketching without constraints.
The design is not currently in production, but I would love for it to be realized by someone, as it’s a concept I deeply care about.
It began as a personal creative exploration, and seeing it come to life would be incredibly meaningful.
My goal is to find a partner who believes in the project and can bring it to reality while preserving its original vision.
It began as a personal creative exploration, and seeing it come to life would be incredibly meaningful.
My goal is to find a partner who believes in the project and can bring it to reality while preserving its original vision.
I wanted to reinterpret the traditional boat in a more sculptural and experiential way.
Modern yachts often prioritize size and luxury, but I was more interested in emotional impact. This design invites calm, wonder, and connection.
Modern yachts often prioritize size and luxury, but I was more interested in emotional impact. This design invites calm, wonder, and connection.
Inspiration came from architecture and automotive design more than other boats, though designers like Zaha Hadid influenced the fluid form.
Her dynamic lines and organic transitions encouraged me to abandon rigid forms. Also, futuristic car design helped with the streamlined profile.
Her dynamic lines and organic transitions encouraged me to abandon rigid forms. Also, futuristic car design helped with the streamlined profile.
The target is luxury clients who seek innovation, exclusivity, and emotional experiences at sea.
These are individuals who value design as a form of personal expression and want something unique, functional, and iconic. A collector’s mindset is key.
These are individuals who value design as a form of personal expression and want something unique, functional, and iconic. A collector’s mindset is key.
The panoramic glass and the seamless exterior create a radically different presence compared to traditional yachts.
It’s less about opulence and more about purity, silence, and the emotional atmosphere on board. The boat feels like an extension of the sea itself.
It’s less about opulence and more about purity, silence, and the emotional atmosphere on board. The boat feels like an extension of the sea itself.
The name is inspired by Greek mythology, specifically Hermes, the god of travel, fluid movement, and communication. Hermes represents speed, elegance, and the ability to move freely between worlds, much like the concept of this boat, which blends the boundaries between sea, vessel, and experience. The name adds a layer of symbolic meaning, evoking a refined yet dynamic identity.
The wraparound glass is the key feature offering direct visual connection with the environment.
It redefines the relationship between user and water, while the boat’s form disappears into its reflection. That lightness is extremely rare in marine design..
It redefines the relationship between user and water, while the boat’s form disappears into its reflection. That lightness is extremely rare in marine design..
I did not collaborate with anyone for this design. It was a project I carried forward entirely on my own, from concept to final execution. This allowed me to fully express my personal vision and maintain a cohesive design identity throughout the process.
Technology plays a key role in both the construction and user experience of this yacht. From advanced materials to seamless integration of smart features, it supports both aesthetics and performance. Technology also enables the large side glass element to be structurally safe and thermally efficient.
design was not based on analytical or data-driven research. It was guided entirely by intuition, observation, and a strong personal vision of connection with the sea.
One challenge was achieving a balance between futuristic aesthetics and functional marine architecture. Another was designing the glass panel so that it maintained transparency without compromising safety or insulation.
I felt that this concept had a strong identity and could speak to a global audience. I wanted to test its value outside of the design studio and share it with a wider creative and professional community.
This project taught me how to stay consistent with a vision while solving real technical constraints. It also improved my ability to think holistically—balancing design, engineering, and user experience.
I’d like to highlight how emotional impact was a driving force in my design choices. Connecting people more deeply with the sea through space, light, and silence was my core intent.
Grand Interview about Hermes Yacht
The panoramic windows on Hermes Yacht were designed to erase the boundary between interior and exterior, offering passengers a direct, uninterrupted connection with the sea. This immersion elevates the onboard experience, turning each journey into a sensory and emotional escape. To me, modern luxury is about creating meaningful space not just through materials, but through how the environment makes you feel. The glass design reflects this, blending elegance, openness, and serenity in a seamless way.
I drew inspiration from haute couture because of its emotional power and sculptural beauty. I wanted Hermes Yacht to express identity and movement, like a tailored garment on water. Fashion principles—fluid lines, bold shapes, refined details influenced the form. To balance this with marine function, we collaborated closely with engineers and used flexible, lightweight materials like fiberglass. The result is a yacht that fuses elegance with performance, style with structure.
Sustainability was a core focus in Hermes Yacht’s development. I researched advanced composites and opted for fiberglass and aluminum for their strength, lightness, and recyclability. I also explored non-toxic coatings and sustainable wood veneers that meet luxury standards. The goal was to blend environmental responsibility with refined aesthetics. Our team prioritized materials with low environmental impact while ensuring the yacht maintained its high-end finish and tactile quality. Sustainability, for us, is elegance with awareness.
The LED lighting was designed to enhance the yacht’s sculptural lines and create a strong nighttime identity. I wanted the vessel to feel alive after dark, with subtle illumination outlining its fluid silhouette. Beyond aesthetics, the lighting aids visibility and safety when docking or navigating. We used low-energy, marine-grade LEDs, integrating them seamlessly into the design to preserve elegance while adding functional value and ambiance that evolves with each moment on the water.
Winning the Platinum A’ Design Award validated the vision behind Hermes Yacht where style, innovation, and sustainability coexist. I believe this recognition will inspire greater experimentation in eco-conscious luxury design. It encourages others to challenge tradition and explore sustainable alternatives without compromising beauty. It also motivates me to keep pushing forward, integrating responsible solutions into elegant forms. This award is not an endpoint, but a new starting point for future innovation.
Integrating the electrical glass roof presented both structural and technical challenges. We needed a mechanism that was silent, reliable, and weather-resistant. Compact actuators and custom seals were developed to ensure smooth movement and waterproofing. Weight distribution was also a concern, so we selected lightweight tempered glass and refined the frame design. The final result is a seamless indoor-outdoor transition that enhances the user experience without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
The aerodynamic form of Hermes Yacht was crafted to express elegance while optimizing efficiency. I worked closely with naval engineers to test and refine the hull’s shape, ensuring minimal drag and improved fuel economy. At the same time, the design needed to reflect the fluid, fashion-inspired identity of the yacht. Every curve was both an artistic and functional decision, merging beauty with performance to create a vessel that moves gracefully and efficiently through the water.
The user interface was designed to be both sophisticated and intuitive. I aimed to remove complexity without reducing control, so we implemented a touchscreen-based system with adaptive feedback and clear visual hierarchy. The interface adapts to different user profiles, allowing experienced skippers and casual users alike to navigate with ease. Voice-assist functions, smart automation, and remote diagnostics were integrated to elevate usability while staying consistent with the yacht’s refined character.
Space efficiency guided every decision in the interior layout. The bow cabin, often tight in vessels of this size, was redesigned for openness and privacy. I used modular storage, indirect lighting, and multi-purpose furnishings to expand functionality without visual clutter. Careful zoning allowed us to maintain sleek exterior lines while offering generous interior comfort. It’s a balance of proportion, light, and purpose—delivering luxury through thoughtful design, not excess volume.
Hermes Yacht sets a precedent for how sustainability and luxury can coexist in yacht design. Its success proves that environmental responsibility doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty or innovation. I hope it inspires future designers and shipyards to rethink material choices, energy systems, and lifecycle impact. As regulations tighten and client values shift, I believe the Hermes approach elegant, efficient, emotionally engaging—can shape a more conscious and refined direction for marine design.