Feadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht Slice unveiled in Monaco

I love concept yachts for the same reason I love art, sports cars, hydrofoiling boats of all shapes and power sources, and anything else that dares to push over the line of what’s possible. Sure, some say, all you need to design a concept yacht is a really powerful computer that’s capable of bringing a wild imagination to life with photo-realistic renderings. But, I disagree. A great concept yacht (or car, or work of art, or supercar, or electric powered hydrofoiling boat) is way, way more than just a high-tech-electronic-doodle.

The best concepts capture the essence of what’s possible. And being around that kind of energy is intoxicating, right?

The large pool aft on Feadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht Slice

Well, I think so. And after seeing the sexy new 280-foot-long concept yacht aptly named Slice that Feadship recently unveiled the design at the Monaco Yacht Show, I’m pretty sure the team responsible for creating such a cutting-edge design probably agree.

Especially when they are designed to achieve a specific goal (apart from just looking cool). In the case of Slice, Feadship’s design team tackled one of the biggest owner grievances in yacht design—too many long hallways, dark interiors and stacked living spaces.

Feadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht Slice provides a fresh new look at Superyachts design.

So, what did they do? Instead of offering a few new features or a new technology, Feadship set out to completely reimagine a yacht from inside out. In simplest terms, the designers “sliced” their model right down the centerline and pushed the halves apart to make room for a strip of glass running from bow to stern. It is not glass alone, but glass overlaying a structural framework that lets natural light filter through multiple decks. It is a far more challenging plan than a series of skylights; it totally redefines the relationship between spaces throughout the interior of the yacht.

The atrium is massive on Feadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht Slice

The design team had me at “sliced the model down the centerline,” but they completely reimagined what a yacht layout and be and better yet, what do for an intrepid owner who wants an entirely original superyacht living experience.

The “slice” running down the middle opens up countless layout and lighting possibilities. And it also makes a never-seen-before 753 sq. ft. atrium possible. Uninterrupted by a staircase, and flooded with natural light, the atrium packs some serious wow factor where its cascading circular balconies open a wide range of possibilities for lighting and art.

No other superyacht has an interior quite like this

Another striking feature of Slice is the 30-foot-long pool designed using data science to define the pool’s shape and placement of hidden dampers to control such large amount of water.

Slice’s propulsion system will be powered by four dual-fuel generators which have been modified to run on both methanol and non-fossil diesel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – HVO) and the generated power will be delivered to two Azimuth pods.

The owner's stateroom aboard Geadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht Slice unveiled in Monaco

Meanwhile, Dutch designer Marco van Ham may have had the most fun conceptualizing Slice’s interior. With a design brief that called for him to avoid teak completely, Van Ham and his team brought in a palette of backlit marbles and onyx, surfaces formed of liquid metals, silver leaf, shagreen, straw marquetry and even pyrite with juxtapositions of shiny and matte surfaces.

Warm neutral fabrics evoke a spirit of calm relaxation. Undulating lines inform the floors and most of the furniture reflects organic shapes and is kept low to avoid obscuring views. What you won’t find on the concept for Slice’s interior are squared off doors and box-like rooms.

With Slice, Feadship also wanted a yacht that specifically addressed a recurring owner request: an open and private aft pool and sundecks with sea views and out of sight of passers-by while moored in port. Slice delivers on this with a fully engineered passerelle and watertight forward entrance so it can be moored bow-in. At the touch of a button, a full- height section of the stem at main deck level hinges open and a passerelle deploys, guests make a short walk from the quay, disappear into the privacy and security of the interior and arrive first a welcome area forward of the yacht’s tender bays.

Feadship's new 280-foot-long concept yacht shows the "slice" running down the middle.

The only question left is: when will Slice evolve from “concept” to “contract.” I bet it’ll be sooner rather than later.