British Designer Alex McDiarmid, based in the South of France unveils his latest 90m CONCH motor yacht concept inspired by conchology. Alex McDiarmid’s latest 90m superyacht Conch offers accommodation to 16 private or yacht charter guests in one Master suite, 2 VIP cabins, 3 double cabins and one twin cabin.
1. McDiarmid Design - 90m side profile Superyacht Conch - classic bow
Following the international media coverage generated by yachts, Dramatic/The One50 – 150’/46m, Iwana – 85m and Duel – 100m, these new designs again push boundaries in superyacht styling. The project sees a fresh thinking approach to the styling of a 90m Superyacht and as always, inspiration is diverse BUT this time… a nautical philosophy.
“Whoever holds the Conch”…
Conchology is the scientific study of shells. Seashells have been admired for decorative purposes, collected, incorporated in jewellery, studied and used by humans for many other different purposes throughout history and pre-history.
San Sebastian in the Spanish Basque country is blessed with an almost perfect crescent-shaped beach called ‘La Concha’ while Lord of the Flies novelist William Golding wrote about the relationship the characters had with a Conch in his famous book. In some South Pacific cultures a speaker holds a conch shell as a symbol of temporary position of authority.
Owning a superyacht is a symbol of position and authority.
2. McDiarmid Design - 90m side profile Superyacht Conch - classic bow
Design Thinking:
The design and styling of the new Alex McDiarmid 90m Conch yacht’s superstructure takes its inspiration from the beautiful twisting and swirling forms of shells in particular the Turitella shell (tower screw) a long twirled seashell, the Tibia Fusus sea shell for its long thin tail and of course Conches. The ultimate shell.
The aperture of the shell is the long opening where the animal emerges and this serves the purpose of a window(s) in the hull and aft superstructure of the concepts. Allowing as much natural light into the superstructure as possible is the goal giving a floating atrium effect.
4. McDiarmid Design - 90m side profile Superyacht Conch - reverse bow
The vibrant and striking colours of many shells influenced the ‘over the top’, multi-coloured paint scheme of the latest 90m motor yacht Conch design by Alex McDiarmid, It is a yacht concept after all which would require new ways in thinking for production but concept designs should offer an insight into what could be while at the same time entertaining the viewer.
The communication towers are inspired by spiral cut Terebra shells from the Indo-Pacific region and probably the most famous of all shells, The Nautilus.
We were adamant about keeping a classic bow for one of the attached concepts but wanted to really push some boundaries with the styling of others. The aft section of the hull, superstructure and ‘Day Light Opening’ / DLO window graphics are there to be explored in terms of style. Something new, exciting and ‘moving the game on’.
A helicopter, custom tenders and toys are under consideration matching the exterior styling of the yacht.
Water toys onboard of the 90m yacht by Alex McDiarmid include waverunners, sea scooters, windsurfers, kayaks, waterskis, wakeboards and a whole range of scuba and fishing gear.
3. McDiarmid Design - 90m side profile Superyacht Conch - reverse bow
Technical/Principal Characteristics of the 90m yacht concept by Alex McDiarmid:
Length overall: 90m / 295ft
Beam: 14.2m / 47ft
Power and type of engines in hp and manufacturer: 2 x 4,830hp / 3,600kW MTU 20V 4000 M73L or
A hybrid power Diesel Electric propulsion system with pod drives, electric Voith Inline Propulsors/thrusters, Volvo Penta D16 MG gensets, Valance batteries
Maximum Speed: Approximately 18 Knots
Range: 6,900 nautical miles at 14 knots
Fuel Capacity: Approximately 280,000 liters / 73,968 US gallons
Berth capacity for guests 16
Berth capacity for crew 20
Master suite, with owner’s salon, exterior balcony and private exterior deck area,
2 VIP cabins with private exterior balcony.
3 double guest cabins,
1 twin guest cabin
The hull is made from steel while the superstructure is in aluminium, the more common combination for this size of yacht.
