Discover 'Outlier', where Lateral Naval Architects and Foster + Partners Redefine the 2,000 GT Yacht Compatibility

Lateral Naval Architects, creating waves of change in collaboration with the globally celebrated Foster + Partners, is set to challenge the classic designs of 2,000 GT yachts. Their groundbreaking creation, the ‘Outlier’, an 88.5-metre platform aims to upturn conventional norms with its inventive design, superior efficiency and user-friendly spaces. Lateral Naval Architects’ Ollie Cooper describes the Outlier as a unique platform, calling upon yacht owners and designers to re-imagine yachts as more than mere boats on the sea, but as dynamic structures with unrestricted potential.

By moving the machinery forward, and integrating an electric-hybrid system supported by an expansive 4 Mwh battery, the Outlier opens up new possibilities for quiet, uninterrupted lower decks and enhanced comfort amidships. One of the primary design goals behind the Outlier was freedom; the power to create and re-imagine yachts without limitations. This extends to a staggering 40 per cent increase in exterior space, thanks to the extended hull and redistributed machinery.

Taking design liberties even further, the Outlier features an internal exhaust system routing, which offers flexibility in the yacht’s profile. To demonstrate the platform’s potential, Lateral called upon the design prowess of Foster + Partners, who conceptualised Outlier I. This design highlights how a 2,000 GT yacht can encompass attributes typical of much larger vessels, exceeding 5,000 GT. The suggestive design focuses on fluid connectivity between spaces and decks, uninterrupted exterior areas, and reimagined guest accommodation spaces designed to heighten both privacy and social interaction. Remarkably versatile, the Outlier model can also be scaled down to 1,500 or even 950 GT, providing the same core functional benefits.

Given the technology and design innovation of the Outlier, many question whether the traditional baseline concept remains relevant. As such, a scale model of this innovative design was presented at the Monaco Yacht Show, opening new discussions within the industry and spurring curiosity for the future of yachts.