Motoryacht - Foster + Partners

 Motoryacht
Tokyo, Japan
1995
The design of most sea-going vessels tends to split responsibilities, with a naval architect working on the exterior
and hull, while the superstructure and interior are completed by a designer. The results are often top-heavy, with
interiors that are the reverse of shipshape. In contrast, the development of this 58.5-metre private yacht saw
architects and engineers working closely together - just as they would on the design of a building. Inspired by
naval vessels, in which functional efficiency takes precedence over styling, Izanami is as sleek and fast as a patrol
boat, but with open decks and interiors suggestive of a traditional sailing yacht.
When completed, the hull was the largest to be built in aluminium, with hull and superstructure together forming a
semi-monococque construction of welded skin, frames and longitudinal stiffeners. The form of the superstructure
represents a radical departure from tradition. It is articulated as three elements - suggesting the head, thorax and
abdomen of an insect - which define the owner's cabin, the crew's quarters and the wheelhouse respectively. The
structure is formed from large plates, some of which rise through the full two levels. Most of these apparently flat
panels were, in fact, rolled to create a slight convex curve. This not only increased their rigidity, but also - like
entasis on a Classical entablature - helped to avoid the concave appearance sometimes encountered when flat
planes meet at an angle. Picture windows in these planes allow generous views from the main cabin and upperdeck spaces, and the interiors focus on high-quality craftsmanship and appropriate materials, with equally
comfortable accommodation provided for passengers and crew.
Izanami has transatlantic and worldwide cruising capabilities and is built to German Lloyds certification and ABS
standards. It is powered by two MTU diesel engines rated at 4,800 horsepower and has a design speed of 30
knots, although 34 knots was achieved during sea trials. That is equivalent to the speed of sleek transatlantic
liners of the past, and almost twice that possible using a conventional displacement hull of the same size.