Frank Gehry Designed First Yacht Is All About Romance

Frank Gehry, primarily celebrated for his contributions to architecture, has ventured into nautical design with his first sailboat. The 86-year-old Canadian-born American architect, residing in Los Angeles, is renowned for creating iconic structures that have shaped skylines worldwide. Gehry, a passionate yachtsman, drew inspiration from sailing for many of his notable works, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, New York’s IAC building, and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. Though he contemplated designing a boat in 2008, his vision materialized in 2015 with the launch of his first sailboat.

Gehry aimed to craft a boat that was both a personal signature piece and a romantic gift for his wife, Berta. The result was a racing sailing yacht named Foggy, a collaborative effort with developer Richard Cohen and Argentine naval architect Germán Frers, known for his elegant and fast sailboat designs. Gehry emphasized that the boat’s design was intended to evoke romance and intimate encounters.

Contrary to the prevalent use of carbon fiber in modern yacht construction, Gehry opted for a wooden lining. This choice was influenced partly by traditional “boat lore” and partly by his personal affinity for wood. Gehry’s design featured lattice-patterned windows and extensive glass elements on the deck and stern, with over 300 glass pieces integrated into these cut-outs. The deck itself boasts more than 800 pieces of glass, seamlessly flushed with the teak surface. Each element on the boat, from cleats to doorknobs and showerheads, was meticulously designed, embedding a unique story in every piece.

The yacht’s saloon showcases soft furnishings, including a vibrant carpet designed by Gehry’s daughter-in-law, Joyce Shin, and sheepskin-covered couches from New Zealand. This eclectic mix transformed the space into a blend of an Austin Powers-style lounge and a discotheque.

Foggy, stripped of unnecessary weight and traditional binnacles, features black carbon fiber racing sails, enhancing its performance. The yacht made a striking impression at the Round the Island Race in Martha’s Vineyard, highlighting both its aesthetic appeal and racing capabilities.

Frank Gehry’s foray into yacht design, characterized by his signature creativity and attention to detail, has resulted in a vessel that stands out for its romantic charm and exceptional design. This project exemplifies Gehry’s ability to translate his architectural genius into the realm of nautical engineering, creating a boat that is as much a piece of art as it is a functional racing yacht.