Exterior Designer, Luiz DeBasto of Design based in Miami chats with Yachts International about the 295-foot ( 90-meter) motoryacht DAR built by Oceanco.

During the build process the yacht was dubbed “Project Shark” as the wing stations, when viewed from above, bear a distinct resemblance to a hammerhead shark, while the mast in profile is shaped like a fin, contrasting with the flowing rhythm of the hull below.

While the yacht yields a massive amount of volume, DeBasto has ensured that the profile remains long, sporty and lean without the typical top-heavy superstructure that characterizes so many large yachts.

A staggering amount of glass dominates DAR’s overall design— there are 4,198 square feet (390 square meters) of glass in the superstructure alone, not counting doors and hull windows. Adding all of its windows and doors, DAR carries nearly 24 tons of exterior glass— all of it used in the most efficient structural way practical for a yacht’s requirements.

According to Oceanco’s project manager, Erwin de Looff, the exterior glass surface was designed as one continuous surface stretching from the main deck to the sun deck. The curved panels are all nearly six feet (1.8 meters) wide and nearly 10 feet (3 meters) tall. Doors and grilles were all engineered to be flush with the surface. Also, to maintain an uninterrupted surface, sliding doors were installed that are completely flush when closed but can pop out and slide with no visible tracks when opened. To keep the surface uniform these doors align with the seams of the glass surface.

“The profile has a unique sense of contrast and homogeneity between the dark glass and the white balconies, providing a constant exchange in shape and lines between the two elements,” said Luiz DeBasto. “My initial drawings may have looked like a futuristic concept, yet she is now a very real yacht on account of the execution made possible by the advanced technology of the Oceanco engineering team and by the vision of her experienced owner and his team.”