This New 138-Foot Explorer Yacht Is as Elegant as It Is Rugged

Hot Lab just showed that a bold brief can lead to an equally bold superyacht.

The Italian studio, part of the Viken Group, was recently enlisted to design the interior of the 138-foot Kaşif for two experienced owners with lofty ideas and even loftier standards. Working to a “compelling brief” from the husband-and-wife team, Hot Lab perfected every aspect of the living quarters, from the decor to the furniture. The result is one stunning explorer yacht.

“We quickly realized that the preparation and dedication of the two owners—he a captain and she an architect—would require something more than our usual organizational procedure,” Enrico Lumini, partner, and head of design at Hot Lab, said in a statement. “The entire family is strictly related to the sea and the maritime world, and while the husband oversaw most of the technical matters, his wife collaborated closely with us in creating such a beautiful vessel.”

Named after the Turkish word for “explorer,” Kaşif was built by Bilgin Yachts and unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show last September. Penned by Bilgin and Unique Yacht Design, the bluewater cruiser was designed not only for leisure but also to support the family’s business in offshore fish farming. As such, the rugged workhorse is capable of traveling to farms miles from the coastline.

Her highly efficient hull, which takes cues from the vessels in Bilgin’s 262-foot series, increases efficiency and speed while reducing fuel consumption. To wit, Kaşif consumes a mere eight gallons of fuel while sailing at 8 knots. In addition, she can cover more than 5,000 nautical miles when traveling at her cruising speed of 12 knots.

The highlight is the interior, though. The living quarters run across three decks, with each level offering different amenities. The lower deck is reserved for guests, with one large VIP cabin, two smaller VIPs, and two twins. The main deck features a spacious salon, dining area, and the owner’s cabin, while the upper deck is home to a second salon and the owner’s office.

Each deck features a distinctive style and palette, with pastels appearing on the lower deck, burgundy hues on the main, and “masculine shades” on the upper. In addition, Hot Lab incorporated bespoke furniture and statement pieces that reflect the owner’s love of and connection to all things marine. The lighting feature Paolo Castelli produced for the dining area (pictured top) represents a school of fish, for example. Another resin artwork in the beach club (pictured above), designed by Hot Lab and made by Alex Turco, emulates the ocean’s waves.

“The idea behind the entire vessel was to be strictly connected to the water and the sea, and this is the case as well with this piece—the owners wanted to have a strong recall of the surrounding water and we tried to replicate that feeling on the beach club walls as well, almost like if the water and the teak were somehow merging with each other in a single surface,” adds Lumini.