7 of the best Blohm+Voss superyachts

German builder Blohm+Voss has launched some incredible custom yachts over the years. While the word unique is often a misnomer in yachting, the best Blohm+Voss superyachts are truly worthy of the term. With unusual exterior design, bold windows and completely unconventional lines, these yachts stand out while standing the test of time.

Case in point, the completely one of a kind superyacht A built for Russian yacht owner Andrey Melnichenko. Designed inside and out by Philippe Starck with naval architecture by Martin Francis, the 119 metre motor yacht A redefined preconceived notions of what a yacht could look like when she emerged in 2008. Though considered a bit of an oddity at the time, she has since gone on to serve as the golden example of what truly unique yacht design can be and is one of the most easily recognisable yachts in the world. Very few yachts have garnered as much attention since then until A's sistership, the boundary pushing Sailing Yacht A.

The best Blohm+Voss yacht that redefined window design is Eco, re-named Katana and now Enigma,_ _the 75 metre motor yacht launched in 1991. With exterior design by Martin Francis, Eco was groundbreaking for her superstructure design that was covered by three tiers of convex curved windows. Built for a Mexican yacht owner, the superyacht was also notable for her speed, ramping up to 35 knots. She's enjoyed two refits, in 1994 and again in 2004, she's been kept in good condition and offers accommodation for 28 guests. Her interior was a collaboration between Martin Francis, Francois Zuretti and Laura Seccombe.

Another window-filled best Blohm+Voss yacht came in the form of the 104.85 metre steel and aluminium Lady Moura. The massive, full-displacement superyacht was the ninth largest yacht in the world when she was launched in 1990. It's not just her LOA that's seizable as the five-deck yacht has a huge interior volume with a gross tonnage of 6,539. With exterior design by Paolo Scanu, her imposing white superstructure is broken up by the swath of windows running the length of each deck.

One of the best Blohm+Voss yachts was also the first, the 136 metre Savarona. Notably, she's also the only sailing yacht on this list. Launched in 1931, the beautiful classic sailing yacht was originally built for an American heiress. Savarona found herself in hot water later in life, landing herself on the list of the biggest scandals at sea, after it was revealed she had been used in a prostitution ring. The Blohm+Voss sailing superyacht was recently returned to her former glory and good standing, being used for first time as Turkish state yacht since the prostitution scandal.

Known as Project Orca during her build, Palladium is one of the best Blohm+Voss in recent years that stands out for her offbeat superstructure styling. There are no hard lines, but soft curves that lead the eye in a gentle flow from water level to the sun deck and bow to stern. It's a masterpiece of design by Michael Leach's design studio, who has also penned the unusual interiors, which as can be imagined benefit hugely from the large windows. Palladium was the big winner during the ShowBoats Design Awards 2011, winning a bevy of awards for  Interior Design, Exterior Design & Styling, Tender Design, and Bespoke Furniture Item.