A new 50-metre superyacht has entered the water, marking the latest milestone in a long-standing collaboration between Milan-based design studio Hot Lab, part of the Viken Group, and Turkish shipyard Bilgin Yachts. Named Bilgin 163 Camila, the vessel was delivered to its owner in May 2025, representing the continuation of a partnership that has evolved over more than fifteen years into one of the industry’s most consistent and productive alliances.
Originating with a 37.5-metre custom motor yacht in 2009, the relationship between the two companies has steadily expanded, with each subsequent project refining both technical execution and design philosophy. Central to this collaboration is Hot Lab’s “Architecture for Voyagers” approach, which integrates lifestyle considerations with engineering performance. This shared mindset has previously been demonstrated on projects such as the 50-metre Eternal Spark, launched in 2023, and remains a defining feature of their joint work.
“This philosophy resonates deeply with us. Our focus on displacement hull performance, optimised hydrodynamics, and long-range capability (Camila delivers approximately 5,000 nautical miles at cruising speed) aligns naturally with Hot Lab’s insistence that interior spaces must serve the rhythm of life on board. How guests move between decks, how a saloon transitions to an aft terrace, how a master suite manages natural light at sea, these are as much engineering questions as they are design ones.”
– As İsmail Şengün, CEO of Bilgin Yachts.
This alignment is evident throughout Camila, where a 499 GT volume provides approximately 20% more space than yachts of a similar length. The result is a carefully balanced environment in which structural innovation and interior design are seamlessly integrated, creating a vessel that prioritises both performance and onboard comfort.
Constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the yacht has been designed for durability, stability and extended cruising. Powered by twin CAT C32 engines producing 2 × 1,081 kW, Camila reaches a top speed of 16.5 knots while offering a transoceanic range of around 5,000 nautical miles. Her full-displacement hull further enhances stability and sea-keeping capabilities, reinforcing her suitability for long-range travel.
On board, the design narrative shifts toward a sense of calm refinement. Accommodating up to 12 guests across six staterooms, the yacht reflects a deliberate move away from ostentation in favour of subtle sophistication. The interiors combine contemporary styling with timeless elements, tailored to an owner who values privacy, craftsmanship and the ability to host in an elegant yet relaxed setting.
“The atmosphere we aimed to create on board is calm, enveloping, and welcoming. Through warm neutral tones, tactile materials, organic shapes, and carefully integrated lighting, we wanted every space to feel both protective and open, a true retreat at sea, where luxury is expressed through detail, proportion, and material quality rather than excess.”
– Chiara Pastore, Senior FF&E Designer at Hot Lab.
Material selection played a significant role in shaping both the aesthetic and technical complexity of the project. A diverse palette of stones, including Travertine, Silky Georgette, Calacatta Gold and Carrara Extra, was used throughout the interior, each presenting unique structural and installation challenges due to varying weights and properties.
The yacht also reflects a broader continuity in Hot Lab’s design language, building on elements seen in previous projects while maintaining individuality. Attention to proportion, layered materials and the integration of bespoke details contribute to a cohesive visual identity that remains adaptable to each owner’s vision.
Pastore highlights this consistency: “The careful balance between architectural rigour and soft, organic forms; the use of layered materials and subtle detailing; and the pursuit of timeless elegance rather than trends. The integration of custom elements, from lighting to furniture to architectural details, is also very much part of our design DNA.”
“This continuity has enabled the teams to develop a coherent design language across multiple yachts, while preserving the flexibility required to tailor each project to the individual owner.”
– Enrico Lumini, Hot Lab’s Co-Founder and Design Director.
The collaboration continues to expand, with six projects currently underway across three different platforms: 50, 52 and 54 metres. Managing multiple builds simultaneously introduces additional complexity, particularly in maintaining distinct identities within a shared framework.
“Working across multiple platforms in parallel is both demanding and very rewarding, because even when the overall layout logic is consistent, each project requires its own level of calibration. The real challenge is in how you tune the experience: proportions, sightlines, circulation comfort and the way social spaces connect to one another. Small adjustments in geometry or flow can significantly change how generous and relaxed the yacht feels.
Across all three, our priority is consistent: to deliver a timeless experience with strong functionality while respecting platform logic, build realities and the owner’s lifestyle. The key is making each yacht feel like it has its own personality without losing the DNA of the series.”
– Nazenin Dino, Hot Lab’s Senior Interior Designer and Project Manager.
Camila ultimately serves as a clear expression of what the partnership has achieved to date, combining design precision with engineering expertise.
The companies also emphasise a shared commitment to continuous refinement, with each new project building incrementally on the last.
““The result is a yacht that does not force a compromise between Italian design excellence and Turkish engineering rigour; it embodies both simultaneously. Each successive project in our series benefits from incremental refinements, not radical departures, but the kind of precise, considered improvements that echo the model-year evolution of the finest automotive manufacturers.” says Şengün.
For Hot Lab, the collaboration remains a source of pride and ongoing ambition. As Antonio Romano, Commercial and Marketing director of the Viken Group and Co-Founder of Hot Lab, explains: “We’re proud of this successful collaboration, and I’m sure that the best is yet to come. BIlgin Yachts is a brand recognised worldwide as a leading producer in the 50m range. The industry is aware that the quality reached in the last years is on the same level of the most known European producers, sometimes even better.”
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