Vitruvius Yachts is a London-based superyacht design company specialising in the naval architecture and exterior design of custom motor yachts between 50 and 90 metres in length.
The studio was founded in 2004 by acclaimed French naval architect Philippe Briand, a renowned yacht designer with 34 international yacht design awards and more than 12,000 yachts built across a career widely considered among the most prolific in yachting. Operating from London with satellite offices in La Rochelle and Viareggio, Vitruvius works exclusively with established shipyards including Feadship, Lürssen, Rossinavi, Tankoa, and Sanlorenzo. The design company’s name is taken from Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, the Roman architect whose principles of functionality, strength, and beauty inform the studio’s design philosophy to this day. Whilst Briand continues to design high-performance sailing yachts through Philippe Briand Ltd, Vitruvius is dedicated entirely to motor yacht design, with a consistent focus on hull efficiency, long-range capability, and intelligent design solutions. The studio’s breakthrough came in 2010 with the 50-metre Exuma, built by Picchiotti under the Perini Navi Group, which was named Motor Yacht of the Year at the 2011 World Superyacht Awards. Other notable deliveries include the 55-metre Galileo G and the 73-metre flagship Grace E, along with collaborations with Feadship for the 58-metre Najiba and 55-metre Shinkai. The studio’s most recent standout delivery is the 65-metre Alchemy, built by Rossinavi and winner of a 2024 World Superyacht Award.
