The portfolio of Turkish shipyard Alia Yachts features both motor and sailing vessels, nearly all of which are custom-built, making their designs truly memorable. However, the 148-foot SAN, launched in 2024, stands out even among this impressive fleet. Its striking presence is defined by a minimalist yet highly functional exterior design, paired with an interior that boldly challenges traditional conventions.
With its clean, elongated lines, a low-profile sporty superstructure with black glazing, and a vertical bow clad in mirror-like metallic plating that gleams against the yacht’s dark grey hull, SAN exudes a sense of raw power and aggression. Despite its 45-meter length and 8.9-meter beam, the yacht doesn’t appear bulky—its sleek proportions evoke the image of a high-performance speedboat.
The client approached the shipyard after seeing another Alia yacht at the Monaco Yacht Show and immediately shared his vision: a vessel that would look like a stylish day cruiser while offering the size and comfort of a superyacht. “We believed that Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design, with their dedication to clean lines, innovative design approach, and smart layout solutions, would be the best choice to interpret and bring this vision to life,” says Alia Yachts President Gökhan Çelik.
A meeting with Sinot’s lead designer, Paul Costerus, was arranged at the same yacht show, and during their very first conversation, the initial sketches for what would later be known as the ALU 450 Project SAN were created. However, the subsequent work on the exterior design and layout stretched over nearly two years. The future owner of SAN was deeply involved in the process, meticulously reviewing every detail and frequently presenting unconventional challenges. The project evolved, changed, and improved in real time, demanding equally innovative solutions from the design team. “It took us quite a bit of time to shape the profile and create the desired lines,” Costerus recalls. “For instance, the client said that when stepping aboard, he wanted to see the bow of the yacht—no bulkheads or structures blocking the view. This meant the main deck had to remain completely open at that level, leaving no room for a helm station. Adding to the challenge, the client was adamant about not having a traditional wheelhouse on the upper deck. ‘Alright,’ I asked him, ‘so where exactly do you plan to steer the yacht from, sir?’”
The brilliant solution came in the form of a raised pilot house. This mezzanine deck, positioned centrally within the superstructure, places the helm station above the main deck level, slightly encroaching on the ceiling height of the saloon below while maintaining a low profile above the roofline. Compact and streamlined, the pilot house resembles the cockpit of a fighter jet. Access is provided via an outdoor staircase, and behind the pilot house, the designers managed to incorporate a small flybridge with seating and a bar counter.
The Sinot team didn’t stop there and came up with another clever solution: the floor in the lounge area of the saloon, located beneath the helm station, was lowered by 60 cm below the main deck level. This created a “sunken” living space at the centre of the saloon, offering an unobstructed forward view—an essential feature for the owner—as well as panoramic vistas in every direction, thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass that wraps around the superstructure.
The foredeck, which is the focal point of the project’s entire concept, is raised to the level of the bulwarks and left completely open—no furniture, no mooring equipment (these, along with the tender garage, are concealed in hatches). It’s simply a pristine teak platform, perfect for hosting an al fresco dinner or transforming into a dance floor. Safety is ensured by stanchion railings along the sides. A sunbathing area—essentially a C-shaped sofa with a table that can be lowered and topped with a cushion—is located three steps below. Those lounging here are shielded from prying eyes by the high bulwarks while still enjoying a spectacular view straight ahead.
Wide side decks lead to the cockpit, which is shaded by an extended roof structure. The layout here is equally unconventional. A central cluster of sofas with a table is complemented by additional sofas along the sides, cleverly designed to double as sunbeds.
Moving aft, you’re greeted with yet another wow factor: an elegant cascade of steps with soft sun pads integrated into the design. This area is shielded from the wind by high bulwarks, which, of course, are foldable. When the 5.4-meter-long side sections are opened, SAN’s beam expands from 8.89 to 11.5 meters, increasing the beach club’s total area to an impressive 70 square meters. A retractable swim platform extends the yacht’s length by a generous 3 meters. It can be lowered to water level and comes equipped with a carbon boarding ladder.
The interior layout is also designed to maintain seamless visual connections between guests and the sea. The open-plan saloon features the aforementioned sunken lounge area and a forward dining space, complemented by a low sideboard along the starboard side. This sideboard doubles as a buffet and a discreet partition, concealing the entrance to the lower deck. The spiral staircase tucked behind it blends effortlessly into the space. When the forward and aft doors are fully opened, the saloon transforms into a single, breezy space where guests in the cockpit, any part of the saloon, or even on the foredeck can see and interact with one another freely.
The furniture stands out for its elegant lines and thoughtful functionality. At the centre, a pristine white sofa ensemble is surrounded by low shelves designed to hold books and souvenirs. The coffee table can be raised and expanded to create a casual dining area. The main dining table, custom-designed for SAN by Sinot and crafted by Soraman in Italy, gleams with a black lacquer finish reminiscent of a grand piano, making it a true piece of modern art.
Despite the sunken lounge on the upper deck, the lower deck impresses with its generous ceiling height. “We managed to maximise the space by slightly increasing the hull height,” reveals Kosterus. “Additionally, we lowered the deck level as much as possible, resulting in a ceiling height of 2.25 meters.”
The master suite occupies the forward section of the yacht. A short corridor leads from the staircase lobby to the owner’s bedroom, with doors opening to a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom, both of which benefit from ample natural light thanks to their individual windows. Adding to the cosy atmosphere of the bedroom are deep sofas placed on either side of the king-size bed.
A longer corridor leads towards the aft, where four guest suites are arranged in a layout of mirrored symmetry. Each suite is equipped with a queen-size bed, a wardrobe, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower.
The crew quarters are separated from the guest area by a soundproof bulkhead. In the crew section, there are accommodations for seven people (including the captain’s suite), a lounge, a laundry room, storage facilities, and a professionally equipped galley. From this area, there is direct access to the engine room located at the aft.
As for the interior design, the décor is overall quite understated, achieving a sense of lightness, cleanliness, and elegance through the choice of colours and materials. Dark tones are reserved for the wheelhouse, while the rest of the yacht is decorated in a light palette. Wooden architectural elements, furniture, leather accents, and decorative cushions come in warm honey tones, while the carpets, soft furnishings, and Pierre de Luget marble are in shades of white and beige. Small touches of glossy black serve as contrasting accents. According to Paul Costerus, over a dozen finishing options were considered during the design process, with the highest standards applied to material selection: “We needed to choose one leather and one fabric, but they had to be the perfect leather and the perfect fabric!”
The yacht features an impressive variety of wood, including eucalyptus, teak, wenge, and oak, in a range of finishes, from natural to whitewashed. Built-in furniture was crafted in-house by Alia Yachts, while standalone pieces include items from external suppliers, such as chairs by Cassina and coffee tables by Leerdam. Luxury brands are also represented, with interior textiles from Zimmer & Rohde and accessories by Loro Piana.
Lateral Naval Architects, the firm responsible for the yacht’s naval architecture and engineering, also contributed to optimising the space. Its head, Michael Benakis, explains: “We designed the engine room around the architecture of the triple Volvo IPS drives, which allowed for a shorter engine compartment compared to yachts with traditional long-shaft propeller arrangements. This gave us more room for living spaces. Additionally, the IPS system provides SAN with the added advantage of exceptional manoeuvrability.”
Four 700-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines enable the yacht to reach a maximum speed of 23 knots and maintain a cruising speed of 18 knots. With fuel tanks holding 43,680 litres, SAN can travel up to 1,800 nautical miles without refuelling. Comfort during rough seas and at anchor is ensured by VEEM VG140/SD gyrostabilisers. Both the hull and superstructure are made entirely of aluminium, with a gross tonnage of 380.
