Part-ownership of Foster-designed luxury yacht will cost €1.87m

While the property market continues to self-destruct, architects need to find other areas in which to diversify. But the chances are nobody does it with quite the panache of Norman Foster.

Foster's yacht

The architect has designed a new super-yacht for fractional-ownership company YachtPlus – a 41m-long boat designed to house 12 guests with a crew of seven.

The first boat of a planned four, almost everything on the “Ocean Emerald” is bespoke, with the overall design by Foster + Partners, furnishings and fittings by Italian manufacturer Cassina, and kitchen and galley equipment by Schiffini.

Fractional ownership is when several purchasers come together to buy luxury items, in this case allowing sea-lovers to share the expense of owning a super-yacht.

But even a share of the Ocean Emerald doesn't come cheap. A one-eight purchase, which will allow investors 30 nights on board each year, costs €1.87m. Included in the price, though, are all the necessary arrangements, including private jet and helicopter transfers.

One person who may be able to afford such a luxury is Lord Foster himself who, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2009, is now worth £170m.