SOPHISTICATED SERENITY: MEETING 50M CAMILA, THE LATEST BILGIN AND HOT LAB COLLABORATION

Sophisticated serenity: Meeting 50m Camila, the latest Bilgin

and Hot Lab collaboration

• C a m i l a i s t h e s e c o n d a n d n e w e s t h u l l i n t h e B i l g i n 1 6 3 s e r i e s
• H o t L a b i n t e r i o r s f e a t u r e w a r m , n e u t r a l t o n e s , t a c t i l e m a t e r i a l s , o r g a n ic  s h a p e s , a n d c a r e f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d l i g h t i n g
• B i l g i n a n d H o t L a b c u r r e n t l y h a v e s i x p r o j e c t s u n d e rw a y a c r o s s t h r e e p l a t f o r m s ( 5 0 , 5 2 a n d 5 4 m e t r e s )

Milan-based studio Hot Lab, part of the Viken Group, has revealed new details of its

latest superyacht project with Turkish builder Bilgin Yachts, the 50-metre Bilgin 163

C a m i l a . Delivered to her delighted owner in May 2025, C a m i l a is the culmination of over

fifteen years of successful collaborations between the two companies, which began with a

37.5-metre custom motor yacht project back in 2009 and has developed into one of the

most prolific and celebrated design-yard partnerships in the world.

Technically superb and profoundly liveable

Hot Lab’s well-known “Architecture for Voyagers” philosophy — evident also from other

recent projects such as the 50-metre Bilgin Yachts E t e r n a l S p a r k , launched in 2023 — is an

integral part of the partnership between the Milan-based studio and the Turkish builder.

As İsmail Şengün, CEO of Bilgin Yachts, explains: “ T h i s  p h i l o s o p h y  r e s o n a t e s  d e e p l y  w i t h

u s . O u r  f o c u s  o n d  i s p l a c e m e n t  h u l l  p e r f o r m a n c e , o p t i m i s e d  h y d r o  d y n a m i c s , a n d  l o n g-r a n g e

c a p a b i l i t y ( C a m i l a  d e l i v e r s  a p p r o x i m a t e l y  5 ,0 0 0  n a u t i c a l  m i l e s  a t  c r u i s i n g  s p e e d ) a l i g n s

n a t u r a l l y  w i t h  H o t L a b’ s  i n s i s t e n c e  t h a t  i n t e r i o r  s p a c e s  m u s t  s e rv e  t h e  r h y t h m  o f  l i f e   o n

b o a r d . H o w  g u e s t s  m o v e b  e t w e e n  d e c k s , h o w  a  s a l o o n   t r a n s i t i o n s  t o  a n  a f t t e r r a c e , h o w  a

m a s t e r  s u i t e  m a n a g e s  n a t u r a l  l i g h t  a t s  e a ; t h e s e  a r e  a s  m u c h  e n g i n e e r i n g  q u e s t i o n s  a s  t h e y

a r e  d e s i g  n o n e s .”

On board C a m i l a , this synergy has been translated into a platform where a 499 GT volume

offers 20% more space than comparable 48-metre yachts. Hot Lab’s spatial intelligence,

paired with Bilgin’s structural capability to realise bold configurations, has produced a yacht

where engineering and aesthetics are truly indistinguishable. The result is a vessel that is

both technically superb and profoundly liveable.

In this respect, C a m i l a’s performance statistics speak volumes. She is built with a steel hull

and aluminium superstructure: a configuration chosen for its exceptional strength, stability

at sea, and long-range performance. Powered by twin CAT C32 engines delivering 2 × 1,081

kW, she reaches a top speed of 16.5 knots while maintaining a trans-oceanic range of 5,000

nautical miles. Furthermore, her full-displacement hull delivers exceptional stability and

sea-keeping qualities.

Serenity meets understated luxury

Stepping on board, the 50-metre C a m i l a is defined by understated luxury, warmth and

sophisticated serenity, accommodating up to 12 guests across six staterooms. Elegant

without being ostentatious, contemporary yet timeless, she has been built for an owner

with an appreciation of refinement, craftsmanship and a sense of harmony, who values

comfort and privacy, whilst also enjoying sharing beautiful spaces with family and friends.

Hot Lab’s Senior FF&E Designer, Chiara Pastore, explains more: “ T h e  a t m o s p h e r e  w e

a i m e d  t o  c r e a t e  o n b o a r d  i s  c a l m , e n v e l o p i n g ,  a n d  w e l c o m i n g . T h r o u g h  w a r m  n e u t r a l  t o n e s ,

t a c t i l e  m a t e r i a l s ,  o r g a n I c  s h a p e s ,  a n d  c a r e f u l l y  i n t e g r a t e d  l i g h t i n g ,  w e  w a n t e d  e v e r y  s p a c e

t o  f e e l  b o t h  p r o t e c t i v e  a n d  o p e n ,  a  t r u e  r e t r e a t  a t  s e a , w h e r e  l u x u r y  i s  e x p r e s s e d  t h r o u g h

d e t a i l ,  p r o p o r t i o n ,  a n d  m a t e r i a l  q u a l i t y  r a t h e r  t h a n  e x c e s s .”

Material success

Notably, some of the most significant challenges in C a m i l a’s build were found in the choice

of materials and complexity of the installation. The interior features a multi-stone palette

(Travertine, Silky Georgette, Calacatta Gold, and Carrara Extra), each of which has its own

weight, structural behaviour and finishing requirements.

This was a challenge which the Bilgin and Hot Lab teams rose to. As Şengün recalls:

“ R e a l i s i n g  t h e  s e a s  a  s e a m l e s s ,  h a r m o n i o u s  w h o l e  a b o a r d  a  m o v i n g ,  m a r i n e  e n v i r o n m e n t

r e q u i r e d  o u r  c r a f t s  p e o p l e  t o  m a s t e r  t h e  i n t e r s e c t i o n  o f  s t r u c t u r a l  e n g i n e e r i n g  a n d f  i n e

s t o n e  w o r k  a t  a  l e v e l r  a r e l y  s e e n  i n  this s i z e  c a t e g o r y .”

A coherent design language

Furthermore, as Pastore highlights, C a m i l a’s interiors have more than a few nods to

previous highly successful Hot Lab designs. Distinctive hallmarks include: “ T h e  c a r e f u l

b a l a n c e  b e t w e e n  a r c h i t e c t u r a l  r i g o u r  a n d  s o f t ,  o r g a n i c  f o r m s ; t h e  u s e  o f  l a y e r e d  m a t e r i a l s

a n d  s u b t l e  d e t a i l i n g ;  a n d  t h e  p u r s u i t  o f  t i m e l e s s  e l e g a n c e  r a t h e r  t h a n  t r e n d s . T h e

i n t e g r a t i o n  o f  c u s t o m  e l e m e n t s ,  f r o m l  i g h t i n g  t o  f u r n i t u r e  t o  a r c h i t e c t u r a l  d e t a i l s ,  i s  a l s o

v e r y  m u c h  p a r t  o f  o u r  d e s i g n  D N A .”

Indeed, Hot Lab’s Co-Founder and Design Director, Enrico Lumini, explains the

benefits of having maintained such a long-standing partnership with Bilgin Yachts.

“ T h is  c o n t i n u i t y  h a s  e n a b l e d  t h e  t e a m s  t o  d e v e l o p  a  c o h e r e n t  d e s i g n  l a n g u a g e  a c r o s s  m u l t i p l e

y a c h t s ,  w h i l e  p r e s e rv i n g  t h e  f l e x i b i l i t y  r e q u i r e d  t o  t a i l o r  e a c h  p r o j e c t  t o  t h e  i n d i v i d u a l ow n e r . “

Perfectly tuned projects

Currently working on an impressive total of six projects with Bilgin Yachts across three

platforms (50, 52 and 54 metres) presents its own set of challenges for the Milan-based

studio, which it relishes.

Hot Lab’s Senior Interior Designer and Project Manager Nazenin Dino explains more:

“ W o r k i n g a c r o s s m u l t i p l e p l a t f o r m s i n p a r a l l e l i s b o t h d e m a n d i n g a n d v e r y r e w a r d i n g ,

b e c a u s e e v e n w h e n t h e o v e r a l l l a y o u t l o g i c i s c o n s i s t e n t , e a c h p r o j e c t r e q u i r e s i t s o w n l e v e l

o f c a l i b r a t i o n . T h e r e a l c h a l l e n g e i s i n h o w y o u t u n e t h e e x p e r i e n c e : p r o p o r t i o n s , s i g h t l i n e s ,

c i r c u l a t i o n c o m f o r t a n d t h e w a y s o c i a l s p a c e s c o n n e c t t o o n e a n o t h e r . S m a l l a d j u s t m e n t s i n

g e o m e t r y o r f l o w c a n s i g n i f i c a n t l y c h a n g e h o w g e n e r o u s a n d r e l a x e d t h e y a c h t f e e l s .”

She continues: “ A c r o s s a l l t h r e e , o u r p r i o r i t y i s c o n s i s t e n t : t o d e l i v e r a t i m e l e s s e x p e r i e n c e

w i t h s t r o n g f u n c t i o n a l i t y , w h i l e r e s p e c t i n g p l a t f o r m l o g i c , b u i l d r e a l i t i e s a n d t h e o w n e r’s

l i f e s t y l e . T h e k e y i s m a k i n g e a c h y a c h t f e e l l i k e i t h a s i t s o w n p e r s o n a l i t y w i t h o u t l o s i n g t h e

D N A o f t h e s e r i e s .”

No compromise needed

Looking at C a m i l a , it is clear that she exemplifies the best of the collaboration between Hot

Lab and Bilgin Yachts. As Şengün explains: “ T h e r e s u l t i s a y a c h t t h a t d o e s n o t f o r c e a

c o m p r o m i s e b e t w e e n I t a l i a n d e s i g n e x c e l l e n c e a n d T u r k i s h e n g i n e e r i n g r i g o u r ; i t e m b o d i e s

b o t h s i m u l t a n e o u s l y .”

Finally, the companies also share a philosophy of continuous improvement.“ E a c h

s u c c e s s i v e p r o j e c t i n o u r s e r i e s b e n e f i t s f r o m i n c r e m e n t a l r e f i n e m e n t s , n o t r a d i c a l

d e p a r t u r e s , b u t t h e k i n d o f p r e c i s e , c o n s i d e r e d i m p r o v e m e n t s t h a t e c h o t h e m o d e l – y e a r

e v o l u t i o n o f t h e f i n e s t a u t o m o t i v e m a n u f a c t u r e r s ,”says Şengün.

As Antonio Romano, Commercial and Marketing director of the Viken Group and

Co-Founder of Hot Lab, explains, this is a source of genuine pride for the Milan-based

studio: “ W e’r e p r o u d o f t h i s s u c c e s s f u l c o l l a b o r a t i o n , a n d I’m s u r e t h a t t h e b e s t i s y e t t o

c o m e . B I l g i n Y a c h t s i s a b r a n d r e c o g n i z e d w o r l d w i d e a s a l e a d i n g p r o d u c e r i n t h e 5 0 m

r a n g e . T h e i n d u s t r y i s a w a r e t h a t t h e q u a l i t y r e a c h e d i n t h e l a s t y e a r s i s o n t h e s a m e l e v e l

o f t h e m o s t k n o w n E u r o p e a n p r o d u c e r s , s o m e t i m e s e v e n b e t t e r .”