Gondola Electric Hydrofoil by Wang Yuchen and Wang Xuanzheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Yacht and Marine Vessels Design Competition Category.
IronYacht· 2025
Gondola Electric Hydrofoil
by Wang Yuchen and Wang Xuanzheng
Client: Central Academy of Fine Arts-Mobility Innovation (Transportation) Design
A' Design Award Winner in Yacht Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #163651The Design
About Gondola Electric Hydrofoil
Gondola is an electric hydrofoil boat designed for water tourism. The design combines the form of the traditional Venetian gondola with the dynamics of a modern hydrofoil. The hull is 13450 mm long and 2820 mm wide and carries four passengers. Aluminium with a platinum-coloured metallic finish forms the hull, while the hydrofoils and support structures use carbon fibre and other composite materials. The canopy is made of canvas mixed with metallic filaments, and the luggage deck is made of teak. The electric motor allows quiet travel at high speed or slow cruising.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award
Gondola Electric Hydrofoil is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Gondola Electric Hydrofoil is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Gondola Electric Hydrofoil is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.
Where to Get It
Innovative Transportation Design Solutions
We specialize in forward-thinking mobility design that seamlessly blends cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology. Our team from Central Academy of Fine Arts brings fresh perspectives to transportation challenges, creating sustainable electric vehicles and innovative marine vessels that reimagine how people move through cities and waterways.
Request QuoteBehind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Combining the elegance of a gondola with the dynamism of a hydrofoil, it blends traditional culture with modern aesthetics to create a new water sports experience. And it echoes the long history of Venice's culture. At the same time, this is an electric boat, quiet, elegant and environmentally friendly. It can accommodate 4 passengers.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Hull length 13450 mm, width 2820 mm, normal draft 2300 mm, draft with hydrofoils up 1200 mm. Maximum rotation angle of hydrofoil 70 degrees. Accommodates 4 passengers.
- Tags
- Gondola, Hydrofoil, Yacht Design, Venice Tourism, Zero Emissions
- Production Technology
- The boat's hull is made of aluminum with a platinum-colored metallic paint finish that echoes the glossy metal used throughout, providing a good sense of texture. The hydrofoils and hull support structures have versatile attributes and are made of stronger carbon fiber and other composite materials that add to the boat's sporty feel. The canvas soft top of the canopy is made of a high-grade fabric mixed with metallic filaments. Meanwhile, the luggage compartment deck is made of high-grade teak, adding to the boat's luxurious feel.
- Design Challenge
- I strolled along the riverbanks of Venice and saw gondolas and luxury yachts, which sparked my passion and inspiration for design. How to perfectly incorporate the gondola design elements into the hydrofoil design posed a challenge to me. It required a lot of sketches and modeling to ensure the traditional aesthetics of elegance and luxury, but also the futuristic aesthetics of modern technology. There were also challenges of cultural differences from different countries, and I needed to study the relevant materials in greater depth.
- Research
- Taking inspiration from Venice's elegant and luxurious gondolas, combining traditional culture with modern aesthetics, a new hydrofoil has been designed to create a new water tourism experience based on Venetian culture for Venice as well as other waterfront regions. The research project has not only resulted in the design of a hydrofoil, but has also explored a new research path for tourism experiences in other culturally diverse regions.
- Inspiration
- The design draws inspiration from the traditional Venetian boat, the gondola. In terms of structural design, the classical Italian design culture plays an important role. The curved moon-like lines of the gondola, especially the detailing on the six-toothed battle-axe halberd at the bow, were a major source of inspiration. This cultural influence is evident throughout the project.
- Project Duration
- The project launched in Qingdao, China in August 2023, and the preliminary model of the project was presented at Milan Design Week in April 2024, and reached its final stages by June 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The boat is equipped with hydrofoils that can be rotated and propellers that can be raised and lowered, as well as an electric motor for high maneuverability. At the same time, the boat is capable of switching between high-speed movement and leisurely cruising, ensuring that it meets the needs of users in different situations and enhances the traveling experience.
- Team Members
- Wang Yuchen
Wang Xuanzheng
Wang Shutong
Ye Feng - Image Credits
- Image #1: Creator Yuchen Wang, Gondola, 2024.
Image #2: Creator Yuchen Wang, Gondola, 2024.
Image #3: Creator Yuchen Wang, Gondola, 2024.
Image #4: Creator Yuchen Wang, Gondola, 2024.
Image #5: Creator Yuchen Wang, Gondola, 2024.
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