Yachts as an Expression of Identity and Cultural Heritage of a Place: the Case Study of HMY Britannia

Architectural buildings and related urban centres are clearly linked to artistic, social and cultural visions of a location: their very nature allows us to observe change over the years and monitor the origins and possible new ways of using and living in said places. Although houses and boats have several shared features (so much so that boats are often called "floating houses" that follow the same trends found in villas and palaces in their furnishings ), it is difficult to transfer the same observations from one sector to another, since yachts are not tied to the same place during their life cycle. So, can a boat, too, become an expression of the artistic and cultural heritage of a specific place? In the history of sailing, one emblematic case is represented by HMY Britannia, yacht of the British royal family. Built by the Scottish shipyards of West Dunbartonshire, HMY Britannia was in service for forty-three years, showcasing the design culture and heritage of its country. At the end of service, the yacht returned to Scotland and was converted into a floating museum. This transformation, in addition to enhancing the yacht as an artistic and cultural heritage, currently avoids the environmental impact that disposal would cause. The exteriors of the yacht, anchored in Edinburgh, characterise the urban landscape by becoming part of it. By defining all the places that can influence a yacht throughout its life cycle and by broadening the scope – where necessary – to different types of units in the naval and nautical sector, this study will outline how a boat can become an expression of the identity of a place, examining the concept of the yacht as a cultural symbol.