Two worlds, limitless connections

TWO WORLDS, LIMITLESS CONNECTIONS

The worlds of luxury yachts, architecture and interior design are engaged in a flourishing interchange of ideas. “Shared Worlds”, a conference held by THE ONE Yacht & Design at the Spazio Teatro IED Milano, highlighted all the synergies this dialogue can generate

by Marta Bernasconi - ph. Rebekka Fagnani

The first “Share Worlds” event organised by Platinum Experience and The One Yacht & Design took place at the Milan IED design school. “The individual at the centre of the project, between yachting and interior design” was the title of the conference, which aimed to encourage design furnishings companies to interface with the most illustrious Italian and international shipbuilders, yacht designers and architects. The event, which also included a display of iconic objects by the companies taking part, included two round tables on key themes in designing on-board spaces, their interaction and the importance of light and lighting design. Both round tables featured a shipyard representative, a yacht designer, a residential architect and representatives from the furnishings sector. The focus of the first talk was “The circularity of space”, discussing the application of the rules of residential and hotel furnishing to the most prestigious yachts. Appearing on the IED platform were architect Francesca Muzio, founder of FM Architettura, the architect Alessandra Massarani, partner in ACPV Architects - Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, Guido Orsi, sales and marketing manager of of Tankoa Yachts and Federica Cantori, Marketing Manager of the Cantori furniture company. They talked about demand from shipyards, designers’ vision, and how Italian companies can invest yachts with quality and prestige by creating comfort and ambiances like those of a home. Participants

Opening, the theatre of the IED Design School in Milan. Left, Chiara Massarani, architect and partner in ACPV Architects - Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and a sketch of the Custom Line 50 metre. Bottom, left, Matteo Galbiati, CEO of Platinum Media Lab, beside Giacomo Bertolazzi, Head of the IED Design School, Milan and Gioia Bianciardi Marketing & Events responsible of Platinum Media Lab

Top,Federica Cantori, Marketing Manager of the design furnishings company Cantori. Above, the members of the first panel: Désirée Sormani, Managing Director of The ONE Yacht and Design, Guido Orsi, Sales and Marketing Manager for Tankoa, Francesca Muzio founder of FM Architettura, Federica Cantori and Chiara Massarani

architect

Muzio and an image of M/Y Akula designed by her studio, FM Architettura. Right, Guido Orsi and a view of the spacious forward lounge, with the pool by Edilfare Piscine, of the Tankoa Grey. Top, right, Atollo 3024, one of the works of art created by Matteo Tampone, some of whose works were on display

identified the main trends of the moment, starting with requirement for on-board sociability and comfort. The architect Chiara Massarani of ACPV Architects highlighted the example of their interior project for the Custom Line 50: “We sought to create an equilbrium between two crucial elements, the owner’s privacy and relations with guests. Here the upper deck becomes entirely the owner’s domain while main deck is dedicated to social interaction”. These innovative solutions pave the way for new concepts, although these require solid, shared bases. Guido Orsi of Tankoa highlighted the need for technical considerations at the basis of all the factors the designer’s creativity must take account of, saying, “There’s a heirarchy in a yacht brief. The budget must be respected, so the shipyard must first work with the design studio to develop clear ideas on feasibility and then sharing them with the owner”. When considering the interior details, yachts provide an unprecedented opportunity for designers to exercise their talents. “On board a yacht there’s a bespoke

dimension that doesn’t exist in other sectors. Everything on board is made to measure and the funrnishings all become prototypes, unique pieces”, says Francesca Muzio of FM Architettura. Building yachts enables us to experiment and in Italy we have a special expertise in this field. Muzio recognises unique qualities in Italian furnishing professionals, reflecting their knowledge of materials and techniques. “Credit goes first of all to the artisans”, says Federica Cantori of the Marche-based Cantori company. “We’ve been operating in the yacht world for over 20 years. We have 300 products in our catalogue but there’s an increasing emphasis on personalisingfinishes, coverings and dimensions. We personalise all our products according to the requirements of architects and shipyards”. With the second panel, entitled “The benefits of light”, the IED saw interaction between yacht designer Francesco Paszkowski, founder of Paszkowski Design, architect Roberto Palomba, co-founder of PS + A Palomba Serafini Associati, Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut|Benetti Group and

Top, the yacht designer Francesco Paszkowski and the upper deck of the Baglietto T52, with light flooding in through the extensive windows.

Left, Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut|Benetti and a Benetti flooded by light. Below, the members of the second panel: Francesco Paszkowski, Roberto Palomba co-founder of Ps+A, Désirée Sormani, Valentina D’Agata, Business Development Manager Altraluce (also below, left), Marco Valle. Below, right, Roberto Palomba.

[ EVENTS ]

This page, some of the products by the sponsors on display in the IED. Above, the Twist armchair by Cantori, a portable kitchen by Binari, the Cyclotte by Teckell and bathroom fittings by Carimali. Other sponsors of the event were Alias, Altraluce, Edilfare Piscine and artist Matteo Tampone

Valentina D’Agata, Business Development Manager of lighting brand Altraluce. It was emphasised how natural light is one of the most important aspects of onboard well-being. Proof of this is the large windows that enable bright interiors, a parallel with the world of residential architecture. Artificial light can enhance emotional impact through bespoke lighting projects. Francesco Paszkowski was a pioneer of the yacht-building trend to blend inside and out. “It’s the result of a development enabled by advances in technology. At one time it would have been impossible to glue glass to a fibreglass hull. These days we tend to highlight the hull and glass means we can avoid visual obstacles, in the railings, for example”. The growing influence of residential architecture is clear. Marco Valle of Azimut|Benetti Group pointed out that owners have changed, and now they tend to experience their yacht much more fully than a few decades ago. “Light has become a primary element, often more important than the furnishings, so it’s inevitable that nocturnal renderings are also produced in

the design stages, making it possible to understand the kind of ambiences it’s possible to achieve on board”. The illumino-technical project adds value to the yacht, a fact emphasied by Valentina D’Agata of Altraluce: “As a company we seek to become involved from the start of the design process. In that way we can deal with important aspects immediately, and not after the fact. That’s how we can best respond to expectations.” Light helps define functionality but also ambience, making the project complete. Roberto Palomba of PS+A Palomba Serafini Associati analysed how light also forms part of a new way of thinking about luxury. “The new generation of owners has new sensibilities and no longer looks to the past. Lighting and a search for well-being form part of the contemporary concept of luxury”. The conference was brought to a close by the architect Simone Micheli, Brand Ambassador for The One Yacht & Design. He described his idea of a yacht, half-way between design and a dreamlike experience.