|
Lazzarini and Pickering favor sensuous combinations of natural and
high-tech materials like cherry wood, saddle leather and carbon
fiber—materials that allow physical as well as visual lightness. That said,
their firm is now tackling its first entirely wood interior, tempering a
modernist approach to be "very warm and cozy at the same time." Another
assignment involves a spectacular all-glass helicopter garage. "The
client’s toys have become the central idea of the project, and he likes to see
his toys, so we’ve made an aquarium for them." Nuvolari-Lenard has earned international renown in the design
and construction of high-end production and custom yachts. Founded by Carlo
Nuvolari and Dan Lenard, the firm operates from a gleaming new studio that
appears to float on an artificial pond in Scorzè, outside Venice. With a client
list that includes Carver, CRN, Palmer Johnson and oceAnco, the firm’s pedigree
is substantial. "The tendency toward the gigantic continues: We are designing
boats that five or ten years ago were unthinkable," notes Nuvolari. He views
this growth spurt as a tectonic shift. "The yacht remains an object of
distinction, but the means by which one distinguishes oneself is the style.
Thirty years ago there were very few big yachts, nowadays there are so many. If
one enters a marina with a merely big yacht, this is not enough.
Wally B’s bleeding-edge design by Lazzarini
Pickering is a Wally company hallmark. (Click images to enlarge)
"The classic yachts, descendants of royal yachts, looked like
ships. Nowadays people don’t want ships," says Nuvolari. "They want an ‘easy’
yacht that gives them contact with the sea. Our response is lots of windows and
portholes, open space, big terraces on the decks with shade so one can sit
outside while remaining protected and, most of all, easy access to the ocean.
Today we are designing sterns that look very sporty and feel like beach clubs."
Nuvolari says trends are born in the 100- and sub-100-foot
sector, particularly among the new wave of owners. "There is a generational
leap, especially in the United States. Americans up to a few years ago were
stuck on more traditional designs. Today, they are looking for a higher level of
design content. Design cues from fifteen years of Azimut, Ferretti and
Sunseeker have a strong relationship to automobile design. Americans will
continue to push the evolution of Italian nautical design. Their boats have to
be comfortable and convenient. The dimensions of passageways, the beds, the
refrigerators and bathrooms must be bigger and more beautiful. "We’re moving toward a kind of global design, as it were, a
‘global’ yacht. Typical Mediterranean taste is becoming more American as clients
want more convenience and comfort, and the typical American yacht is taking on a
more European [finish]."
Nuvolari reprises the automotive metaphor. "Recall how cars in
Europe and America looked more than twenty years ago, and you can see exactly
what’s happening in the nautical sector. The overtly individualistic Alfa
Romeo and the enormous, overbearing Cadillacs and Chryslers of the
last century no longer exist."
Fulvio De Simoni bases himself near Genoa in the small city of
Sarzana, where the art of living well provides an oasis from industry. His
designs have helped propel Pershing to the forefront of Italian motor-yacht
brands. The elegance and boldness of De Simoni’s aesthetic envelops the power
and performance of these gran
turismos of the oceans.
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Email This
Printer Friendly Version
Reprints & Permissions
Most Popular Searches