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Two engines and two waterjets for a 35-knot top speed and a cruising one of 30. Just a couple of numbers behind Overmarine’s Igor Lobanov-penned new Maxi Open, the entry level model in the range, that turns a page in the Tuscan yard’s story. The result? A soft, curvy, seductive beauty clothed in flowing lines by Désirée Sormani- ph. Maurizio Paradisi
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here does a yard start if it wants a yacht that
in a very short two years, the first Mangusta 104 REV jumped
will be the standard-bearer for a new direction
from the drawing board to taking pride of place on the water at
yet will also retain the instantly recognisable
Cannes Yachting Festival in 2021. Externally, the Mangusta 104
signatures of a glorious heritage? By calling
REV is gorgeous sports yacht clothed in sleek lines, the product
in one of the most disruptive designers on the
of a superbly successful collaboration between the Overmarine’s
international yachting scene, an individual well versed in big Gross
Engineering Office and the Lobanov studio.
Tonnage vessels and on his first commission for an Italian brand.
The first thing that will strike anyone stepping aboard is the
Igor Lobanov, in other words. His first yacht for Overmarine has it
dialogue between interiors and exteriors. The exterior space is
all: it is soft, sinuous and quite sexy but also macho and decisive…
fully connected with the interior, creating a 60 square metre
a bit ying and a bit yang in other words. Masculine and feminine
area aft that flows naturally not so much into as with the saloon.
melded to produce extremely seductive flowing lines. The new
The large windows in the latter also foster that sense of oneness
Mangusta 104 REV, of which a fifth example has just been sold,
by opening up the views to the exterior and drawing in sunlight,
also happens to be the entry level model in the iconic Maxi Open
the real star of the show, in to brighten the space. The eye can
range, a segment in which Overmarine has been the undisputed
run unfettered from stern to bow, through side walkways and
leader for over 35 years with over 300 such yachts to its credit.
even the saloon, thanks to a round window on the end wall of
It is also an innovative craft that throws open the doors to a new
the saloon. At the touch of a button, this turns from mirrored
era for the Tuscan yard. The now-owner of this first example
(reflecting the sea aft) to transparent, offering a view of the
saw the concept, liked it and bought it, more or less as it was. So
steering position and a nice slice of the forward view. A round
To maintain close links with Mangusta’s heritage, Igor Lobanov created a beautiful balance of classic, modern and even disruptive lines. Opening page, the main saloon with its round skylight and circular mirrored window which turns into a porthole and gives a forward-facing view. The space also features a Rico Divan chaise by Linving, a Lawson Curvo sofa by Minotti, a Marilyn armchair by Baxter, a B&B pouf and Joaquim coffee table by Tacchini
skylight just above it allows more sunlight to flood in from on
Davola marble alternates with bamboo-effect marble while the
high too, to stunningly theatrical effect as well as providing a
strong grain of ebony wood creates warmth.
spectacular view of the blue sky overhead.
Those oversize windows appear also on the lower deck where a
The interiors are contemporary, welcoming and intimate in
full-beam master suite, a VIP stateroom and two guest cabins,
style. Cream and ice white furnishings and carpeting are set
all nicely spacious, offer accommodation to up to 10 guests. The
against a neutral background of greys and whites with a few
master suite exudes subtle elegance thanks to a mix of whites,
vibrant splashes such as the orange Fat Pouf by B&B in the
taupes and beiges, and large square windows. The headroom on
saloon beside the Minotti Lawson sofa and the Baxter Marilyn
the lower deck is excellent too and impressed the American owner.
armchair in black nubuck.
Lighting design played a pivotal role and is used directly and
Circularity crops up again and again, not merely in the way the
indirectly to pick out the myriad elements and details in the
spaces aboard are laid out but also in the architectural and design
interior décor used to create an appealingly intimate ambience.
elements. This theme also takes its lead from the sublimely sinuous
As with all Mangustas, a well-being-centred lifestyle concept
lines of the exterior and becomes something of a leitmotif in the
underpins everything and is expressed to perfection: guests will
interior: examples being the circular motif in the leather panels in
find both peace and relaxation in the many and varied areas
the saloon and on all the free-standing furniture handpicked from
at their disposal, in the sunning area forward, on the sun deck
the leading Italian designer brands. It is there too in the backlit
and in the sea-skimming beach area perfect for diving into the
mirrors and lights in the guest cabins and bathrooms. We also
Grand Bleu!
love the clever use of texture. In the master bathroom, for instance,
www.mangustayachts.com
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The interiors are beautifully warm, contemporary and intimate at once – they were crafted with a cosmopolitan kind of owner in mind. Left, the master bathroom and below, the office in the 25 sqm master suite on the main deck (foreground, Jane chair by Studio Piet Boon upholstered in Dedar fabric and a lamp by Tom Dixon Bell). Facing page, top, another view of the main saloon with the Open Contemporary table, Rolf Benz Bench and Dedar-upholstered Lepel Liscia chairs by Horm & Casamania in the foreground
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Exterior Design Igor Lobanov, Founder Lobanov Design
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he first thing we thought about with the yard was how to maintain the brand and create innovative lines while remaining loyal to Mangusta’s DNA. Making a break from the past was a must: it was important to demonstrate that this was a new generation but to do that without skewing the yard’s family feeling. Apart from technical parameters like a high top speed, which every Mangusta Open has to have, Mangustas have an instantly recognisable and uniquely distinctive profile. The Mangusta silhouette is created by just three lines: a long and fast bow line starting from the bow, then a short one at the aft ‘hips’, and the superstructure one arching above them.
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That is how we managed to strike a balance of classic, modern yet also quite disruptive lines. I didn’t want to this Mangusta to like every other boat. It had to be something different…. that was not an easy job. I love cars and the colour we chose came from car design as did the complex and enjoyable shapes. But I also love sculpture so I always try to shape the forms as if they were a sculpture when I design, although obviously within the constraints of boat building principles. I did the same aboard too: there are a lot of sculpted forms which although they do respect construction principles still strive to
push the boundaries and raise the design bar as high as possible. I was like a sculptor sculpting wood, trying to find the right shape: I went over and over it to create and hone the forms and details. We worked with much more complex surfaces than are usual in the industry, which you are now enjoying. The sections of the hull at the bow and especially at the aft hips are very curvy and full. The aft tail above the garage door is convex and concave in the same place and at the same time. It is convex when seen from the top and concave on the side view. There were lots of challenges aboard. It’s hard to even list them all, but perhaps the most difficult was an engine room grille which we tried to keep fast and light but still efficient enough to provide air for ventilation.
Above, the interior designer with Overmarine CEO Maurizio Balducci. Top, an aerial view of the yacht revealing the flow of the onboard spaces which particularly impressed her American owner. Comfortable and functional convivial/sunning areas fit seamlessly into the scenario
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Interior Design Lobanov Design
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he interiors are warm, intimate and contemporary in style, a choice we made by thinking in terms of a cosmopolitan owner to ensure they would appeal to different tastes. In fact, the first example required no modifications whatsoever and was purchased exactly as it was. They were designed to be bright with circular flows, thanks to large windows and solutions that amplify the volumes and create new connections. The entire aft section flows effortlessly into the saloon with no barriers between interiors and exteriors. A sliding glass door can be used to separate the two areas but also completely disappears when open. Large windows draw the gaze out to the endless views outside. A round window on the end wall of the saloon helps foster the stern/bow perception, creating a single deck with no limits. We chose a neutral colour palette centred around shades of grey and cream to achieve a cosmopolitan style that would appeal to different types of owners and also reflect market trends. Bespoke-designed furniture (such as the mega screen housing) is mixed with pieces selected by the leading home design brands. We also brought the sea inside and created reflections by using various polished and reflective materials. We introduced lots of different materials aboard, all very textural to create a tactile appeal. Car design often comes into my designs and here I used the theme of circularity, which works well with the soft, sinuous exterior and in the interiors. In the latter, I did this through a whole host of elements like mirrors, spotlights and light sources, which are mixed with home design moods with lots of movement. I don’t like designs that are too clean and angular, a home has to feel lived in. Just like the main saloon, my favourite place onboard because it is so eclectic and un-boring, like a house with variety of furniture from different eras. This was a new and fascinating experience for me with a yard that wants change and to change itself.
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The interiors are bright with circular flows thanks to large windows and other clever solutions that amplify the sense of space and create new connections. Below, one of the two guest cabins. Facing page, one of the guest bathrooms. The influence of car design is clear in the circle theme used for many of the details aboard . Top, left Igor Lobanov and his wife, artist Yulia
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The Shipyard Maurizio Balducci, CEO Overmarine
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Below, with its mix of grey lacquer and leather elements inserted into the soft forms, the steering position is reminiscent of a sports car dashboard. The monitors are integrated into a single glass screen. The two engines and two waterjets that unleash a top speed of 35 knots are all controlled from here
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angusta has always been synonymous with Maxi Opens with big volumes and excellent performances. All melded into an unmistakable design that has made our craft easily recognisable. So we wanted to innovate but without losing what makes our line unique and maintaining a family feeling with the previous line. To do that we called in Igor Lobanov: we had seen some of the yachts he’d done and we liked his style. So we contacted him and explained how we imagined the new Mangustas. Lobanov, who trained in the car design sector, immediately shared our vision. The first example was sold to an American who’d only seen her on paper. He was bowled over by her exterior line and the interior, first and foremost. We are happy to report that after using her, the owner was satisfied with the interior and exterior spaces aboard and the comfort underway delivered by the water jet propulsion system. The latter means you can have a shallow draft, making the yacht ideal for the Bahamas in winter and the Hamptons in summer. The Mangusta 104 REV was not an easy vessel to build. At the engineering phase of the project, we stuck religiously to the Lobanov studio’s design. Making the moulds for the hull and cabin, the large double-curve windows, the steel for the fairleads and endless other details was very complex but it is those very details that make the project unique. We have a lot of very highly specialised people working in our yard, with a strong critical faculties and lots of experience. They were the first judges of what we had designed and every single one liked the result. We are also very happy with the good feedback from the people who visited the Mangusta 104 REV at Cannes, and its commercial success. Number 2 is being delivered in the coming days. From the outside, she is a twin of the first example, but her interiors were redesigned somewhat to meet the owner’s requirements. A further three have also been sold and are in build for delivery by next summer. But this is only the start: the Mangusta 104 REV and the entry level model which will be joined this summer by the new series flagship, Mangusta 165 REV, also designed with the Lobanov studio in close collaboration with our own in-house technical offices.