Sliding Doors

Sliding Doors

by Paola Bertelli - ph. courtesy of Bertazzoni Icm

The pleasure of lifting things and people is embodied by the elevators produced

by Bertazzoni Lift Marine and ICM Lift Marine.

A perfect synthesis of form and function

T

hey entered the nautical world by developing a small dumb waiter, but now make more incredible, spectacular elevators. We’re talking about the Bertazzoni Lift Marine company founded by Ezio Bertazzoni, based in Tuscany and

specialising in the installation and servicing of terrestrial and marine elevator systems, and ICM Lift Marine whose engineering team and top-flight production unit have for 15 years been working to provide a bespoke product for the owners of the world’s most beautiful yachts. An on-board elevator is now a must-have and should never go unnoticed

66

on a superyacht. It’s should be a feature that provides a wow factor

the central direct push piston and position it to the side, and to do this

rather than a furnishing element that is perfectly integrated into the

ICM developed a special arch. Every yacht is a challenge, owners and

interior design.

designers are demanding and require unique products”.

Circular, square, panoramic, in steel, glass and materials like marble,

The ability to deploy innovative solutions has been the key to working

fabric, leather and LEDs. “For us, every yacht presents a challenge. It’s

with so many yards, together with the Bertazzoni’s location in Viareggio,

not just a question of materials”, says Massimo Bezzi, CEO of ICM, “It’s

the heartland of international yachtbuilding. In fact, in summer 2020

the overall architectural result that counts, and to achieve that we often

yards like Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Cerri, Baglietto, Codecasa, Rossinavi,

have to deal with small spaces that have been specified. Sometimes this

Nuovi Cantieri Apuani, VSY, Custom Line and CRN launched yachts

doesn’t take account of the physical, technical and regulatory requi-

whose length totals almost 700 metres.

rements of the product we’re going to instal. But we find the solutions

These projects were intensely demanding. “On one 75-metre model

in the end”.

we’ve reached a total of twenty-two revisions”, says Massimo Bezzi,

“Making 100% custom products, designed for every individual ow-

“This elevator will have special LEDs in the thickness of the glass to

ner, is our trump card”, says Gianluca Bertazzoni, CEO of Bertazzoni

create a barrier of light”. The LEDs will backlight “woven glass”, where

Lift Marine, “The pop-up elevator that appears like magic from a unit

fabric is placed between two plates of glass, and these pieces must be

on the sun deck, for example, was inspired by the requirements of an

certified and approved for use”, says Gianluca Bertazzoni.

owner who wanted to watch the sunset from the sundeck, and use a

They are not daunted by challenges as these – in fact, they only go to

lift to get up there. For one 60-metre the architect wanted to highlight

hone the skills and abilities of these Made in Italy companies, which

a mosaic wall in the stair well, so we were asked to move the elevator

work in perfect synergy to find the correct technical response to refined,

guides so they wouldn’t interfere visually. Another particularly complex

demanding requirements.

installation was a circular lift where space limitations forced us to shift

www.bertazzoniascensori.com icmlift.com

The lift on the Sanlorenzo 64-metre Attila (above), is a crystal cube; to side, the 63-metre Atomic by VSY features a square unit. Further right, the pop-up elevator. Opposite page: Gianluca Bertazzoni and Massimo Bezzi, CEO of Bertazzoni Lift Marine and ICM Lift Marine respectively. Top, the circular elevator on Rossinavi’s new 50-metre superyacht

67