Megayacht: Riva 50 Metre Race

All the seductive charm of the legendary Riva runabouts is alive and well but given a fresh contemporary interpretation. Created by Officina Italiana Design, this 50m has a modern soul and exudes pared back elegance. Large al fresco areas communicate with masculine functional yet luxurious interiors

by Paola Bertelli

he 1960s: classic photographs from the time show Brigitte Bardot and the other stars of the Dolce Vita years enjoying Riva’s elegant mahogany powerboats which quickly became the ultimate status symbol, turning the brand into an icon. 2019: Riva launches its first superyacht. Once again, with the ambition of setting a whole new formal and stylistic benchmark. Riva Race, the first example of the 50m series, burst onto the scene with a signature mix of modernity and Riva tradition. This is a masculine yacht both in terms of its exterior and interiors which were penned by Officina Italiana Design in partnership with the Ferretti Group’s Riva Superyachts Division. Riva Race is clothed in simple lines and simple colours. The sort of simplicity that creates a sense of sublime refinement – from the spacious layout to the stairs and the tiniest detail. “Ours are the kind of details you only discover by living aboard, touching the finishes, examining them carefully. They are designed for the owner, rather than for people just looking at the boat,” explains Mauro Micheli of Officina Italiana Design. A subtle philosophy that few brands can afford to follow but which translates into spaces and finishes that create an empathic rapport, the kind of comfortable onboard living tailored around the owner. This is in good part due to the fact that said owner is Piero Ferrari, who not only holds a 13.2% stake in the Ferretti Group but is also son of the legendary Enzo. Hence the name Race, of course. This is superyacht is a distillation of both the exteriors and custom interiors of the classic Rivas. The exteriors, crafted by Officina Italiana Design, will in fact be used for the coming examples. The lines of the geometrical, angular livery are spare and pure. Three horizontal slashes surge forward, lending the yacht a sense of extreme dynamism, underscored by the slightly metallic silver of the hull. These result is a vessel that exudes powerful personality. In the interior, both colours and materials palettes are extremely uniform. Lacquered mahogany is the leitmotif and features throughout, not only on the furnishings but also the slatted ceiling and wall panels with cornices and accents in steel creating a sense of depth. For the floors, white Apuano marble and pale rugs soften the hard power of the wood. The clear intersections between mirrored and steel elements add touch of uniqueness too. As indded do leather details on the walls and bed head rests and sides combined with incredible skill with steel edging. The main deck’s arrangement was influenced by the fact that the owner chose to have the galley on the lower deck. This worked to the advantage of the 70 sqm-plus master suite, making room for a vast private lounge with pale leather Minotti sofas facing the large screen TV. This is essentially a media room for viewing F1 grands prix in a completely private space separated from the office by a glass wall. In the open plan saloon, expansive windows guarantee plenty of natural light but never so much that it feels dazzling. A Lutron domotics system allows light levels to be adjusted and lighting backdrops to be created too. A low mahogany unit separates the lounge from the dining area and its steel and glass Judd Acerbis table and Cassina chairs. The glass doors leading to the aft cockpit open fully too, so that interior and exterior seem to flow effortlessly into one another. The composition of the spaces and the connection with the sun deck forward turn the upper deck into one of the areas central to onboard life: the custom-furnished al fresco lounge aft leads to an intermediate area sheltered by the sun deck and sliding side windscreens, furnished with a 14-seater Corian-topped and finally a lounge/relaxation area. The port walkway also links the aft cockpit with the sunning area on the foredeck. The four staterooms amidships on the lower deck feature the same ribbed mahogany trim, leather for the closets and edges of the beds combined with steel profiles that lend three dimensionality to the spaces and enhance the contrasts with the dark colours of the TVs disguised as mirrored totems. The beach club is beautifully balanced with two opening hatches (aft and starboard) drawing guests seaward but also providing a chic shaded area too. The port walkway also links the aft cockpit with the sunning area on the foredeck. The four staterooms amidships on the lower deck feature the same ribbed mahogany trim, leather for the closets and edges of the beds combined with steel profiles that lend three dimensionality to the spaces and enhance the contrasts with the dark colours of the TVs disguised as mirrored totems. The beach club is beautifully balanced with two opening hatches (aft and starboard) drawing guests seaward but also providing a chic shaded area too. www.riva-yacht.com

An elegant yacht with clearly defined geometries. Opposite, the cockpit on the main deck with freestanding furnishings. Opening shot, the main saloon, the mahogany slatted ceiling is a leitmotif aboard. The sofas are by Minotti while the statuary marble-topped coffee tables were designed by Officina Italiana Design

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Just a few select materials are used aboard. Most notably, steel, glass and leather in addition to mahogany. The airy stairs on the main deck (above) with steel and glass trim. Left and right, two of the guest staterooms on the lower deck. The dining table (opposite, top) on the main deck is by Judd Acerbis while the chairs are by Cassina

Exterior Design Mauro Micheli, Chief Designer at Officina Italiana Design

The Riva Race is very much a Riva. We designed extremely clean lines and kept styling elements to an absolute minimum; we wanted to achieve pure forms aimed more at connoisseurs rather than owners per se. We stripped it of all showiness. I’m sure that in 20 years’ time, this yacht will still be beautiful. You can see its superb quality in the detailing, including the gunwale, a stunning structural element in which the steel plate is veneered in metre upon metre of mahogany with 20 layers of varnish on it to obtain just the perfect tone and shine. When you run your hand over its surface, you realise its perceptual quality. When it came to organising the exterior spaces, we put our heads together with the yard and created balanced, fluid areas. The dining area on the upper deck is very interesting – it is absolutely private because of its raised position and sheltered from wind and sun by sliding glass side panels, and is well connected to the cosy little interior lounge. We didn’t want to emphasise the beach area aboard Riva Race – the yacht already has plenty of al fresco spaces on the various decks. The sun deck alone covers 120 sqm. So we conceived the beach area as somewhere to just get in and out of the sea, rather than as a living area per se. More a shaded area overlooking the water with a large hatch that opens out.

The forward lounge with sofas and vast sun pad sits atop the hatch to the garage for the rescue boat and water toys. Foremost (facing page) is space for the jet ski which is deployed using a mini crane in the forward garage

Details play a pivotal role aboard. Note here the oak guard rail which integrates perfectly into the yacht’s modern look and layout. The wood is meticulously crafted with more than 20 layers of varnish applied to achieve the correct colour and gloss

Interior Design Officina Italiana Design

While the exterior design of the Riva 50 Metri is set and designed to be instantly recognisable, the interiors are custom and crafted around the owner’s wishes. For Riva Race, we used materials from Riva heritage such as mahogany and steel and took the Caravelle yachts created by Carlo Riva in the 1960s and 70s as our inspiration. The layout dimensions are modern, however. I would describe Riva Race as a gentleman’s boat. Its master suite is almost 70 sqm with an office separated by a glass wall from the additional lounge area where the owner can relax in utmost privacy. This is the media room the owner requested specifically to watch F1 races in a completely private area. Dark and light hues alternate throughout the yacht but mahogany is the star. We strove to soften its power somewhat by using pale greys. We designed most of the furnishings and they too are mahogany. The sides of many are decorated with screwed-down steel plates which are quite complicated to pull off but an important detail that lends the yacht a unique sense of character and personality. We didn’t want to put too many holes in the yacht to draw in light and we tried to filter natural light so that it is soft and restful. That way guests arrive into a slightly darker interior than the sunny outdoors. A soft light that is invaluable to guaranteeing comfortable onboard living.

A private lounge (top) in the master suite is separated by a glass wall from the office (left). Separate walkways and corridors have been created for crew and guests. Top, left, the corridor leading to the saloon and, bottom left, the crew stairs connecting

the main and upper deck. Below, marble and grey-veined marble in the bathrooms . Opposite page: Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, co-founders of Officina Italiana Design, with Andrea Catucci. who joined the Officina Italiana Design team last year

Giordano Pellacani, Sales and Marketing Director of Custom Business at Ferretti Group

Race is the first Riva 50 Metre and the first steel and aluminium superyacht from the Riva Superyacht Division in Ancona, hailing the brand’s transition to a new naval size category. The owner and, at his request, his crew were involved in the development of the project from the outset. The intention was to listen to various points of view so that we could product a nautical masterpiece in terms of aesthetic, design and functionality. This meant several engineering tests to limit every possible margin of error during the design phase. The owner loves long cruises and outdoor spaces. So the Riva 50 Metri concept is based around 360 degree sea living. All the design choices made enhance the liveability of the exterior spaces. A good example was the request to make the access door to the main saloon completely openable. Optimising the spaces and ensuring privacy aboard at all times. For instance, there are separate walkways for guests and crew on all five decks. Riva is a timeless icon that marries elegance and beauty but also the highest performances. Most definitely, the brand’s “weight” made designing the yacht as challenging as it was stimulating. One of the many, many high tech features aboard is the innovative I-Bridge®, developed by TEAM Italia, with multicontrol and display stretch implemented with specific new functionalities. We also performed a meticulous analysis of vibration and noise level reduction with the result that sound levels in the master stateroom is under 40 decibels even when the yacht is making her cruising speed of 14 knots. A real guarantee of superb silence. Videoworks has also integrated the most sophisticated technologies for home entertainment, audio/video, lighting and domestics on this first 50m Riva superyacht. All the systems had to be very easy to use. This was achieved with the high level of customization that is a distinguishing feature of the onboard systems made by Videoworks.

Race is the first superyacht to be delivered by the Riva Superyacht Division in Ancona. At 50 metres, it has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, making a cruising speed of 14 knots and a peak one of 15.5. Exterior liveability was a focus in the design process (page opposite)