SUPERYACHT INTERIORS

23 SUPERYACHT

INTERIORS

The following three pages comprise the second edition of the ‘Superyacht Interiors’ section of ‘Marina Industry’, which was launched in October, last year. The 37 metre Motopanfilo from Benetti has drawn inspiration from the past and projected it into the future. For the interior design, Rome-based Lazzarini Pickering Architetti was given the task of creating living areas that emphasised nautical traditions, so that the vessel felt like a boat – not a sea-going apartment! ClearSphere, the creator and installer of bespoke integrated AV systems on superyachts, has won The Crestron Europe Integration – Best Marine Project Award for its unrivalled control system on board Oyster Yachts’ 885-1 ‘SY Lush’.

Back to the future with Benetti

One of Europe’s oldest builders of luxury yachts, Benetti was founded near the Tuscan port of Viareggio, Italy, in 1873 by Lorenzo Benetti. Today, it has become a member of the Azimut|Benetti Group and is a world leader in terms of the total length and number of yachts over 37 metres it has on its order book at any one time.

Following Lorenzo’s death in 1927, the business passed to his two sons and their four sons were also quick to join the company, initially engaged in the construction of commercial sailing vessels and ships for the Italian Navy. This continued until the 1950s when the company decided to separate leisure craft from commercial shipping as Lorenzo’s Great-Grandson, who shared his name, began to enjoy success in the design and construction of steel yachts called the Delfino that featured luxury interiors, with high quality wood panelling. Next to be launched were models known as the Tirreno and Mediterrananeo, with the latter model being over 30 metres in length.

Buoyed up by the technical and financial support of Turin-based fibreglass boat-building company Azimut to develop new craft, Benetti now operates two shipyards, located in Viareggio and Livorno. Originally concentrating on boats of 40-50 metres, the company has expanded its range by building much larger yachts in aluminium and steel. In 2020, it delivered three yachts of more than 100 metres.

The current fleet consists of five categories: Class; B.Yond; Oasis; B.Now and Custom. In the Class category, there are two composite displacement models: Motopanfilo 37M and Diamond 44M. The 37 metre Motopanfilo has drawn inspiration from the past and projected it into the future. Strongly inspired by the nautical tradition of its shipyard’s glamorous ‘Navettas’ of the 1960s, the boat projects an up-to-date interpretation of their style and also benefits from the introduction of modern technology,

The ultra-clean shape of the Motopanfilo 37M was designed by Francesco Struglia, who had studied the lines of motor yachts build 60 years ago. This distinctive craft embraces the clever use of mirrors to expand the perception of interior space and amplify the sea views.

For the interior design, Romebased Lazzarini Pickering Architetti was given the task of creating living areas for the Motopanfilo 37M that emphasised nautical traditions, so that the vessel felt like a boat – not a sea-going apartment! The design also had to embody the elegance of classic motor yachts, but reflect contemporary ideas. To introduce classic nautical elements, Lazzarini Pickering looked at architectural features reminiscent of the past, such as beams that could physically extend lines of sight. To achieve this effect, curved beams run up along the ceiling along the yacht’s width on each deck.

In the saloon, white lacquered beams are installed across the wood ceilings, while this pattern is transposed on the upper and lower decks, where wooden beams are situated on white ceilings. Portlightshaped lighting fixtures add to the feeling of nautical heritage, as does the white leather cladded mast feature in the central staircase that goes from the lower to upper deck and is designed to look like a mast that would be seen in a sailing superyacht.

Design motifs of the 1960s and ’70s are seen in the use of mirrored surfaces and rounded furnishings, such as the curved sofas in the main saloon, which Pickering said encourage conversation and relaxed living. Mirrors are skilfully employed to expand the space, such as those set into the window frames to reflect the sea and sky, and open the space still further.

The interior materials are otherwise kept simple, with light woods, white leather and neutral-coloured soft goods, which have been chosen to highlight the yacht’s architectural lines. All fabrics on board are by Loro Piana Interiors and the saloon is adorned in outdoor-grade soft goods to encourage the space to be lived in all day, even in a damp bathing costume after a swimming session.

Benetti’s new Motopanfilo 37M has already attracted attention and four hulls were quickly sold, proving there is a market for a classic-contemporary yacht that celebrates the glamorous history of yachting without denying owners any of today’s modern comforts and technological advances.

Benetti info@benettiyachts.it www.benettiyachts.it

AV innovator wins Best Marine Project Award

The Crestron Europe Integration – Best Marine Project Award has been won by ClearSphere, the creator and installer of bespoke integrated AV systems on superyachts, for its unrivalled control system on board Oyster Yachts’ 885-1 ‘SY Lush’.

The awards celebrate the finest innovations featuring Crestron technology in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recognising projects of excellence completed during 2021 in a number of sectors. ClearSphere’s win in the marine category was to acknowledge and applaud partners working with Crestron’s AV distribution and automation solutions to create modern, elegant, connected lifestyles on board yachts.

ClearSphere’s project showcased the team’s unparalleled ability to install and integrate Crestron control over multiple systems, while meeting the challenges of limited space on a vessel smaller than traditional superyachts.

Established in 2007 by cofounding engineers Nick Fletcher and Alistair Ingram, multi-award winning ClearSphere provides design, development and installation services to marine and residential clients across the UK and Europe. The company includes a team of technology integration experts and co-operates with premium manufacturers such as Cisco, Bowers & Wilkins, Future Automation, Peplink, Kerio and Lutron. It is well-known for creating intuitive, bespoke control programs with a Crestron backbone.

Details about the project included eight control touchscreens throughout the yacht, a versatile digital lighting package, climate and shade control, integrated CCTV, video boarding entry, NMEA data feeds for guest information, chart-plotter streams, alarm and monitoring and audio-video control over the whole yacht.

To add to the challenge, the client had made various requests, including themed lighting with blended warm and cool light. ClearSphere worked alongside the lighting designer and the yacht builder, to design a system where every light fitting had two colours and was controlled by two separate drivers that allowed the temperature of the lighting to be changed. With over 340 lighting circuits on board, control has been facilitated by using the Crestron DIN-DALI-2 control modules, which provide granular control of lighting temperature, brightness, fade rate and individual on or off times. The ClearSphere touchscreen graphical user interface (GUI) controls all the circuits, allowing for a truly aesthetic ‘lighting theatre’. Another key element of this sophisticated system is the automated timeof-day lighting scenes that can be programmed to coincide with wherever the yacht is located on the globe.

A popular concierge service is provided via the touchscreens, so that guests can choose their favourite drinks and alert the crew to any other requests at the touch of a button.

The yacht also features full climate and ventilation integration, with full AV control over ten zones of audio and seven zones of video, streamed over a highspeed network. Further touch screen features include navigation information, whole boat monitoring and control, FLIR thermal camera control and CCTV display.

ClearSphere info@clearsphere.co.uk www.clearsphere.co.uk