ARCHITECTURE
AT SEA
by Désirée Sormani
Velor’s aft patio is suited to every season thanks to its retractable glass panels: a seamless transition from the open-air freedom to the luxury of the interior. Velor is a concept open to the sea, designed to awaken the senses.
Above is Nauta’s strong team of architects, designers and naval engineers, who collaborate through constant dialogue and a cross-disciplinary exchange of expertise and creative ideas
ph. courtesy by Nauta Design
Light, the removal of heavy structures and visual barriers, and the optimisation of flows. These are more than mere trends or expressions of a yacht owner’s lifestyle. They are the studio’s genuine design philosophy, reflected in Project Velor, a yacht defined by its openness and profound connection with the surrounding environment
Elegance need not be loud to be noticed. This is the strong message coming from Corso Sempione in Milan, where Nauta has its headquarters. The Italian studio, with its international outlook, has been redrawing the boundaries between architecture and the sea for forty years, fulfilling the dreams of sailors and passionate seafarers with an unmistakable style.
Founded in 1986 by Mario Pedol and Massimo Gino, it is where sailing yachts, motor yachts and mega-yachts, both custom and series production, take shape. Even the lines of the world’s longest private yacht, the 180-metre Lürssen-built Azzam, were penned in this very studio, as were those of Lucietta, a reinterpretation of the Venetian taxi developed by Repower, which recently won over the jury with an honourable mention at the prestigious Compasso d’Oro 2025 in Osaka. Nauta embodies a nautical interpretation of the key principle of modern design and architecture coined by Ernesto Nathan Rogers in 1952: “from the spoon to the city”. The approach to each project, regardless of scale, is always the same: function takes precedence and people are at the heart of every design. And to the question “what is true luxury?”, there can be only one answer: “Contact with the sea. As sailors ourselves, we have no doubts,” explains Mario Pedol. “It is the starting point for all our new research.” “Design is detached from the ‘wow effect’; it is aimed at balance, the rational and efficient development of functions, and harmonisation with tastes and trends,” continues Massimo Gino. “There is, in fact, a code that runs through all
Nauta-designed boats: a design philosophy based on balance, simplicity and passion.” Concepts that recur from one project to the next. Size doesn’t matter. Nor does the owner or shipyard. “One of the studio’s strengths lies precisely in the cross-pollination between the different fields in which we work,” explain the two designers. “This allows us to capitalise on cross-disciplinary skills. The individual designers in our studio are involved in different projects, and the team works in an integrated and collaborative manner, sharing ideas and solutions between sailing and motor projects, as well as between custom and series production builds.” The approach fosters a constant process of innovation and transfer of skills between different types of project; consistently applying the same philosophy enables the team to grow and tackle increasingly complex design challenges.”
The use of light, the removal of visual barriers, and the optimisation of the onboard experience through harmonious flows. These are more than mere trends or expressions of a yacht owner’s lifestyle. They are the embodiment of a true design mantra that Nauta repeats and interprets, constantly improving upon it, in order to deliver designs where the yacht itself celebrates visual openness, light and a profound connection with the sea. Or rather, an extension of life at sea. Just like Project Velor, a 75-metre superyacht offering the comfort and functionality more typically found on a five-deck yacht, arranged over four decks. 1,700 GT, the culmination of the studio’s vision of contemporary yacht design, where spacious open decks, ‘see-through’ platforms and grand
The outdoor areas fully showcase the yacht’s flexibility: namely those fore on the upper deck and on the sun deck. Whether reserved as a private retreat for the owner or used as spaces for social interaction, the upper deck, the “nest” and the forward lounges offer immersive experiences: here, nature, light and comfort blend in perfect harmony. The connection with the sea is ever-present, even from the interior spaces
Left, Nauta founders Massimo Gino and Mario Pedol. The international design studio collaborates with the most prestigious shipyards, from Lürssen to CRN Yacht, from Feadship to Southern Wind, and from Cantiere del Pardo to the Beneteau Group. The studio produces designs of all sizes. Below, Guido Valtorta (left) and Martino Majno, Directors of Nauta, who oversaw the development of Project Velor (in the rendering, a bird’s-eye view)
architectural staircases foster a continuous dialogue between interior and exterior spaces, shaping a unique perception of space and offering striking views both outwards, towards the sea, and inwards. In true Nauta style, the lines are elegant, the geometry is balanced, the curves soft and fluid, at times contrasted by sharp, precisely cut edges. There are numerous spaces on board dedicated to different functions, yet flexible in use: social interaction, wellbeing, rest and relaxation. Each space promotes wellbeing, encouraging guests to slow down, to reconnect with themselves, with family and friends, with the surrounding environment. These are spacious environments that stand out for their usability and flexibility. “Every element is designed to respond to the many ways in which owners use their yachts,” comments Guido Valtorta,
Director of Nauta. Such as the open-air beach club or “water patio” aft on the lower deck, a living area which, thanks to retractable sliding glass panels, can be opened or closed, making it usable year-round. The “water patio” connects to the Spa/Wellness area, which guests can also access from their cabins. “This layout is made possible by concentrating the engine room to a single level on the lower deck,” explains Martino Majno, Director of Nauta, “a solution developed thanks to the invaluable contribution of Francesco Rogantin’s Studio Names, on which we have been working for around eight years; and the result is now unmistakable: a multifunctional lounge suitable for yoga, wellness activities, social gatherings or quiet seclusion, all with an uninterrupted view of the sea”. All very much in keeping with Nauta’s signature style.