M A L A C H I T E
I S S U E
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[ MEGAYACHT ]
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The flagship of Azimut Yachts’ S collection teams the gutsy attitude gifted by its DNA with the comfort levels of a large motoryacht. Designed by Alberto Mancini with interiors by Francesco Guida by Paola Bertelli - ph. courtesy of Azimut Yachts
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with the sea-level beach club. The cockpit layout is a response to a requirement for spatial flexibility. As the yacht’s interior designer Francesco Guida says, flexibility is used on the Grande S10 as a “space multiplier”. In the saloon a double set of fully-opening doors and windows make it possible to create a variety of spaces according to desire or to respond to the requirements of different times of day. The first sliding glass door separates the patio from the interior dining area, but when open it transforms them into a single space with outdoor table and two open-air sofas. This continuity is also embodied by the use of the same teak and similar materials and colours in the two areas. A second, slightly curved door in the middle of the saloon can separate off the small interior lounge to maintain, for example, air-conditioned comfort. When the patio door is closed and the central door left open the result is a layout
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ccording to Alberto Mancini, who designed the
that’s typical for yachts of this size, although the dining area is
yacht’s exteriors, the architecture of a Malibu villa
at the entrance while the lounge is further forward. Crew and
with terraces dropping gradually to the water’s
guest movements are kept separate – the stairs beside the helm
edge is one of the inspirations for the creative
station lead to the lower deck guests sleeping area, while those aft
process behind the new Azimut Grande S10.
of the saloon lead to the galley and crew area. There are four guest
The flagship of the S Collection, Azimut Grande S10 is a 29-metre
cabins, including the 21-square-metre full-beam midships owner’s
long yacht that’s athletic without being musclebound. It is also more
accommodation.
refined than most models in this category. The horizontal flow of
The interiors are in a classic-contemporary style, with a strikingly
the superstructure surfaces, with clean, crisp lines and contrasting
consistent decor. The overall effect is one of great sobriety and
chrome trim combines the agile look with a spacious flybridge.
elegance, with specially-designed furniture and accessories.
Raw carbon fibre is used to good effect to emphasise the yacht’s
The colour choices favour warm, natural tones and the oak,
sportive mood. It also features in the sides and bows, where it is
the dominant wood in this decorative scheme, is light and dark,
complemented by teak inserts and LED strips to create a light, sleek
complemented by aged metal, glossy and painted surfaces and
and original-looking handrail. The exterior stairs linking cockpit to
leather details. The light on board is handled with great skill,
flybridge are also in carbon fibre. This graceful structure is also an
generating a powerful impact – the lounge features large side
architectural element, and its central location enables it to anchor
windows while the living area and helm station feature a glass
the on-board symmetry.
ceiling. This is a broad “technical skylight”, a layered panel
The design of the three-deck Azimut Grande S10 emphasises
incorporating an electro-optical film based on SPD (Suspended
the exterior areas, especially the main deck cockpit. This
Particles Device) technology that controls sunlight levels. There are
unconventional feature comprises two areas, a sheltered patio with
also large rectangular glass panels in the owner’s cabin, creating
two sofas facing the interior lounge and a raised flush deck with an
a bright, scenic interior.
almost invisible glass railing aft that creates a seamless dialogue
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The outdoor lounge with coffee tables, sofas and sunpads is a privileged space with astoundingly generous dimensions given that we’re on board a sporting yacht. Opening, on the main deck day area two sets of glass doors link or separate the interior conversation and dining areas and the dining area and patio
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Specially-designed furniture and complements make the most of the available spaces. Soft colours define elegant interiors, light oak is complemented by aged metals, leather details and painted surfaces restated in the night area. Top, the owners’ suite and, right, a VIP cabin. Opposite page: top left, the main deck conversation area, and below, the patio
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Exterior design Alberto Mancini, founder AM Yacht Design
D
esigning the Azimut Grande S10 was a fun, adrenaline-fuelled affair, especially at the beginning – the stage I’d describe as the most romantic, when you have just a blank sheet of paper and a shipyard who trusts you implicitly. I felt totally free to create, it was a series of sketches and a great deal of research into aesthetics, shapes and ergonomics. Layout and aesthetics were the starting point for the development of a functional, sportive and above all elegant form. We drew from three main sources of inspiration. The first is a seafront villa in Malibu, California, with terraces gradually dropping to the sea front, the second is the classic megasailer and the third is the world of car design. Carbon fibre, a typical element of Azimut Yachts, is a distinctive feature of the S10. The use of this material is based on a desire not only to create but also to cut down – eliminating the steel railing, for example, has enabled Azimut Yachts to create a look with
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a profile that’s very different from those seen on other open models until now, with the introduction of a sort of bow “rifle barrel”, a shape that both contains and streamlines the yacht’s line while forming a carbon and optical fibre handrail. The main deck is at the heart of life on board the S10, and it is laid out over two levels, an uncluttered aft area with a flush deck like a platform over the sea and a more peaceful relaxed area. To the back of the main deck I’ve placed two L-shaped sofas, totally free of any encumbrance - because the stairway is positioned like a carbon fibre spine in the centre of the yacht – leaving a free interchange between the sofa and dining areas. The lighting design on the S10 is based on a few clean lines that give the yacht an exclusive profile at night and reinforce the Azimut Yachts brand with the aft lights and steps, designed as if they were the tail lights of a modern car, projecting slender shards of light when switched on.
The first sketches for the Azimut Grande S10 and below, a spectacular night-time image of showing the care lavished on the lighting design. Lights pick out the steps of the two lateral stairways aft and the central stairs leading up to the flybridge. LED strips outline the spaces
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Lights and reflections on board. The glass main deck ceiling, top, is technically advanced. An integrated electro-optical film controls the amount of sunlight entering the interior. Below, the chill-out corner with sofa in the owner’s suite
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Interior Design Francesco Guida, founder Guida Design
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here’s no doubt the Azimut Grande S10 is a decisive step forward for the category, as it succeeds as never before in combining comfort and generous spaces in sleek, athletically-toned shapes. The challenge for any designer involved in an Azimut project is that he or she has to juggle a wide range of requirements and tastes while making sure the brand’s style and aesthetic language are also given an emphatic presence. That’s why we’ve developed two versions, the Platinum with warmer colours and the Perla Nera (Black Pearl), which has a more muscular, sportive personality. These two basic combinations can then be completed and personalised by the owner through the choice of fabrics and furnishing complements. The layout includes two innovative elements: the dining area between cockpit and lounge, connecting with both the interior saloon and the cockpit; and the owner’s cabin, which has the dimensions and areas typical of a
motoryacht rather than a sporty model. There is a filter area with bar unit at the entrance, a relaxation/night area in the centre and then the dressing room and dual bathroom. We wanted to provide decorative consistency among the various spaces to generate a sober, elegant effect. We’ve retained the main aspects of the decor on the smaller S models, like the contrasts created by using two prestige wood types with inlays – light and dark oak – with metallic finishes, lacquered surfaces and leather-clad elements adding a sporty look to the project. We’ve designed everything on board down to the smallest detail, including the sculpture in a niche in the saloon seen on this model. We’ve optimised the planning and use of and volumes for maximum space and comfort. Creating special furniture and complements means we can integrate them perfectly with the internal “box” that offers the spaces and volumes of a sporty yacht.
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The Shipyard Giovanna Vitelli, Vice-President of Azimut Benetti
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G
rande S10 is the new flagship of the S Collection, the line that embodies the brand’s greatest experimentation and that has seen the introduction of many of our most important innovations. I believe that the S10 blends smoothly into the history of the collection and is a perfect example of its development. In this case we decided to break with the traditional formats to present strikingly unusual layout solutions inspired by classic sail yachts and the designer’s own suggestions. This yacht marks the beginning of a new era. After a happy, productive thirty-year collaboration with the same designer we felt the need to make a change. We chose Alberto Mancini to help launch us on this new course. He was given free rein, something every designer longs for, and it was very exciting to watch the project grow and evolve, driven by his contagious enthusiasm. Right from the start Alberto had very clear ideas about the direction he wanted go in, and despite constant interaction with the yard, the work followed a very straight course.
The S10 is the perfect yacht for lovers of technology, innovation and a sporty character, qualities that are embodied, for example, in the helm station, a cutting-edge environment from both a technical and aesthetic point of view. However, the feeling of luxury and elegance that pervades the yacht also means that it will appeal to owners who see these two elements as crucial requirements in their choice. In fact the S10 enables us to address a wider target than the current pool of S Collection devotees. One way of describing the S10 is to compare it to a beautiful, sexy woman whose breath-taking curves do not distract from her class and elegance. Several areas of this yacht are particularly interesting, but my favourite is the large, spacious beach area, a waterfront terrace only a few centimetres above the sea. Its door opening system means the S10 is the only sporty yacht that can provide such a generous amount of space, enabling owner and guests to enjoy a luxurious seagoing experience.
The lines of the exterior livery are sporty but not exaggeratedly so. The light, streamlined design of the bows and carbon fibre and teak handrail add an excitingly sleek touch. With a length of 28.72 metres, it is constructed using composite materials with carbon fibre. Top speed is 35 knots, with a cruising speed of 28 knots
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