THE BRIGHT ICON OF CHANGE
In the yachting world light has become an identifying element. This is the story of a company that wholeheartedly welcomes technological challenges, design and visionary projects
by Luisa Taliento - ph. by Francesco Bedini
For Altraluce, light provides identity, it’s a strategic value that takes shape through dialogue and design collaboration. On this page, some examples of lightning project in the yachting field: above, the sundeck of the Sanlorenzo 52 Steel. Left, the staircaise of the 60 meters M/Y Sarastar
The Altraluce company is based in Italy, in the heart of the Chianti region, and is inspired by the passion for the sea and pioneering spirit of its founder Stefano Ciappi. His passion was passed on to his son Sergio, now the CEO and a seasoned sailor. From the very beginning the company has adopted an anti-conventional approach with the use of fibre optics to light gangways and ladders, at a time when a technical revolution is taking place. The company now has a presence in almost all the most important Italian yards. Some months ago it launched a positioning strategy on foreign markets, focussing on quality projects where light can be thought of as a design lever and not simply a technical accessory. Although yachts are still its core business, Altraluce is also involved in a number of side projects like high-end private residences, hotels and more recently prestigious marinas.
One of these, the Sindalah marina project, is part of a masterplan by LUCA DINI Design & Architecture for the new Red Sea tourist hub and an element in the visionary setting of the NEOM
arcology project, and one of the most important challenges. Another distinctive feature of the Altraluce brand is its direct, on-going relationship with architects, designers and design studies. “In the yachting world, lighting is no longer simply a technical service, it has become a distinctive element”, says Valentina D’Agata, Altraluce’s Business Development Manager. “In a context where spaces and solutions are often very similar, it’s the quality of the light (how it is distributed, measured and controlled) that makes the difference. That’s what lends personality to a project”. But it’s not only about aesthetics. “Nowadays, owners have very clear expectations”, D’Agata continues. “They don’t just require scenic lighting, as if in a home. Light is experienced as an integral part of their personal lifestyle. This means our role changes radically, as we’re no longer just suppliers, we’ve become design partners”. This vision is expressed fully in the design for the Sindalah marina, where Altraluce was initially brought in to supply very high power RGBW underwater units. “We were asked to provide a 7,000 lumen unit in the length of just a metre”, says
Although yachts are still its core business, Altraluce is also involved in a number of side projects like high-end private residences, hotels and more recently prestigious marinas. One of these, the Sindalah marina project (right), is part of a masterplan by LUCA DINI Design & Architecture for the new Red Sea tourist hub and an element in the visionary setting of the NEOM arcology project. In the photos on these pages, the atmospheres created by Altraluce in the Aston Martin showroom and two private residences
D’Agata. “After five months of development I brought the prototype to the yard in person. During the technical meeting I realised that nobody so far had thought about how to control the lighting scenarios. This is a crucial aspect, because light isn’t an isolated object, it’s complex system that demands dialogue between all the actors, producers, installers, and software developers”. Supported by the strength of relationships forged on site and the confidence generated, trust between the players grew. Altraluce was asked to develop the entire control system and scenographic projection. “It was a tough call, a further six months’ work, with much of this time spent in the yard in an extraordinarily complex logistical and organisational context. But it was also confirmation of how necessary it is to take lighting into consideration right from the beginning as part of the system as a whole and not simply as an accessory. For Altraluce, now more than ever, light isn’t a commodity, it provides identity, a signature, it’s a strategic value that takes shape through dialogue and design collaboration”. www.altraluce.it
