[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Cannes Yachting Festival opened its doors yesterday but news started to be unveiled the evening before with the usual gala event of Sanlorenzo Yachts. During the press conference held before the unveiling of the new models, Massimo Perotti, Chairman of the company, remarked their attempts. The free float is expected to be around 35%, which is the minimum threshold to be admitted in the Milan STAR segment, dedicated to midsize companies with a capitalization of less than 1 billion euros.
Apart from financial strategies, in the spotlight there was the debut of the new Sanlorenzo SD 96, designed by Zuccon International Project for the exteriors and Patricia Urquiola for the interiors.
“I chose Patricia because I wanted to add a more feminine touch to the interiors in Sanlorenzo yachts, something which until now had been foreign to the nautical world. And today she is the most sought-after woman in global design thanks to her ability to combine beauty and comfort. All done with a touch of irony and almost poetic sensitivity, with love for all that is glocal and a great respect for the hard work of the artisans”, said Massimo Perotti.
The motivation came from the idea of new scenarios through the introduction of the concept of transforming spaces to enrich the experience of those who live the boat. SD96 is the entry level model of Sanlorenzo’s historic semi-displacement SD yacht line, a 28-meter-long model that will replace the SD92, another of the shipyard’s success stories, which was launched in 2007 with 27units sold, showing and maintaining its natural evolution, that stylish hallmark that has always distinguished the yard.
The yachts of the SD fleet, models in composite material from 28 to 38 meters, are inspired by the transatlantic yacht type of the 1930s, bringing back that quintessential concept of elegance and precision. Shuttles with great range that allow us to reach even the most distant destinations, all the while designed for those who love and know the sea deeply.
Here too there is a historical legacy to respect, an image that has grown and been consolidated over time, which has been the main motivator in defining the design of the external lines of this lineup of boats, signed by the Zuccon International Project, whose recent collaboration with the shipyard has already kick started numerous prestigious projects, in which tradition and history are indispensable aspects.
This objective has been pursued without ever losing sight of the space-volume balance of all that contributes to harmonizing the proportions, and at the same time respecting a deeply rooted, essential Sanlorenzo image that adds strength, solidity and continuity to the yard’s illustrious history.
Like all the models in the line, the SD96 is built on three bridges, but thanks to the carefully studied proportions and the great balance achieved between design and volume, it is not only exceptionally elegant, but also exactly as light and manageable as a two-deck yacht.
The SD96 also retains the shape of the forward and lateral windows of the entire range but with panes that from the outside are visually similar to the hull, thanks to Patricia Urquiola’s choice to apply “One way” films to the windows of the cabins on the lower deck, to eradicate the perception of voids and give a sense of cleanliness and aesthetic unity. This allowed a surface synthesis that conjures up an almost archaic image of minimalism.
“The style stems from the search for timeless class, where symbols interact flowingly and functionally with the containment of volumes and with the idea that the key element when it comes to style is the hull. The SD96 is a yacht with a wealth of history and tradition that sets sail in a new sea, where stylistic features and functions have been redefined to help write a fascinating new page in the life of this shipyard.” Bernardo Zuccon
However, with the new SD96 Sanlorenzo has not been limited to merely preserving the past but, knowing how to recognise the needs of its customers, it has redefined its lineup classification due to a request for volumes and functions that has changed over time and begs satisfaction, including more options from the smaller range sizes and up.
“There are places that change and adapt to differing daily needs; it is as if the boat, closed and airtight in readiness to face the sea, once moored, can be opened up to allow the owner to optimise the quality of life on board.” Bernardo Zuccon
The layout of the SD96 comes from the design concept of Philippe Briand, combined with the already broad experience and tradition of engineering at Sanlorenzo. The water lines were checked at the Marin naval tank in Holland, showing the to boat to have particularly good performance for a 28 m displacement hull. The hull design of the SD96 allows you to navigate at many speeds: from 10-knot navigation that maximizes fuel economy to a cruising speed of 15 knots, up to the maximum speed of 20 knots, making this a truly exclusive 28 m displacement yacht. This exceptional performance is possible thanks to the hull design, which has a very sharp profile and vertical bow; the shape of the sides meant the internal volumes were unaffected, and they are beautifully integrated with the design of the external lines.
The interior project by Patricia Urquiola
This concept of flexibility and modularity, which defines the SD96 project, decided the flow of the interior spaces designed by Patricia Urquiola.
In bringing her vision on board, the architect and designer laid out the interior of the SD96 with transformability taking centre stage-making for a boat capable of evolving and continuously adapting to the needs of those who live on it.
A flowing space in which the distinctive style of the Spanish architect and designer blossoms and blooms, combining a minimalist approach with a mix of carefully selected materials that summon forth thoughts of the sea.
“Our starting point for this collaboration with Sanlorenzo was doubtlessly the sea, a great source of inspiration for the whole development of the concept and therefore the interior of the yacht. The materials, shapes and colors evoke the marine world, creating a flowing and elegant space full of natural colors.” Patricia Urquiola
In a balance between severity and irony, between an industrial and artisan approach, Patricia Urquiola creates different styles and furnishings via her search for material sensibility and attention to detail that makes SD96’s interiors warm and welcoming yet with a modern sophisticated, elegant overall look, meaning we can enjoy these spaces as a symbol of both past and present.
The principal living area located on the main deck, characterized by cannulated oak panelled walls and parquet flooring, is a true example of the concept of modularity; it’s function can in fact be increased by setting up, if necessary, a dining table for 10 people, cleverly folded away inside a bench in front of the sofa.
We then move on to the central staircase, in bronzed steel and wood and enclosed in a travertine shell, it is designed to reach the other two bridges, and is a focal and iconic point that connects all the floors and also serves to divide the areas via a metal mesh screen.
Moving on to the upper deck we find the Sky lounge, with fully opening windows that can be used as a living room, dining area or cinema thanks to modular furniture. The uniformity of finishes between interior and exterior, such as the parquet floor with Biscuit pattern creates a unique environment with the fly bridge, which can also be used as a lounge or outdoor dining area thanks to the coffee table which can be converted to a dining table if desired.
The principle of flexibility returns to the lower deck where the living room can be totally transformed by closing a system of sliding panels, creating a VIP cabin with bathroom.
On the same level, there are also two guest cabins, while the owner’s cabin is located on the main deck. Much wider in width than those offered on yachts of similar sizes, it has large windows that, together with the glass wall with a Liquefy motif that evokes the sea, create a feeling of uniformity with the surrounding environment.
The travertine bathroom with ribbed glass walls coupled with a bronzed mirror amplifies this feeling in a game of pleasant reflections.
The choice of furnishings made by companies that symbolise the excellence of international design and that have studied ad hoc solutions, where necessary adapting their products to the technical characteristics, materials and constructive solutions to fit our design requirements is also fundamental to our interior design.
With SD96, Sanlorenzo once again shows its ability to respond to the needs of a constantly evolving market, through a lot of careful research and innovation, while at the same time never betraying its image, an image that has always stood out for its timeless elegance and linear simplicity, light and streamlined, an everlasting expression of refined luxury, never loud, which is evident in the choice of materials and in the care given to the smallest details.