How thin can the boundary between a yacht and the sea around it become? This is the idea behind Clear Waves, the 70-metre concept developed by Benetti and Luca Dini Design & Architecture, where light, nature and architecture work together to create a more direct relationship with the surrounding environment.
The project brings together two different areas of expertise. On one side are Benetti’s shipbuilding, engineering and technological capabilities; on the other is an approach that Luca Dini has progressively expanded from yacht design into residential architecture and hospitality. The result looks at the yacht as a place to inhabit, focusing on the way people perceive both the space itself and the landscape around them.
On Clear Waves, this approach begins with very simple elements: light, air, materials, silence and views of the sea. It is the way these elements interact that defines the character of the project.
Four elements to shape the space
Air, earth, fire and water are the four references behind the development of Clear Waves. Rather than becoming symbols or decorative details, they are used as tools to work with atmosphere, materials and the perception of space.
Nature therefore enters the project in a tangible way. Lines guide the transition between spaces, openings broaden perspectives and natural light changes the interiors throughout the day. What happens outside the yacht the movement of the sea, the sky and the horizon remains perceptible even from within. The project therefore seeks to soften the separation that usually distinguishes interior space from the surrounding landscape. It is from this approach that its most distinctive architectural feature emerges.
The Glass Dome changes the perspective
The Glass Dome opens the upper part of the yacht towards the sky. It is an immediately recognisable gesture, but its purpose goes beyond its visual impact. The dome brings light deep into the space and allows the atmosphere to change together with the conditions outside. It feels one way in the morning, takes on a different character at sunset and, at night, maintains a visual connection with the sky. In this way, the exterior is not simply observed through a glazed surface but actively contributes to shaping the interior.
It is a subtle yet important distinction. Glass is not used merely to increase panoramic views; it becomes an architectural tool that alters the perception of space. On Clear Waves, the horizon becomes part of the interior, and the Glass Dome is where the dialogue between yacht and environment finds its clearest expression.
From spectacular spaces to regenerative spaces
The project also explores a theme that is becoming increasingly relevant in contemporary architecture: regenerative spaces. The expression may sound abstract, but the principle is straightforward. A regenerative space is designed so that light, silence, privacy, natural materials and a connection with the outdoors can help those who inhabit it slow down and regain a sense of balance.
Clear Waves brings this approach on board. The spaces become more fluid and adaptable, responding to different needs throughout the day: spending time together, seeking privacy, resting or simply watching the sea. Their functions remain clearly defined, but the boundaries between them become less rigid.
This is also where the theme of longevity comes into play, interpreted by the studio in a broader sense. Rather than focusing exclusively on extending lifespan, the concept considers the quality of the time we experience. On a yacht, where space and time inevitably take on a particular relationship, this idea acquires a very tangible dimension.
Technology that does not need to be seen
Within this architecture, technology is deliberately discreet. Benetti brings its expertise in naval engineering, construction and onboard systems to the project, but Clear Waves does not turn technology into something that needs to be displayed.
The systems are designed to operate in the background and contribute to comfort, efficiency and wellbeing without interfering with the simplicity of the experience. The approach is consistent with the rest of the concept: what matters is not making the complexity required to operate a 70-metre yacht visible, but ensuring that this complexity makes life on board feel more natural.
From the sea to land and back again
Clear Waves also reflects the evolution of Luca Dini Design & Architecture. Over the past thirty years, the studio has progressively expanded its work beyond yacht design into architecture, interiors and hospitality, transferring ideas and experience from one discipline to another. With Benetti, this exchange returns to the sea. Proportions, materials and technology remain fundamental, but they are considered through the experience of the people who inhabit the spaces.
The Glass Dome is the most immediate expression of this research, but Clear Waves extends beyond a single architectural feature. The concept imagines a yacht in which architecture does not simply provide shelter from the sea or offer a privileged view of it. Instead, it seeks to make the sea part of the everyday experience of the space. And this is perhaps where the name Clear Waves finds its most interesting meaning: in a 70-metre yacht where the boundary between architecture and landscape gradually becomes thinner.
