When dimensions increase, designing a superyacht means first and foremost dealing with scale. More metres offer greater possibilities, but they also require a careful balance between volumes, circulation and functions. ISA Amarcord 86 was conceived around this principle.
The new ISA Yachts project measures 86 metres in length overall with a beam of 13.6 metres and is designed by Nuvolari Lenard. It is the second proposal in the ISA Large Yacht Collection, following Amarcord 82, but interprets the technical experience developed through the Collection in a different way.
What sets it apart is, above all, the organisation of its spaces. Rather than concentrating social life within a few large areas, Amarcord 86 distributes functions and experiences across the different decks. The relationship with the sea, natural light and the degree of privacy therefore change as one moves through the yacht.
Form follows the way of living
In profile, the strong character of the hull meets the softer forms of the superstructure. This contrast helps articulate the different levels while, at the same time, reducing the visual impact of the yacht’s 86-metre length.
The expansive glazed surfaces and openings in the hull also play an important role. Beyond influencing the silhouette, they introduce a theme that reappears throughout the interiors: light as an element connecting different spaces. The exterior design therefore anticipates some of the principles found on board, where openings, circulation routes and connections between decks become an integral part of the architecture.
Revealing what usually remains hidden
One of the most interesting examples can be found in the yacht’s technical core. Between the beach club, gym and wellness area, guests pass through the engine room via a glazed passageway. It is an unusual choice that brings into view a space normally kept separate from life on board. The same wellness area includes a massage room and a gym overlooking the sea. At the stern, meanwhile, two fold-down balconies extend the available space laterally.
These are complemented by the large beach club door which, once opened, further expands the area while providing shade over the platform. In addition, a second opening amidships creates another point of direct access from the water. The relationship with the sea is therefore not confined to the stern, but accompanies different moments of life on board.
Light travels through the decks
On the main deck, the same principle takes a different form. This time, it is the panoramic aft pool that establishes a relationship between two levels of the yacht. Its glass bottom allows natural light to pass through the water and reach the entrance to the beach club below. The pool therefore also assumes an architectural role, creating a visual connection between two spaces located on different decks.
This idea of vertical connection continues inside. A circular staircase wraps around the panoramic glass lift and extends through the different levels. The staircase and lift thus become recognisable elements of the project, accompanying movement throughout the yacht.
The higher the deck, the greater the privacy
The deck arrangement also follows a gradual progression towards greater privacy. The main deck remains the level most closely associated with shared life on board. At the stern, the pool is surrounded by lounges and social areas, while the main saloon provides a more intimate setting inside.
The guest accommodation comprises five en-suite cabins, including a VIP suite, in addition to a twin cabin on the lower deck. The owner’s suite, measuring more than 100 square metres, is instead located on the upper deck, giving this level a distinctly more private character.
The same approach continues outside. Forward, a central pool is flanked by two lounge areas, while further ahead lies a large open space. This can be used as a private terrace or configured for receptions. It is also designed to accommodate touch-and-go operations for medium-sized helicopters.
Three pools, three different functions
The presence of three swimming pools might initially appear to be primarily a consequence of the yacht’s dimensions. A closer look at the layout, however, reveals how each is associated with a different way of experiencing the spaces on board.
On the main deck, the pool belongs to the yacht’s more social dimension and connects visually with the beach club through its transparent bottom. The upper deck pool, by contrast, forms part of the yacht’s more private area and accompanies the spaces dedicated to the owner. Finally, on the sun deck, the third pool occupies the forward section, surrounded by sunpads and panoramic lounges.
Moving higher through the yacht, the elements around which the spaces are organised also change. On the bridge deck, a fire pit becomes the focal point of the aft outdoor lounge, complemented by an additional dining area.
On the sun deck, meanwhile, a sheltered area with a bar and teppanyaki grill sits alongside the pool, while the lounges occupy the most panoramic positions. Each deck therefore acquires its own function while remaining part of an overall design centred on the way the spaces are experienced.
