TYD37. Ketch. Supermax. Petalo. These are the names of some of the collections on which the spotlight was shone in Milan during the latest edition of the Salone del Mobile. Not just any event, but the most important showcase for understanding what trends are in the world of furnishing accessories.
Well, this year’s edition highlighted how the world of the sea in general, and that of boats more specifically, has become an important element of inspiration. This was confirmed by the three novelties that emerged, respectively, from the creative flair of Jean-Marie Massaud, Antonio Citterio and Vincent Van Duysen. What they have in common, apart from the fact that they have been conceived for outdoor use, are details, workmanship and materials that recall elements usually found in nautical or more general marine contexts. Driving this segment of the market is the desire to satisfy a demand coming from the market and going in the direction of imagining outdoor spaces as real places to live. This is a trend that has triggered, as documented in the past in the pages of Top Yacht Design, a process of rethinking the boat at the design level.
The experience of living on board must be even more immersive. Hence the choice made by planners and designers to offer even more openings to the marine environment. Translated this means extra-large beach areas, boundaries between outdoor and indoor spaces that disappear, outdoor which today are increasingly at the centre of choices that also determine the final look of the boat itself. “In the dynamic evolution of turnover, the most important evolution has been the growth achieved by the new business unit Roda For You, which is the new part of the group into which we have merged the activities of bespoke design of indoor and outdoor furnishings and the nautical, naval and large contract orders markets,” stated Daniele Pompa, CEO of Roda in an interview with Pambianco Design some time ago, “Today this is the major driving force behind the growth of all Roda. The prospects are also interesting for the future and, in particular, for boating: in fact, we have had a constant evolution over the last five years thanks to collaborations with the likes of Sanlorenzo, Azimut and Benetti, of which we are official partners for the supply of both catalogue and customisable furnishings,” concluded Daniele Pompa. Staying on the same theme but shifting the focus to another front, there are also those like Frédéric Jousset who imagined the boat as an exhibition space where contemporary art exhibitions could be held. It was this vision that led Jousset, who among other things occupies an important position on the board of the Louvre Museum, to imagine Art Explorer, the 47 cat built by Perini Navi becoming an art gallery on the water. Even design can sometimes be understood as an art form. This concept emerges every time our gaze crosses the lines of a Wally. Founded by a visionary like Luca Bassani, the brand has now reached the 30-year mark but still projects the future of yacht design another 20 ahead.
Matteo Zaccagnino
