Michele De Lucchi has one of the most impressive resumes of any living Italian designer, perhaps most notably as one of the co-founders of the Memphis Group.
Now, he can add yacht interiors to the list. Azimut Yachts has just unveiled the Magellano 27M, a striking vessel that represents the third generation of the manufacturer’s Magellano series – it’s also the first time that De Lucchi has ever worked on a yacht interior.
De Lucchi has had plenty of time to think about the world of yacht design over the years, as he and his studio, AMDL Circle, previously designed Azimut’s booths for trade shows in Miami, Dusseldorf, and many others. “It’s a living environment where you can feel yourself in a very authentic way,” he tells Elite Traveler of his approach to the world of yachting. “You’re out of everyday life and out of your normal circumstances.” That sense of escapism and a home away from home informed the design for the latest iteration of Magellano.
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De Lucchi and Davide Angeli, deputy managing director at AMDL Circle, created interiors clad almost entirely in wood. Different textures and grains run throughout the various spaces, but the connection to natural materials remains. This is especially apparent in the primary bedroom. Rather than a headboard, the wall behind the bed is wrapped in a fabric from Hosoo, a textile company in Kyoto that was founded in the 17th century, and that still weaves on traditional looms. The fabric itself is a nod to the various patterns of the surrounding wood grain.
The interiors feel very Italian – the dining chairs are custom from Cassina, select accessories are from Poltrona Frau, and iconic Artemide lighting designs fill the space – but there are other subtle nods to Japanese aesthetics as well: minimalism, and light wood on the ceiling and floors that creates a meditative atmosphere. AMDL Circle has a long history of working in Japan, and the firm is currently designing a school there.
The main deck takes inspiration from Mediterranean pergolas and patios, with an indoor-outdoor design scheme that looks out upon the sea in almost every direction. The use of natural materials feels particularly apt given the open layout – a synergy that was top of mind for De Lucchi and AMDL Circle throughout the process.
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Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén did the exteriors for Magellano 27M, creating a sleek, less-is-more facade that includes the Magellano line’s signature wooden louvers at the stern. Giovanna Vitelli, chair of Azimut Benetti, describes the series as being a revolution like the SUV, because the Magellano crafts can travel long distances, all while maintaining a sense of comfort and style. “It’s a timeless design, but still very contemporary,” she says of the 27M.
It’s also distinct. The interiors give the yacht its own aesthetic identity – albeit one that feels in line with Magellano’s earlier iterations. “We met Azimut in a specific way that isn’t the standard way of yacht interior design,” says De Lucchi. “It’s a new one, a different one.”
