Sanlorenzo has presented in Cannes the 28-metre SD96, the smallest of the new range of semi-displacement yachts replacing the SD92.
Working on the SD series, Sanlorenzo worked for the first time with Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola on a project that marks the company's debut in yacht design.
«I chose Patricia because I wanted to add a feminine touch to the interiors of Sanlorenzo yachts. The feminine look was still not very common in the nautical industry and Patricia is one of the most sought after female designers in the world today because of her ability to combine beauty and comfort. Everything has been done by her with a touch of irony and an almost poetic sensitivity, with love and a great respect for the work of local craftsmen», said Massimo Perotti, chairman of the Sanlorenzo board of directors.
Urquiola has added many original elements to the interior of the range, such as free-standing stairs on even the smallest boat, modular furniture and decorative elements made of recycled epoxy resin and glass.
Externally, the updated series retains «ancestral» features of Sanlorenzo, taken care of by the Zuccon studio, an old partner of the shipyard. Studio founder Bernardo Zuccon was inspired by the lines of ocean liners. His challenge was to provide as much usable space on board as possible without disturbing the harmony of the exterior features.
«Martina (Zuccon, co-founder of the studio and sister of Bernardo Zuccon) and I have tried to create a timeless, elegant design in which the hull plays a primary role. My hope is that this yacht will never look out of fashion," said Bernardo Zuccon at the press conference in Cannes. - We have created transformable and flexible spaces, which I call an ecosystem. When the yacht is at anchor her 'face' changes. The aft hull opens up on both sides, turning this area into a veritable beach club. On the upper deck, a simple sliding door system can be used to turn a traditional enclosed air-conditioned saloon into an extension of the open deck area».
The transformable furniture by Patricia Urquiola brings even more options for using the same area.
For example, the dining table for ten in the salon on the main deck folds down and acts as a bench when folded. The staircase made of bronzed steel and wood «is wrapped» in a thin sheet of iron lined with travertine that simultaneously serves as a space divider. Behind it is the full-width owner's suite.
On the upper deck in the sky lounge two sofas can be converted into armchairs and unfolded to form a lounge, dining room or even a cinema.
On the lower deck, the lounge can be transformed into an additional (third) cabin with a bathroom using the sliding panel system.
«My inspiration for Sanlorenzo was of course the sea. The materials, shapes and colours in the interiors are reminiscent of the marine world, creating a fluid, elegant space full of natural colours»," says Patricia Urquiola.
She used recycled epoxy and recycled glass in the wall cladding. The master suite, for example, boasts a large Resin Art panel, while the master bathroom has a grooved glass wall, also recycled.
With a top speed of 20 knots, the SD96 can accommodate up to 10 guests and is designed for crews of up to 5 people.
