The ability to embrace new ideas, all the while remaining faithful to their heritage, the courage to dare to push beyond their limits when it comes to innovative solutions, have led shipbuilding company Sanlorenzo to start a new and prestigious partnership. Continuing along the same path that for years has linked it closely to the world of design, the company has entrusted Patricia Urquiola with the interior design of the new SD96 yacht.

Massimo Perotti, Chairman at Sanlorenzo, explained: “I chose Patricia because I wanted to add a more feminine touch to the interiors in Sanlorenzo yachts, something which until now had been foreign to the nautical world. And today, she is the most sought-after woman in global design thanks to her ability to combine beauty and comfort. All done with a touch of irony and almost poetic sensitivity, with love for all that is glocal and great respect for the hard work of the artisans.”

Best in its field, Sanlorenzo has involved such noteworthy names as Dordoni Architetti, Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Piero Lissoni (Art Director of the company since 2018), in the interior design of yachts, thanks to which it has added new visions allowing it to rethink the concept of space on board, an established asset of Sanlorenzo, through innovations and new stylistic features.

And as Sanlorenzo is one of the main yacht and superyacht production yards in the world, the decision was made to start a new project, the SD96, the result of tireless research and attention to the importance of liveability on board.

Thanks to the vision of Perotti, Sanlorenzo once again innovates and rethinks the style of nautical design. The motivation came from the idea of new scenarios through the introduction of the concept of transforming spaces to enrich the experience of those who live on the boat.

Future-proofing SD96’s interiors

The concept of flexibility and modularity, which defines the SD96 project, decided the flow of the interior spaces designed by Patricia Urquiola.

In bringing her vision on board, Urquiola laid out the interior of the SD96 with transformability taking centre stage – making for a boat capable of evolving and continuously adapting to the needs of those who live on it.

A flowing space in which the distinctive style of the Spanish Architect and Designer blossoms and blooms, combining a minimalist approach with a mix of carefully selected materials that summon forth thoughts of the sea.

“Our starting point for this collaboration with Sanlorenzo was doubtlessly the sea, a great source of inspiration for the whole development of the concept and; therefore, the interior of the yacht. The materials, shapes and colours evoke the marine world, creating a flowing and elegant space full of natural hues,” commented Urquiola.

In a balance between severity and irony, between an industrial and artisan approach, Urquiola creates different styles and furnishings via her search for material sensibility and attention to detail that makes SD96’s interiors warm and welcoming yet with a modern, sophisticated and elegant look, meaning we can enjoy these spaces as a symbol of both past and present.

A guided tour

The principal living area located on the main deck, characterised by cannulated oak panelled walls and parquet flooring, is a true example of the concept of modularity; it’s function can in fact be increased by setting up, if necessary, a dining table for 10 people, cleverly folded away inside a bench in front of the sofa.

We then move on to the central staircase, in bronzed steel and wood and enclosed in a travertine shell, it is designed to reach the other two bridges, and is a focal and iconic point that connects all the floors and also serves to divide the areas via a metal mesh screen.

Moving on to the upper deck, we find the sky lounge, with fully opening windows that can be used as a living room, dining area or cinema thanks to modular furniture. The uniformity of finishes between interior and exterior, such as the parquet floor with a biscuit pattern creates a unique environment with the flybridge, which can also be used as a lounge or outdoor dining area thanks to the coffee table which can be converted to a dining table, if desired.

The principle of flexibility returns to the lower deck where the living room can be totally transformed by closing a system of sliding panels, creating a VIP cabin with a bathroom.

On the same level, there are also two guest cabins, while the owner’s cabin is located on the main deck. Much wider than those offered on yachts of similar sizes, it has large windows that, together with a glass wall, create a feeling of uniformity with the surrounding environment.

The travertine bathroom with ribbed glass walls coupled with a bronzed mirror amplifies this feeling in a game of pleasant reflections.

With SD96, Sanlorenzo once again shows its ability to respond to the needs of a constantly evolving market, through a lot of careful research and innovation.