Kitzbühel, the spectacular ski resort in the Austrian alps, provided the backdrop for the event that crowned Azimut Grande 35 Metri, the standard-bearer of the “Grande” Collection, as Best New Production Yacht Design at the Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018.
The initiative organised by Boat International, the renowned international publishing group specialising in the superyacht industry, is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards in the sector. It rewards not only the architecture and style of the yacht, but also recognises the design features that contribute to offering innovative solutions in response to growing demands from owners in the area of technological development.
Azimut|Benetti Group Vice President Giovanna Vitelli
Making its market debut in September 2017, Azimut Grande 35 Metri is the largest Azimut Yachts model and part of the top-of-the-range Grande Collection. The reasons given by the Boat International panel for their choice include:
“the technological innovations that have contributed to the development of a unique design, which unites the typical lines of the Grande Collection with more volume, in line with demand in the market today. The spaces offered by the 35METRI wide-body include an owner’s suite on the Main deck with the largest Instant balcony available on the market, four guest cabins, a side tender garage and a stern beach club. Plus the foredeck sunning area with spa tub, the huge Flybridge and an optional Sundeck on a third level. To create all this, the shipyard has exploited the potential of carbon fiber, which was used to build the entire superstructure. This has made it possible to reduce not only the yacht’s weight significantly, but also noise and vibration. The special D2P hull with wave piercer also delivers an increase in efficiency up to 25 knots. A distinctive feature of Stefano Righini’s design is the square cut of the foredeckdeck, while the interiors by Achille Salvagni are a synthesis of sensual curves and a variety of exclusive materials.”
The award, assigned by an independent panel of owners, experienced captains and famous boat designers, brings the number of international awards won by Azimut Grande 35 Metri to four, since it made its debut on the market just a few months ago.
The award ceremony took place in the framework of the 10th Superyacht Design Symposium, an annual event attended by leading exponents of the superyacht industry and some of the world’s great names in boat design and beyond. The Symposium has a mission to establish new development guidelines for the superyachts of tomorrow.
Azimut|Benetti Group Vice President Giovanna Vitelli, who not only collected the award but was also a member of the panel that opened the symposium dedicated to “Extreme Markets”, alongside John Arlidge (a reporter for the Sunday Times and Condé Nast), Aino Leena Grapin (Winch Design CEO) e Dan Lenard (the founder of Nuvolari Lenard), commented: “This latest success achieved by Azimut Grande 35 Metri confirms our company’s international leadership in this segment of the market. I am also proud to have contributed to the discussion of “Extreme Markets”, sharing information gathered from our company’s privileged vantage point. For almost 50 years now, our Group has been continuously studying the changes and trends that transform the market at geographical and demographic level, particularly so far as the evolution of luxury is concerned, with all the important consequences this has in terms of materials and design.”
Giovanna Vitelli, Vice President Azimut|Benetti
In her contributions, Vitelli underscored how the very meaning of luxury has changed over time, affecting the decision-making processes of customers who today, when choosing a product, consider not only their appearance, but also services and experiential aspects as decisive factors. In the world of luxury yachts, this has taken the form of a transition from the richness and opulence of the materials, to a sense of sophisticated elegance expressed by a refined and unexpected architecture, an intelligent use of light, and attention to the highly-valued, handcrafted details that can make the difference and create a unique style. Another big change highlighted by Vitelli is the way in which owners enjoy their yachts: “The entire sense of luxury has moved to the outdoor area, with a big open air swimming pool and a spacious veranda now occupying important spaces traditionally set aside for the covered main living area.” Said Giovanna Vitelli, mentioning as a good example Benetti Seasense, which the day before received a Judges’ Commendation Award in the category Best Lifestyle Feature Design for its big and extraordinary pool deck. “To offer the best interpretation of this new sense of luxury, Azimut|Benetti has begun to work with highly renowned and talented designers from the world of luxury real estate, like Achille Salvagni, Vincenzo De Cotis and the duo Bonetti/Kozerski, who with their touch of modernity, freshness and innovation have brought about a significant change in our yachts’ interiors.”
