PHOTO: Klaus Jordan
Delivered this month after extensive sea trials in October, the 282’5″ (86.11-meter) Quattroelle is the first Lürssen yacht to be designed by Nuvolari-Lenard. The Italian design team of Dan Lenard and Carlo Nuvolari was responsible for both exterior styling and interior design. Sold and supervised by the technical team of Moran Yacht & Ship, the megayacht, as you may recall, was originally known only as Project Bellissimo. Quattroelle essentially means “four Ls,” these being Love, Life, Liberty, and Luxury.
Nuvolari-Lenard’s partners give us some insight into this challenging project. Due to her size (beam is 45’3”, or 13.8 meters) and her massive volume, the test became to keep her sleek and proportionate.
“It was an exciting project,” says Lenard. “This large yacht is one of our most detailed designs ever. We started with a blank sheet of paper and designed both the interior and the exterior. The owner is well known to us and trusts that we understand what he wants to achieve. We have tailored the design to precisely suit his personality, and we have no doubt that when he looks at this yacht he sees himself reflected in what we have designed. She is more ship than yacht, and as we drew the lines, we kept two things in mind. Firstly, we wanted the yacht to be truly Italian in her styling. So we gave her an aggressive yet streamlined look that still manages to be elegant. Secondly, we wanted to make sure her external appearance reflected a timeless heritage and reflected the best engineering practices available at the builder’s yard in Germany.”
“One good example of what we mean is the tri-dimensional shape of the sheerline amidships,” Lenard continues. It enhances the ‘power’ of the hull at the same time as introducing a styling detail of the superstructure.”
Lenard also says that the owner wanted Quattroelle to have plenty of exterior space devoted to leisure. “To make sure he always had the opportunity of using it, we designed the after end of the upper deck so that it could be closed in, using glass panels that slide and pivot into place easily,” Lenard explains. “By doing that, we have made the space far more flexible. In warm weather it is always open, but move northwards, and there are times when the evenings can become a little chilly. In keeping with the supply of plenty of exterior space, we have made the huge foredeck user-friendly and have built a terrazzo around the large swimming pool.”
In terms of the interior, Nuvolari adds, “Beautiful woods dominate the interior decor but never overpower the senses. It is not so much a classic interior but a modern approach to a classic feel. We think the finished result is rich and sophisticated and just as importantly is neither excessive nor vulgar.”
“The detailing is what makes the interior special,” he continues. “Take, for example the use of Murano glass in the chandelier above the dining room table, or the bronze railing of the main lobby stairs. They are both in their own special way true pieces of art perfectly created.”
Interesting enough, Nuvolari-Lenard’s involvement with Quattroelle’s design didn’t end with the styling or interior. “We designed everything from crew uniforms to the two large tenders the yacht carries,” Nuvolari says. “One of those is a classic limousine tender, and the other a sleek walk-around model. We designed them both on the same hull line using the same engines. That way they can be carried on either the port or starboard side because they each share a common cradle requirement, and what is more, the engineer need only carry spares for one type of engine.”
Moran Yachts, which wrote the technical specifications for Quattroelle and represented the owner both before and during construction, has a long relationship with this client. “We have represented the owner of Quattroelle for over 14 years, having sold to him his previous yacht, the motoryacht Capri, and represented him with the sale of several of his previous yachts,” Robert Moran, CEO of Moran Yachts, explains. “This client, being very familiar with the operations of large yachts, had a very explicit brief for what he wanted with his new custom yacht.” After discussing the project with several shipyards, Moran adds, the owner selected Lürssen. Moran also says that Quattroelle’s captain, Paul Bell, and chief engineer, Robert Miller, were involved in many aspects.
Quattroelle is now available for charter, as part of the central agency of Moran Yacht & Ship. Her rate is €1 million per week, plus expenses. She already has 12 weeks booked for the upcoming Caribbean and the Mediterranean season.
