First it was New York City, and now it’s Monaco. The Riva re-imagined by industrial designer Marc Newson has debuted.
The Aquariva by Marc Newson, as the limited-edition model is being called, made its first public appearance last Tuesday at the Gagosian Gallery in New York City. (It was part of the “Transport” exhibition of several of Newson’s designs for transportation-related products.) Another launch is being unveiled today at the Monaco Yacht Show.
At the press preview event in New York, I spoke with Newson about his inspiration. He explained that he blended elements of both the famed Aquariva as well as the Aquarama for “my interpretation of how it should be.” In fact, except for the hull design, Newson changed every aspect of the appearance.
The stern is perhaps the most immediately noticeable—and maybe controversial—change he made. Gone is the sloped style that adorns every Aquariva and Aquarama ever built, replaced with a recessed and horizontal design that’s thoroughly modern. Purists will probably cry foul, but remember, this is Newson’s vision. And he asserts that “it still fits with the Aquariva DNA.”
He has a point: Take a look at the close-up shot here, which I took at the gallery event. There’s the familiar look of mahogany, the wood that graces the famed Rivas. Emphasis on “look”… even though the surface appears to be mahogany, when you get within a few inches and really inspect it, you realize it’s not even wood. It’s a material called phenolic textile composite. Newson has used it for other designs and told me that the marine industry actually used it as well, prior to employing fiberglass. It’s a laminate made from linen and resin that naturally darkens in sunlight, deepening from an orange tone to a deep, rich brown much like mahogany.
Other changes Newson made: splitting the front benchseat into two separate seats; adding a hi-low dining table in the cockpit; styling the engine exhausts; designing a single-piece windscreen (versus the traditional three-piece one); and using anodized aluminum for cleats, handles, and other hardware, some of which retract for a more streamlined look. The upholstery further comes in three color choices: the turquoise that debuted in New York, a yellow tone that debuted in Monaco (seen in the running shot at top), and a cream tone much like the exterior hull color.
Newson closely collaborated with Officiana Italiana Design, which created the original Aquariva in 2000, as well as Riva’s management team. The boats were, of course, built in Riva’s factory.
Only 22 boats are part of the Aquariva by Marc Newson series, so if you’re interested, don’t delay. At least four have already been ordered. Price: €1 million ($1.3 million), exclusively through the Gagosian Gallery, not the Riva dealer network.
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