The names that megayacht owners choose for their projects oftentimes hold significant meaning. Take the newest delivery from ISA Yachts, the 134’5” (41-meter) Aziza. The word means “precious” in Arabic, and certainly Aziza is precious to her owner, who gave an impassioned speech at the launch ceremony back in April. He’s also a repeat custom of ISA Yachts, so the Italian builder is further valued by him. Equally important, “aziza” is a word spelled the same forward and backward. That idea of symmetry is reflected in many of the design elements aboard Aziza.
The most easily spotted symmetry comes at Aziza’s stern. If you’re familiar with ISA’s early builds, you’ll no doubt recall them having two sets of stairs cascading down to the lowest level from the uppermost deck. While the stairs aboard Aziza are an evolution of the symmetrical design, they’re still intended to establish the stern as a visual center of interest. They do so in conjunction with the smoked-glass-fronted beach club.
That beach club contains all the snorkeling gear, wakeboards, and other watersports equipment that Aziza’s owner and guests enjoy putting to good use. It may strike you as being a small space, but it’s not intended as a stay-all-day lounging area. Rather, it’s practical, as is the swim platform, containing an extendable teak-grated section that extends out for boarding watertoys. The sensible use of space also allows for the primary RIB and a PWC to go in a garage, launched via Aziza’s side, as is typical for ISA Yachts.
While the steel-hulled, 27’6”-beam (8.4-meter-beam) megayacht was styled by Andrea Vallicelli, the interior decor was developed by ISA’s in-house team. One of the first places the team incorporated the owner’s desire for symmetry was here in the dining area, occupying the majority of the main-deck common space; a small seating area graces the aft-deck entry, while the primary lounge is up one deck. Doubling as a meeting room, the carpeted dining space has the same shape underfoot as outlined overhead. It’s what the megayacht’s design team calls a Chinese box style, akin to the same-named storytelling structure in literature: a narrative within a narrative.
Aziza’s owner treated transition spaces like the main interior stairwell with as much forethought as relaxation spaces. It’s surrounded by glass, so as to avoid walling off too much of the interior and therefore underscore the sensation of space. The latter also explains why the stair treads are mounted to appear as if they’re floating. Note, too, there’s a full-height piece of backlit onyx and a wall-installed water feature.
 |
 |
The master suite aboard Aziza, with a Buddha in the office area, has a partially mirrored bulkhead fully forward. Since it’s visible from the stairwell foyer and farther aft on the main deck, it enhances the feeling of space. Symmetry comes into play in a few design elements. Just as in Aziza’s dining area, the carpeting has the same outline as the overhead. Though tough to detect here, the design of the bedspread is also found on the headboard.
Two identical queen guest staterooms and a twin are in proximity to one another below decks. rather than have a fourth guest stateroom, though, the owner wanted a gym. The stews among Aziza’s crew can quickly service the staterooms thanks to a door leading from the crew mess.
Even with all of the emphasis on design, Aziza’s owner did not overlook ISA Yachts’ focus on offering a megayacht tailored for his lifestyle. Having had an ISA 120 Sport, which is capable of 30-knot speeds, the owner wanted an eye-catching yacht suited for more leisurely speeds, to augment time spent relaxing with family and friends. That’s why this model, termed the ISA 41 Meter Classic, caught his attention. Twin Caterpillar C18s permit Aziza a reported 14-knot top end and 12-knot cruising speed. At cruise, Aziza should see a 3,000-nautical-mile range.
With owners like that of Aziza coming back for more, ISA is in an enviable position. It’s intent on strengthening that position, too, having recently hired Hein Velema to head sales and marketing. Velema, well-known in the industry for time spent at both Fraser Yachts and Feadship, considers the shipyard “a hidden gem that deserves a much larger place in the market.” He points to how all ISA megayachts since 2008—when the global recession was just getting started—have been delivered on time. If that continues—and there are no indications that it won’t—this “hidden gem” will be more like a precious gem.
Leave a Reply