Sanlorenzo is going to change the looks of its superyachts. It’s thanks to a partnership with Chris Bangle of Chris Bangle Associates, who has extensive experience in the automotive sector. He’s pictured at right in the photo, with Massimo Perotti, the owner of Sanlorenzo.
Bangle will restyle the exteriors of Sanlorenzo yachts over the next 10 years. None has been re-imagined just yet. But, the collaboration with Bangle should prove to be interesting.
Why? For a few key reasons. Bangle is perhaps best known as being the former (and first) American chief of design for BMW. If you follow automotive design, you may recall Bangle being a polarizing figure. He was celebrated as much as he was criticized for changing BMW’s longstanding design forms. Even though he left the company in 2009 and formed Chris Bangle Associates at that point, his impact on BMW is still discussed today. In addition, at the official announcement of the partnership, Bangle had some pointed comments about yacht design. He likened some brands’ superstructures to a handful of cars smashed together. He admitted the analogy stemmed from his lack of knowledge about yacht design. Bangle added that he was already learning about yacht construction and Sanlorenzo’s philosophy.
In a statement released by Sanlorenzo, Bangle says, “I am very excited to be joining together with the Sanlorenzo team, and even more inspired to learn about the world of superyachts and the design challenges within it.”
While Sanlorenzo has worked with outside designers for styling previously, Bangle is the first non-yachting designer. Since founding his eponymous company in 2009, he has collaborated with Samsung and Hennessy, among other major brands.
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