Striving for an atmosphere that envelops you in contemporary sophistication, especially with cues from fine art, the designer Leonardo Santi created Elegantiae. Together with the Mengi Yay shipyard, the spirit forms the basis of a new megayacht model.
That megayacht, the Virtus 47m (154-footer), is part of the Virtus line, which saw a 144-footer (44-meter) complete last year. Naturally, the designer and shipyard intend to have buyers take part in bringing this new project to completion, too. The predominantly subdued color palette therefore adapts to their desires.
Because Santi knows some clients love to live in the lap of luxury, however, he’s created full-fledged designs to entice their interest. Straight away, Elegantiae appeals to those who want to enjoy their favorite art pieces even when away from land. “Some people have to visit a museum to be able to enjoy a piece of art,” he says. “But, being born in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, I was constantly immersed in art.” Santi specifically proposes a striking Matteo Pugliese sculpture in the main foyer (below). Additionally, he uses wood, fabrics, lighting, and even marble to frame and highlight this, as well as other art pieces onboard.
In fact, speaking of marble, Calacatta Oro marble frames sculptures in Elegantiae’s saloon (top). The golden veining in this Italian marble and the sculptures perfectly complement one another, highlighting their rich tones. Similarly, Santi selected Calacatta Oro marble and another variety of marble from the famed Carrara region for several other areas. Just as a sculpture has intimate knowledge of his or her medium, so, too, doe Santi possess in-depth understanding of marble. “In my previous experience with Benetti, I frequently went to the quarries to personally select the slabs,” he explains. “The local artisans shared a wealth of knowledge with me about each quarry’s unique characteristics, slab selection, and the texture and type of vein of the marbles.”
Finally, lighting plays a large role aboard Elegantiae. Not surprisingly, Santi considers lighting to be a decorative, even architectural element, not solely for illumination. Metal frames of different shapes appear throughout Elegantiae overhead. So do alternating long and short LED strips. Even the table lamps in the master suite are artistic, resembling sculptures. Regardless of room, changeable intensity helps to set the right mood for the right moment.
Leonardo Santi Design leonardosantidesign.com
Mengi Yay mengiyay.com
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