BY Nick Walton on 4 Apr 2023

Massari Design, led by the architect Alessandro Massari, marks the fruition of several important yacht projects as it powers into 2023.

Those who attended the Monaco Yacht Show in 2022 will be familiar with MY Project X, an 88-metre beauty from Greek shipyard Golden Yachts that represented the second-largest yacht at the event. The award-winning yacht’s interiors are a symphony of textures and hues created by Italy’s Massari Design studio, which works across residential and aviation projects but which has made a name for itself for its stunning yacht interiors.

With Project X, the design agency showcased its creative vision, marrying meticulous research and a skilful use of materials – including 40 types of leather, precious woods, marbles, onyxes, and silk – to create refined, contemporary interiors while interpreting a design brief that called for a sense of individuality and identity in every room (right down to spaces specifically designed to house the yacht’s art collection) but also for a consistent design ethos that could be traced throughout the vessel.

Massari Design Studio, led by the architect Alessandro Massari, marks the fruition of several important yacht projects as it powers into 2023.

In the main salon of MY CIAO, an L-shaped sofa takes centre stage, with floor-to-ceiling windows commanding impressive ocean views

Design highlights include the yacht’s upper deck bar façade, for which the firm created an undulating cladding formed by dozens of glass bottles filled with a special whisky-coloured liquid, which it mounted on custom-designed rubber-coated spring supports so that the bottles would not rattle while underway. The design agency also created a four-metre-long wine cellar, inspired by a bank vault, that is perfectly integrated into the dining area; and a revolving sofa in the beach area consisting of two parts that can be moved, rotated and joined according to the needs of the owner and their guests.

Another iconic project by Massari Design is the 52-metre M/Y CIAO by the CRN Gruppo Ferretti shipyard. The vessel’s interior design pursues concepts of linearity and cleanliness, blending them with details that are refined and sophisticated without being ostentatious.

In particular, in the salons, great attention has been paid to the large openings that dialogue with the outside, with mirrors covering vertical structures to instil a sense of infinite vistas, an element that was also employed in the master cabin. This effect was accentuated by the use of warm colour tones, champagne finish on wood and metal, and soft finishes such as leather, and fabrics in neutral colour accents.

Massari Design Studio, led by the architect Alessandro Massari, marks the fruition of several important yacht projects as it powers into 2023.

Decked out in neutral tones, the main deck of Project X is refined and contemporary

The agency has a busy year ahead, including yacht refitting works for the 55-metre Amels La Masquerade, the 49-metre Rossinavi N2H and several private aircraft designs in collaboration with Boeing and Citadel. Massari has also begun work on the interiors for the 77-metre MY O’Rea by Golden Yachts and the Darwin 86 by Cantiere delle Marche, as well as refits for the MY Forever One by ISA Yachts and the 61-metre MY O’Eva (formerly Cloud 9, C9, and Ice Angel) by CMN. Most excitingly, the studio has also been engaged to create interiors for another yacht over 80 metres long, although details of that project are being kept under wraps.

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