For Yachting Art Magazine, founding Partner Carlo Nuvolari reflects on the company’s achievements in the world of superyacht design over the last 25 years alongside Dan Lenard in the company’s studio in Venice.

"With 2017 marking our 25th anniversary of working together as the Nuvolari-Lenard design studio, this milestone gives us reason to pause and reflect on what has been achieved over the last quarter of a century, how we have impacted the world of design and where things will be heading in the future. 

A design company needs an identity beyond its styling. Our mission at Nuvolari-Lenard is to produce innovative ideas and solutions that are packaged with Italian flare and iconic elegance. This spans all our areas of business, from custom superyachts and production yachts to residential interiors.

Classics are always ground-breaking, which is why Nuvolari-Lenard is a proactive design studio. You need to be bold to create something that will be remembered and become a classic. We do not wait for customers to ask us for a design. If inspiration strikes, we study and research before applying new concepts in the projects that are built from our designs.

Occasionally, we create designs that will never be built or seen; it is this creative process that keeps us and our young partners fresh and pushing the boundaries in yacht and residential design, regardless of whether there is a particular project in mind. It is our philosophy that everyone within the studio – from junior apprentice designers right up to the partners – should spend the maximum time possible with a pencil in their hand.

Many of our current projects are totally confidential and will remain so until launched.

However, we can reflect upon some of our highlights from the last 25 years, including the ‘firsts’ in yachting that have become a part of the Nuvolari-Lenard’s design DNA, recognizable throughout our fleet of yachts and which have been widely adopted across the yachting industry. These elements are not just related to styling but they also relate to certain functions, many of which have become mainstream today".

THE NUVOLARI-LENARD DESIGN DNA

‘CAR MUSCLES’
"The strong ‘car muscle’ lines that are typical of all the Palmer Johnson Sportyachts that we designed have an unmistakable style that became a hallmark of Palmer Johnson, and one of the builder’s most recognisable design elements. These ‘muscles’ were introduced to enhance the sensation of power in the yachts. Aside from their aesthetic effect, they were used to conceal the large air intakes and protect the aft decks from cross winds."

GLASS FASHION PLATES
"Although fashion plates were nothing new, we introduced them in glass material for our line of Monte Carlo Yachts. Used to connect upper and main decks, the glass protects the aft decks from cross winds while still allowing the field of view to remain open. 

As well as all our Monte Carlo Yachts designs, glass fashion plates can be seen on M/Y Alfa Nero (2006) and the 109-metre Oceanco new build project currently under construction.

A variation of muscular fashion plates to provide protection to the side decks and give a continuity in superstructure lines can also be seen on one of our latest styling jobs, the 106-metre ‘giga-sailer’ Black Pearl, which was recently completed by Oceanco. One of the earliest sketches shows a “glass” fashion plate, which was not built because structurally too weak. It was then decided to have a continuous arc structure".

FLARED BOW
"Also seen on Black Pearl is the original and distinctive bow shape, which ensures the longest possible waterline to a flared bow. The unique and unmistakable shape is a variation of the bowline concept seen on Palmer Johnson’s 210-foot and 171-foot yachts. The aim was to provide an aggressive look to the bow while also delivering performance enhancement in the naval architecture, through lengthening at the waterline and using a flare to divert bow spray."

AFT DECK INFINITY POOL
"Perhaps the design feature for which Nuvolari-Lenard is most renowned, we first introduced a ‘statement’ rear pool on Alfa Nero, again for Oceanco. Our aim was to create a new way of enjoying the aft deck of large ‘white yachts’ that had not been seen before. 

We designed the feature because we had noticed that, with the increasing size of superyachts, owners and guests were being moved further away from the sea. This resulted in negative feelings, as though being on a ‘mini cruise ship’ rather than on a luxury yacht.

We wanted owners and guests of 80-metre-plus superyachts to feel more connected to the water and to enjoy the aft deck as they would be able to on a 30-metre yacht. To feel as though they were at sea, not on a ship. The result is not only functional, but it brings a sleekness to the lines of the yacht, as well as to enhance the sense of luxury.

Of course, since this pioneering design was revealed in 2006, there have been many evolutions in the water features of aft decks. Now it is not uncommon to see multi-deck waterfalls and pools that become helidecks or dance floors. It has been inspiring to see all the improvements made in this area of yacht design."

BLACK MASTS
"The striking black mast on Lürssen’s M/Y Quatroelle, designed by Nuvolari-Lenard, was first seen long before the 86-metre yacht was delivered in 2013. We first introduced the design of a black mast on the 72-metre CRN, M/Y Azteca delivered in 2010. 

Black masts became an iconic feature of all the largest Palmer Johnsons designed by Nuvolari-Lenard, as well as many of the masts we designed later, not to mention on many other yachts on the water today. With such black details, we wanted to achieve a more masculine, military look for the yachts, in contrast with the generally accepted ‘gentle’ look of the so-called ‘white yachts’."