Italy

Pierluigi Spadolini

After dabbling with the idea of becoming a lawyer, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/58" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luca Dini Design & Architecture (Company)">Luca Dini’</a>s career as a yacht designer got off the ground when he joined the office of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1892" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pierluigi Spadolini (Company)">Pierluigi Spadolini</a>, arguably the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/17" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bannenberg & Rowell Design (Company)">Jon Bannenberg</a> of Italian yacht design. Since then he has created exterior and interior solutions for over 3,500 linear metres of yachts. Today, he is one of the leading designers of his generation with projects in build for brands such as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/54" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Heesen Yachts (Company)">Heesen</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/162" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Codecasa S.p.A. (Company)">Codecasa</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Superyachts</a>. We recently met up with the Italian designer at his studio in the historic centre of Florence. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203296/image/large-d6a208c02274d46c3d159dffd39438bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203296">Did anything in particular inspire you to become a yacht designer?It was when I saw <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/297" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kingdom 5KR86.0m (282'2&quot;)Benetti SpA1980">Nabila</a> as a teenager. The year was 1982 and I was in Livorno with my family and it seemed like the whole city had turned out to see this yacht designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/17" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bannenberg & Rowell Design (Company)">Jon Bannenberg</a>. At 86-metres she was huge for the time and she looked more like an ocean liner than a yacht. Her sheer size was shocking, but I thought she was beautiful and that got me thinking that designing yachts might be the career for me.<ul><li><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/51713" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Insight: Luca Dini and Tommaso Spadolini talk superyacht refit (2020-08-31 12:00:00 +0200)">Insight: Luca Dini and Tommaso Spadolini talk superyacht refit</a>&nbsp;</li></ul>How important was working with&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1892" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pierluigi Spadolini (Company)">Pierluigi Spadolini</a>&nbsp;in moulding your own design aesthetic?It was a fantastic experience. I started working with professor <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1892" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pierluigi Spadolini (Company)">Pierluigi</a> in 1997 and during the week he would come to the office and offer some comments. Every time he found, not a mistake exactly, but something that could be adjusted or done differently. He was full of suggestions, and he was always right. I remember very well that he hated things that were too complicated. You know, he created the Akhir for <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/220" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Cantieri di Pisa (Company)">Cantieri di Pisa</a> with just three lines and the first Akhir is one of my all-time favourites. That’s something that is always in our minds: everything has to be clean, elegant and chic. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1892" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pierluigi Spadolini (Company)">Pierluigi</a> was not just a talented designer; he was a genius.In fact, I believe the 24-metre gentleman's yacht you designed for&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/162" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Codecasa S.p.A. (Company)">Codecasa</a>&nbsp;was inspired by the Kitalpha, another of&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1892" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pierluigi Spadolini (Company)">Pierluigi Spadolini</a>'s designs?That’s right, I had that kind of vintage yacht in mind. Not too big (just because something is big doesn’t mean it’s better) with beautiful details and materials that recall the golden age of yachting. We’re actually receiving a lot of enquiries about this design from owners who want something different but also very exclusive, because the intention is to build only a limited series.&nbsp;I believe there’s a niche of clients in the market for something compact that they can drive themselves with their family, without a lot of crew around, for short cruises in a certain kind of style.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203297/image/large-7a21a467407e8ce1c18184733611afee.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203297"><ul><li><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/52026" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Codecasa designs new Gentleman’s Yacht concept with Luca Dini (2020-11-12 16:00:00 +0100)">Codecasa designs new Gentleman’s Yacht concept with Luca Dini</a></li></ul>One of your best known projects is 50.7-metre&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/77" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tribu50.7m (166'4&quot;)Mondomarine SpA2007">Tribù</a>, the explorer yacht originally built for Luciano Benetton. Were you anticipating the whole explorer trend when she was launched in 2007?Possibly, but this honestly was Mr Benetton’s idea. From the start he wanted something that from the outside looked like a working vessel with an open aft deck, something quite rough and masculine, but the inside had to be very elegant. The hull had a commercial paint finish and in the first drawings we had ‘No Smoking’ in big red letters on the side of the boat, which became a red side-boarding ladder in the finished yacht. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/77" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tribu50.7m (166'4&quot;)Mondomarine SpA2007">Tribù</a> was built by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mondomarine SpA (Company)">Mondomarine</a> and we’re following more or less the same concept with the new range of explorer yachts by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/72" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mondomarine SpA (Company)">Mondomarine</a>, now part of the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1757" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo Superyachts (Company)">Palumbo Group</a>. Like <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/77" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tribu50.7m (166'4&quot;)Mondomarine SpA2007">Tribú</a>, which has completed three world tours, the intention is that these are yachts that allow you to go out and stay out on the water for a long time. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/90322/image/large-fc299bf90f7728a2f2ec0879d3e34396.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/90322">How has the way your clients use their yachts changed over the years?&nbsp;It’s changed completely. When I started, most owners wanted a villa, a floating palace on the water, and they spent a lot of time inside. So at the time it was important to concentrate on the inside spaces. Then everything changed and we started to live the outdoors again in contact with nature and the ocean. Over the past year or so, we’ve been developing entire open-air platforms rather than just having big windows, folding balconies and sliding glass doors. There are two reasons for this: one is to be able to live more comfortably outside, and the other is to have larger yachts that are still below the 500 GT threshold that depends on enclosed volumes. The combination of these two factors inspired us to develop something very new and the result is the 65-metre Forceful&nbsp;concept. It’s a provocation, if you like, because the exterior styling is totally different from what the market is accustomed to and we’ve created completely al fresco spaces by literally cutting away parts of the hull and superstructure. Another advantage is that you avoid the added cost of engineering complex folding platforms. I think it’s only a question of time before we put something like it on the water.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203298/image/large-cd407c6b31d6d548f583cd21e55c06e1.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203298"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/203299/image/large-d6531860ba395054d53564a7518baa86.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/203299">A new collaboration is with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tankoa Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Tankoa</a>&nbsp;and your first project together is the Sportiva 55, which introduces other novel layout solutions. Tell us more.The&nbsp;Sportiva 55 is one in a series of three designs based on <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1661" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tankoa Yachts S.p.A. (Company)">Tankoa</a>’s existing technical platform, but the yard had some specific requests. Principally it had to be below 500 GT, which is not easy to achieve on a 55-metre yacht. What’s interesting is that the technical challenges led to creative solutions, especially regarding the layout and liveability on board, which now define the whole design. The best example is the master stateroom on the deck forward, which is full beam on one side with a walkway to starboard. This is to keep the interior volume below the required gross tonnage, but we used the side deck to create an owner’s lounging area with a circular hot tub with sliding glass panels so it can be enjoyed inside or outside. We also put all the tenders on the foredeck, both because it makes tender operations easier for the crew and frees up the stern for a terraced beach club with a large pool and the spa-gym on the lower deck with an underwater window. The main deck aft has become the new sun deck as the place where owners and guests spend most of their time during the day, whereas the sun deck is used more in the evenings. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/199393/image/large-8e182ac2ff8fb172ba43455fd0974156.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/199393">The studio has also diversified into architectural design and urban planning. How did that start?A couple of years ago we decided to start a new adventure and set up a land-based design department that today makes up about 50 percent of the studio. We’ve always had requests from yacht clients to design their homes, residences or offices, but I usually refused because we simply weren’t geared up to achieve the same kind of results as in our yacht design work. We’ve now teamed up with a leading engineering firm in Milan and have several properties of 10,000 square metres or more under construction and we’re even developing master plans for entire cities. These are big projects but not dissimilar to what we’re doing in the yachting world in terms of investment, quality and customisation.<ul><li><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/53255" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Tankoa Yachts unveil Linea Sportiva 55 (2021-06-25 16:30:00 +0200)">Tankoa Yachts unveil Linea Sportiva 55</a></li></ul>Do your clients become your friends, or is it a strictly business as usual?‘Friend’ is a big word, but you have to spend around three years with them on a superyacht project, so if you have a good relationship from the start it certainly helps a lot. You know, these people are not coming to us for something important like surgery; a yacht is basically a toy and I tell them: “We can do this together, but it has to be fun.”What's the strangest request you've had from an owner?Some things are too risky to mention! But, you know, sometimes you have funny customers. One I remember had three girlfriends, and they normally slept all four in one bed. So he asked us to design a cabin for him with one bed for him and his three companions. In the end he only had a narrow walkway around the bed because most of the cabin was occupied by the enormous bed.This article was originally published in the Autumn&nbsp;2021 issue of The SuperYacht Times newspaper.&nbsp;To receive all future issues straight to your door, <a href="https://shop.superyachttimes.com/" target="_blank">subscribe to the newspaper here</a>.

Interview with designer Luca Dini

Justin Ratcliffe sits down with yacht designer Luca Dini to unpack his intriguing journey, navigating the world of superyacht design.

Face to Face with designer Luca Dini

Tommaso Spadolini is one of the most revered designers in the superyacht industry. This year sees the Italian designer and architect celebrate his studio's 40th anniversary. Throughout his illustrated career Spadolini has worked with a number of leading companies, including Baglietto, Rossinavi and Wally. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/24766/image/large-df6216f2900ddcc75b7ac6ee454aac24.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24766">But it was no mere coincidence that Spadolini became a yacht designer, as his introduction to the industry came at an early age. Son of famous architect Pierluigi Spadolini, who created the iconic Akhir range for Cantieri di Pisa in the ‘70s, Spadolini's interest in yachts began with his father's passion. “As a child, I would go along and visit the shipyard with my father. I’ve always had a connection to this world,”&nbsp;he explains to us. While some may wonder if being the son of a renowned architect may cast a shadow over Spadolini’s own career, the opposite proves to be true. Spadolini has been incredibly successful on his own, designing a complete lineup for Canados from 58 feet to 85 feet, with a total of 107 yachts being built between 1984 and 1992. That same year he was selected from a pool of seven international designers to design<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1514" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foners41.5m (136'2&quot;)">&nbsp;Fortuna</a>, the private yacht of the King of Spain. Over the years he has designed several other custom projects, including the Baglietto 138’ <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ability41.4m (135'10&quot;)">RC</a> and the 27-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6373" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freedom27.0m (88'7&quot;)">Freedom</a> for Italian designer Roberto Cavalli.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/24757/image/large-10dcb5777f0a30edbda94340c9cd2c95.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24757">“Many of my clients ask me to design their office or their home after I design their boat because they want me to finish their dream,” notes Spadolini. “Which is very beautiful to me because my work is my passion.”&nbsp;With four decades of experience, Spadolini has witnessed first hand some of the changes taking place in the industry. Although some things, such as owners overall knowledge of yachting specifics has changed, one thing hasn’t. “My relationship with the owner is always very personal. Whoever is approaching the office is looking for Tommaso, so they are looking for my design, my style and my taste.”&nbsp;With four decades of experience in the industry, what are some of the key changes you’ve noticed in client behaviour and requests over the years?The main difference I see between clients today and back then is the type of ideas coming from the owners. The latest generation of clients has new ideas and fresh thoughts on different kinds of ownership which they have brought to the market. While in comparison owners from 40 years ago, or any past generations had more traditional ideas. More recent clients have also asked me to design other things for them as well. When a client has a good dream, then the architect is in a good position to continue collaborating with the rest of the family. For example, I designed a boat for a father and afterwards, he asked me to design a boat for his children. It is important to me to have an ongoing relationship with my clients family, because of the personal relationship I build with them - my relationship revolves 360 degrees around the family. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/24770/image/large-d783d2800a4fa6a0ede845443814f209.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24770">We’re sure that you’ve had many memorable milestones throughout your career, like designing the 41.5m Fortuna (now&nbsp;Foners). Can you tell us more about this experience?I remember the first time I was contacted by the King’s representative - they called me from Spain in 1991. The representative gave me the size, the beam and the brief - a fast boat. In February 1992 I presented my initial idea and one month later, I received a call to my office. The man on the phone said, “excuse me Mr Spadolini is it possible to organise a trip to Madrid to meet with the owner of the boat?" I went and I met the King of Spain for the first time on April 28, 1992. We had lunch together in his private residence during which the King said to me: “Mr Spadolini, your design is very beautiful. Please start work on the definitive idea." My next presentation for the King’s representatives, with the first 3D model of my design, took place in July 1992. I flew back to Madrid, with the small model inside of my baggage, and showed them the preliminary design. Afterwards, I received the delegation from the King of Spain, which marked the start of my good experience working on the project. I created the exterior design - the engineering and naval architecture was done by Donald Blount and Celeste Dell'anna created the interior decor. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1514" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Foners41.5m (136'2&quot;)">Fortuna&nbsp;</a>is a very technical boat - a lot of technology went into her design, especially into the turbine and wind tunnel, which were needed to achieve the high levels of speed required. Her exterior design was not just about style - her shape and form had to be aerodynamically correct, which proved to be a good challenge for me because I had to design more than a just beautiful yacht. Overall, it was a very beautiful experience working on her.Rosetti revealed its first 85m concept at the end of last year, which you claimed was the most "iconic yacht" you’d ever designed. Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with Rosetti and how this design stands out for its authenticity?My relationship with the Rosetti shipyard is built on my friendship with Fulvio Dodich, CEO of Rosetti. We have been friends for over 20 years. Although we have known each other for a long time, we never worked together - even though everything needed for a good collaboration was there. &nbsp; The driving force behind the Rosetti 85m design was our intimate friendship, which helped and inspired me to create something new. This new project also reflects the heritage of the shipyard, which has more than 100 years of experience, as well as my own heritage and culture as an architect and designer. It also reflects my passion for the sea, making it unique to me. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/33824/image/large-a05726a5661dd43c308f7b59b749a3ec.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/33824">You designed Roberto Cavalli’s Baglietto 138’ in the early 2000s, and worked again with the Italian designer on his latest 27m CCN yacht Freedom, launched earlier this year. What is it like working together with someone who is experienced in design?Designing a boat is always a collaboration with the owner, &nbsp;it is never something I do on my own. But as an architect and a designer, it is always different when working with someone who has a professional background in design. There is the added value of paying much more attention to detail, more focus on the overall design and style when I work with someone like Roberto Cavalli. Every single detail for<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6373" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Freedom27.0m (88'7&quot;)">&nbsp;Freedom</a> has been selected with care by the two of us. But this can also be problematic because when you are both so passionate about design, then there are no weekends, you work 24/7. When you find an owner who lives so close to his project, like Roberto Cavalli, then there is always time to discuss a good idea, day or night.Looking at ownership, there has been a lot of discussion going around regarding new models of ownership, like fractional ownership. How do you foresee the future of yacht ownership?I firmly believe in fractional ownership because it can help keep costs under control. In my opinion, it is possible for different owners to own a boat together, as long as there are not too many people involved. If an owner can only spend four to five weeks a year on a boat, then owning a yacht is expensive. For the same price that you would spend on a small boat, you can have shared ownership of a much larger one. But in terms of more conventional ownership, the two forms of ownership do not clash, as someone who has always owned their own yacht is not likely to invest in fractional ownership. Fractional ownership and conventional ownership are two different worlds. On the other hand, fractional ownership can be a step forwards for clients used to chartering. It is an in-between step from charter to conventional ownership because it gives you that feeling of ownership, but lets you share the costs and management of the yacht. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/48304/image/large-e3ae5bf0ac9f87ffed2fad5371a5548a.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/48304">Yachts have gotten a lot bigger over the years, but perhaps the amount of technical innovation has been lagging in the field of motor yachts. What is your opinion on this?&nbsp;I completely agree that there is a lack of technical innovation in the yachting industry. Especially if we compare it to other industries, the overall production of yachts is much lower. This could be because the number of yachts in production is not as high as in other industries. Look at the car industry, the number of cars produced is much larger, so there is a more technological advancement in that sector. Everything, including technological innovation, is moving at a much slower pace in comparison within the yacht industry. But there is beauty in this technological limitation despite the speed of change because building a yacht remains special. It takes real craftsmanship to build someone's dream. Technical innovation should also grow together with the owners - it should reflect the passion and creation of new projects. For example, now there is much more interest in sustainability because everyone is feeling the importance of eco-friendly solutions. The industry is changing, and it's paramount we all recognise how important this shift is.Looking at some of your most recent projects, there was a new 40m explorer yacht with CdM that announced a couple of weeks ago. Can you tell us a little bit more about this project?&nbsp;The owner is one of my former clients, so we have worked together before. When we started work on this project it was clear that it was going to be a boat for the entire family. The last boat I designed for the owner was a 31m fast-planing yacht, so the family had to plan their holidays based on her range. They needed to plan out every stop they needed to make. The main part of the brief was the long mile range - the family wanted a boat that could take them anywhere they wanted without having to think when and where they had to stop. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/24762/image/large-a627ab0a4f80c10060f6d716f9fe0861.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/24762">What is on your drawing board right now?At this moment I am working on three different projects. I plan to present the first idea at the upcoming yacht show in Monaco, a 24m aluminium boat for two private owners - this size range is very popular in the Italian market today. I have also started work on two new boats for two different Italian owners, one a 65m boat from Rosetti and the other a 38m boat, made in collaboration with an architect from the United States. The second one is very interesting because my office designed the layout and the modification and her refitting is almost complete.&nbsp;I am also working on the interiors of a 55m boat to be launched in 2021, which I signed on for a few days ago.&nbsp;This article is featured in the latest edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="http://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Subscribe now</a> to receive your copy straight to your door and never miss another issue.

Tommaso Spadolini: “My work is my passion” 

<img src="/uploads/store/photo/34065/image/large-12dcce283b53037b905db935a9385033.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/34065">Designed and built for experienced yachtsman and international fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ability41.4m (135'10&quot;)">Ability</a> was launched by Baglietto in 2004 for the Italian legend under the name RC. The yacht changed hands in 2015 and today features a shiny all-black exterior, operating under the name <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1360" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Ability41.4m (135'10&quot;)">Ability</a>. Studio Spadolini designed the exterior of the project while Studio Gagliardi created the extravagant interior together with her original owner. Today she is a common site on the French Riviera as well as the Eastern Mediterranean and here she is seen departing the port of Nafplion in Greece.

The stylish 41m Baglietto superyacht Ability in Nafplion

“I always remember the designs which enabled a good and lasting relationship with the owners with the most passion,” Italian designer, Francesco Paszkowski, asserts, founder of the international yacht design studio bearing his name.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/16786/image/large-3f8f3fed6e9a9fd65df95d9c2fb1396c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/16786">Over a career spanning 30 years, Paszkowski has designed an extensive fleet of yachts, ranging in size from a modest 24-metre superyacht to 70-metre technical marvels on the sea, including custom, semi-custom and production vessels. One of Italy’s most sought-after designers, Paszkowski has won numerous international awards for his design work, including five commendations and awards in the World Superyacht Awards. And with several superyachts currently under construction with his credentials - including the 50-metre Heesen Project Alba scheduled for delivery in January 2018, and the first hull in the new Ferretti Custom Line 120 range scheduled for completion soon - we recently sat down with Paszkowski to hear about his stand-out superyacht projects, the importance of strong relationships to creating successful yacht designs, and where the future of truly innovative yacht design is heading.With its headquarters nestled in the Florentine foothills, Paszkowski’s studio is Italian to its core. With both Polish and Italian heritage, Paszkowski was born in Milan and moved to Florence with his family at a young age, where his passion for yacht design was first kindled. In 1987, he began his early training alongside the late Italian architect Pierluigi Spadolini, a man who would have a tremendous influence on the young designer.&nbsp;“I will never forget the time I spent working alongside Pierluigi Spadolini. The four years I spent with Pierluigi and his son, Tommaso, were fundamental in my development as a designer. He was a genius with an uncanny perception of dimension and balance who taught me the tricks of the trade at a time when the hull and superstructure lines were created using lead weights, splines and slide rules,”&nbsp;explained Paszkowski.After working with Spadolini for four years, Paszkowski made the major decision to launch his own studio in 1990, after gaining experience working for a shipyard in Singapore which specialised in yacht building between 28 and 32-metres. With this launch came the inevitable uncertainty for Paszkowski. “I had fallen in love with yacht design. I was young at the time - when you feel you can decide your future. I had to do it alone. At that time I didn’t know what would happen of this decision, I hoped to get somewhere but I didn’t know where. I knew I had to work hard and I was not afraid of doing it.”Francesco Paszkowski Design has come a long way since Paszkowski was timidly venturing into new waters. With an impressive record of deliveries, the company has put pen to paper for a vast array of shipyards worldwide, including the first of their many collaborations with the Italian shipyard Baglietto in 1992, as well as Sanlorenzo, Heesen Yachts, CRN, ISA Yachts, Tankoa Yachts and numerous others.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/16788/image/large-4b32caa51e59413d0e4abd70049b335c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/16788">Photo by Francesco Paszkowski DesignThat said, one of Paszkowski’s earliest influences is still visible in his design philosophy today. Despite Spadolini’s death in 1990, he is still a role model for Paszkowski, appearing in a framed photograph in Paszkowski’s office. Specifically, Spadolini’s technique of hand-sketching his designs remains an integral part of Paszkowski’s current design process. As Paskowski explained, “Spadolini was a master draughtsman in a time before computer renderings. Although CAD drawings are now indispensable, the best moment of my job is when I am alone and I can draw by hand and find the balance between exterior and interior, between heritage and future, between technical and aesthetic aspects, to get at&nbsp;the final result of a complicated creative process: the yacht itself.” When discussing any new yacht design, the term ‘innovative’ is all-too-easy to use without careful consideration, and the question of what innovations designers might come up with in the future is constantly being posed in the yachting industry. For Paszkowski, however, future innovations cannot be achieved without careful planning and effort. “Innovation is always being requested from designers. This is not so easy, however, as it must be related both to the technological aspect and to the design aspect of a yacht. Innovation is the balance between exterior and interior enhanced with something new. Details are fundamental and make the difference to creating innovation; details are the arrival point of the design process.”Over the last six years, Francesco Paszkowski Design has demonstrated its genuine commitment to promoting the future of yacht designs through its partnership with the Politecnico University of Milan: a partnership which supports collaborations with tomorrow’s generation of designers through educational programmes. Paszkowski told SYT that a recruit from one of these programmes is still working for the design company six years later: a clear testament to the partnership’s success. As a consequence, the company has expanded its reach and is now taking on young people from other yacht design schools into its educational programmes. It is the mix of different experience-levels and ideas which contributes to the success of these schemes as far as Paszkowski is concerned, although he admits that the lessons the young designers learn while working for his company can be tough. “They come from different countries: it’s very interesting to have so many people from many different cultures which enables an interesting and fruitful exchange of views. Young people always bring new ideas. I think a team consisting of experienced people and people willing to learn is very fruitful for the design process. If they understand how difficult this job can be, they are half of the way there.”&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/16787/image/large-d187f4b24522d18580ab32eb4acc9c82.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/16787"> Margherita Casprini. Photo by Francesco Paszkowski DesignSpeaking to Paszkowski, it soon becomes apparent that it is the strong, long-term relationships which the design company has with clients and colleagues which have underpinned their success. This includes their long-term working relationship with the architect Margherita Casprini, who collaborated with the company on the interior design for two of Paszkowski’s most recent projects, the 50-metre Project Alba and the 55-metre Project Antares (currently under construction at Heesen Yachts and scheduled for completion next year) to their relationship with Heesen themselves, which spans over 20 years.&nbsp;“We are very proud that our firm has been working with Heesen since 1996. At Heesen, every detail is considered with precision and accuracy and set right down to the finest point while designing. You don’t have any unexpected obstacles during the building process, as everything is agreed beforehand,” Paszkowski explained.&nbsp;Paszkowski approaches his projects personally and with a genuine passion distinctive among designers. When asked which of his design projects is his favourite to date, he told us that&nbsp;“every boat is like one of your children. You like all of them in the same way, you see them take shape and love all the aspects of the design process from the very first idea and first sketch to the final result.” This personal approach is also highly valued by Paszkowski in his clients, including, most recently, the experienced owners of the Paszkowski-designed recent Project Alba, who have taken a hands-on approach to the project. “When we talk about superyachts, we are talking about luxury at the highest levels. Luxury is not just a matter of money, it’s something more. It’s the opportunity to own what you desire and to have the time to enjoy what you can buy. So it’s so beautiful for us when the owner likes to be involved in the design and building process,”&nbsp;Paskowski told us.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/2102/image/large-f9ac0ab3fa39d89dd62d0d445334b851.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/2102">The Paszkowski-designed Saramour.&nbsp;Through this approach, Francesco Paszkowski establishes both long-term, repeat client relationships, and sometimes even friendships too. He explained, “This happens especially with family boats. It is so important to establish a close relationship with them and to understand what they like and what they don’t – how they live their lives at home. As they are going to use their boat for their enjoyment, they care for the boat as they would for their home. We learn so much about an owner’s life, that we sometimes become friends with them. And when they ask to work with you for a second, or a third boat, well, then you’re really happy as you understand you did your work well.”Understanding the personality of who they are designing for also places Paszkowski Design in a strong position for the future, where Paszkowski envisions an increasing number of owners looking for tailor-made, standout yachts which reflect their personalities, rather than yachts which only satisfy their commercial interests. “In the future, I think yachts will be used increasingly often for the owner’s enjoyment, instead of being used only for the aim of pocketing a quick profit from the resale. I think that owners will keep wanting to build distinctive yachts which mirror their personality.” Returning to the question of what we can expect to see from the company in the next few years, Paszkowski’s extensive list of projects suggests that a bright future lies ahead for Francesco Paszkowski Design. “We are currently working on a sistership of the 50-metre Vertige, delivered by Tankoa in April this year, a couple of Baglietto yachts, the interiors of the two Heesen yachts, our first Custom Line for the Ferretti Group and on a superyacht for a repeat client – a direct owner, among other projects which, of course, I’m not allowed to talk about yet.”<img src="/uploads/store/photo/10773/image/large-f83f4daba343d49628eba63694e2c480.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/10773"> The 49.99-metre Paszkowski designed superyacht, Vertige. Photo by Tankoa.&nbsp;For Paszkowski, both the collaboration and the strong working relationships so important to his design ethos are also vital for improving the superyacht industry in the future. “It is not easy to find a formula for a more efficient and reliable industry. The human factor is of prime importance in regards to efficiency when there are so many players involved: yacht owners, owner’s representatives, designers, yards, and so on. It is not easy. All parties must work together with good will and with a strong sense of purpose to improve the industry.”&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title=""><img src="/uploads/store/photo/13976/image/large-0479ea0b23567c145bad5ee46c7a49e8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/13976"></a> This article was featured in the lastest edition of the SuperYacht Times newspaper. <a href="https://www.superyachtcompany.com/newspaper/the-superyacht-times-subscription">Subscribe</a> now to receive your copy straight to your door, and never miss another issue.&nbsp;