Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Craft

Designing a yacht for three generations

Francesca Muzio explains why she’ll always put lifestyle front and centre when it comes to good design.

By Dominique Afacan | 26 March 2021

Lifestyle lies at the heart of Francesca Muzio’s design ethos. So when a brief came in to refit family yacht Oasis, that was exactly where she began. “The clients ranged from nine years old to 70,” she explains, “and they wanted to be able to use the yacht all together as a family of three generations.”

Muzio is used to complicated commissions. Her Italian-based firm FM Architettura d’Interni works across the world in various fields, designing for all sorts of different audiences. From the iconic Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London to luxury residential projects in Asia, no two jobs are the same. Yachts, though, are her true passion, perhaps influenced by a childhood spent by the sea near yachting hotspot Portofino.

Designing a yacht for three generations

Francesca Muzio

Designing a yacht for three generations

Francesca Muzio

Today, she has set up shop in Ancona, on Italy’s Adriatic coast. “The Marche region is famous for its craftsmanship,” explains Muzio. “It’s great to be based here because we can get inspired by these local artisans and use them to transform our ideas into a reality. We have an international mindset but we always aim to engage the local community.”

For the Oasis project, the first step for Muzio was to understand exactly how the family planned to use the boat. “The climate has changed in recent years. We don’t talk about specific decor straight away, as we might have done a few years ago – we talk about lifestyle.” Through her chats with the family, she found that flexibility was key. They wanted to be able to use the boat all together, but they also needed privacy.

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

The resulting work was wide-reaching and involved remodelling and redecorating various spaces including the sundeck and the saloons, ensuring they were suitable for more flexible and multi-purpose lifestyles. There were also more subtle changes; redesigning bedside tables, for example, to include chargers for mobile phones and including magazine racks by the sofas. “Every piece of furniture we introduced on board had a purpose,” says Muzio. “The older members of the family wanted to play cards so we designed a card table for them. Meanwhile, other coffee tables were designed to store the children’s games.”

An intricate sculpture was also commissioned to take pride of place on the yacht’s staircase. “We found an artist who makes letters in metal and we had the idea to design a big metal sail with all the initials of the family on it,” says Muzio. “It is symbolic of the family all travelling together.” Textiles were also hugely important, and lots of local Italian leather was used in the new designs. “That tactile element is important,” says Muzio. “We use very sophisticated technologies when we design, but ultimately clients need to touch materials themselves and make sure they feel right.”

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Throughout the whole refit process, the client and design studio worked closely together, ensuring they stayed on the same page. “Our job is to apply psychology and understand client choices and preferences,” explains Muzio. “It’s not about what ‘Francesca’ likes, it’s about what they like.”

Designing for families is a particular pleasure for Muzio, who believes that superyachts are the ideal place for multi-generational holidays. “Families love spending time on yachts – they feel really safe and can travel around the world, teaching their children about new countries,” she explains. “It’s not about using the boat like a floating villa in a marina. We have plenty of clients who work on board, too, but with the bonus of having their family there at the end of the day.”

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Designing a yacht for three generations

Oasis

Add to that six-star levels of service which aren’t always so easy to achieve at home, excellent food and health facilities, like gyms and spas – and it’s easy to understand how family life on board makes sense. One of Muzio’s favourite moments was seeing the children run excitedly to their new cabins when the refit was complete. “They loved the boat and that’s important. It means the boat ends up feeling like a home away from home.”

The work of FM Architettura d’Interni was celebrated at Boat International’s World Superyacht Awards last year, where they took the award for Best Refit. “To see the whole family together enjoying the boat is the biggest success you can have as a designer,” says Muzio. “And this family loved the finished product.”

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