Massimo Gino and Mario Pedol create exterior and interior designs for boats ranging from 30 to 130 feet long. Their company, Nauta Design, also created the look of the world’s largest private giga yacht. The many collaborative efforts marking their activity underline this Milanese firm’s world-class success in creating both customized yachts and prototypes for a reproducible series. We had the pleasure of interviewing Mario Pedol at the end of the last boat show season during which a number of Nauta Design boats were on display.
How do you get boat owners to want to have a specific boat model? How much do design and architecture influence the process and what kind of key factors are in play?
“I have been designing boats for almost 40 years. To do this, I imagine myself being on board and using the boat. You have to fully immerse yourself in the project to be able to offer the client a craft that works technically and aesthetically and offers a high-quality experience. I think the best thing is to stick to what you believe in and the market will reward you for your style.”
What experience do you have as a yachtsman?
“I’ve always been a great fan of the sea and sailing, first of all, because of my family background. My maternal grandfather was the head engineer on the Saturnia and Vulcania ocean liners. Growing up, I did regattas and then, some beautiful cruises. During college, a friend convinced me to get into the world of boat building by making a Mini Tonner, which was a recently developed class at the time. We went to Andrea Vallicelli, already one of the top-rated designers, and he created a 7-meter boat for us, the Avventura 703. It was very successful and what started as a diversion ended up becoming a great learning experience because we eventually built 40 of those boats over two years. After this, I was even more passionate about getting into the sector.”
Mario noted about the first sailboat he designed:
“I had just finished an internship in America with Scott Kaufman’s workshop in New York when I designed my first boat with Massimo Gino, the Nauta 54. That was in 1986.”
Instead, what about your first motor boat?
“This came about with Bertram, where we worked from 1992 to 1995. At the time, they were looking for a new designer to give an Italian touch to the interiors of their new range. We won the competition to design the interior of their 43-footer. It was a great success and what we offered was very well-accepted on the market. So, they entrusted us with restyling the interiors of the entire range, which we continued to do so for a decade or so.”
Going back to our initial discussion, to make a successful boat, you need to draw on your skill as a builder and your knowledge of how the market works as well as your technical background and experience as a boat user.
“You need to keep an open mind on a project. The development period for a new model is always lengthy, taking at least a couple of years until you see the finished boat. That’s why it’s important to have strong ties with the boat builders, the technical departments, the business side and the marketing division. Keeping all these in mind is key to the success of a new model.”
Beyond the technical aspects, what’s the common thread that links Nauta Design’s work in creating a 30-foot boat versus making a 180-foot yacht?
“Putting yourself in the user’s place, whether they own a boat that’s a model in a series or a giga yacht! The fully customized and mass-produced boat sectors are two different worlds, but the principle is always the same. It’s about understanding how the boat will be used and being able to design what the user is dreaming of.”
Does the same thing apply to both sailboats and motor boats? Is there any crossover between those two worlds?
“Working with Nauta and Massimo Gino, I tried to bring some of the intrinsic focal points of sailing into the motor-driven sector, especially in terms of exterior balance and purity. This involves paying attention to the potential feel of the boat out in the open. It also means going back a bit to what classic hull and superstructure ratios used to be and the proportions motor yachts had a few decades ago and which still make them elegant.”
We’re talking about boats whose design runs contrary to the frantic search for interior volume which characterizes the motor yacht market and which often results in ungainly models with audacious proportions.
“There’s no question efforts are being made to provide more interior space. But, the boat has to bring the owner closer to the sea during the short periods of time they may use it. It’s mainly about the outdoor experience. So, we want to offer exterior spaces that are totally enjoyable. With our boats, we go for simplicity of design and purity of form over fashion.”
Is this how you give a boat timeless elegance?
“For me, it’s a question of the approach, boating culture and sensibility gained over many years as a yacht designer. But, it also even goes back to when I saw boats only in terms of my passion for them.”
The last question is about the Dragonfly, the giant yacht that Lürssen launched at the end of 2024, and which Nauta Design made together with German Frers. What did you design for this ship and what were some of the experiences you had with it?
“The Dragonfly is a 142-meter ship, with exterior design by Germán Frers. Nauta Design handled the interior and exterior social spaces. It offers numerous features that emphasize luxury, including a glass-bottomed swimming pool on the main deck, a cinema, a spa and a water sports center. It also has a dedicated business deck that includes a large office, gymnasium, game room, and helicopter hangar. Dragonfly offers incredible perspectives and breathtaking outdoor views alongside its subtle balance of refined elegance.”
