Unveiling tomorrow at the Monaco Yacht Show (September 27 – 29) is the 170-foot Endeavour. The Rossinavi vessel was designed by Achille Salvagni, the Rome-based architect and designer best known for his contemporary take on historical styles with a showroom in London’s Mayfair district. In translating his aesthetic for the water, neutral tones and limed oak are contrasted with sporadic lacquered-red accents throughout the yacht’s four levels.
“The owners had a clear vision stemming from their passion for Japan,” says Salvagni, who explains this led him to a more angular approach than his past projects, likening it to softened origami. “It’s very calm and understated, which is unusual for this dimension of yachts,” says Salvagni. “But, the owners plan to travel the world and wanted a cradle that wouldn’t distort the beauty of the sightseeing.”
Salvagni imported Japanese tatami mats for the flooring using bronze inlay, which alone took six months to install. The ceilings are wrapped with Egyptian cotton that underwent a series of innovative testing to ensure durability. Nevertheless, the interiors are fully acclimatized to protect the German owners’ blue-chip artworks by Alberto Burri, Lucio Fontana, and others. Furniture and lighting by Salvagni is typically made-to-order, but for those seeking a similar aesthetic, his experience creating the Endeavour has led him to open the "KYOTO" exhibition of limited-edition, Japanese-inspired pieces this month at his London showroom.
For more about Achille Salvagni and his work on the Endeavour, look for our full-length feature in the upcoming January/February 2018 issue of DEPARTURES.
