It’s easy to forget, when presented with the length, weight or speed of a yacht, what the primary reason for building one is in the first place. For a few, it’s just a status symbol. But for most, it’s a means of escape, adventure and privacy. It’s a chance to be connected to the ocean, to our surroundings, and to one another. And this is why the design of Arcadia A105 goes to the very heart of the matter.
In stark contrast to dark panelled interiors from yesteryear that resemble a subterranean gentleman’s club, the 31m Arcadia A105 is a celebration of transparency. It is a design built on flexibility and seamlessness between interior and exterior spaces. It provides far-reaching, uninterrupted views of the yawning horizon from every conceivable angle, as well as the alluring possibility of being able to reach out and touch your surroundings.
The main salon – traditionally an underused welcome room on board a yacht – has been reimagined and transformed. Floor-to-ceiling windows open up the already vast space allowing natural light to flood the interior. But when at anchor the retractable windows that run both port and starboard disappear, allowing the room to elegantly extend outdoors by way of two five-metre foldable terraces.
Glass walls between the main salon and aft-deck (which can comfortably seat up to 10 people for a formal dinner) give shelter from the elements when required, but allow the view to stretch as far as the eye can see. And when open, the result is a fluid flow of air, light and space that eliminates obstruction; an unhindered haven on the water.
Head up one level to the convertible sky lounge, and guests are presented with a fully enclosed and protected third deck that again can be opened to the sky to enjoy the salty sea air and stargazing in comfort. And as a pièce de résistance, the sky lounge sits adjacent to the sprawling octagonal-shaped sun lounge. With entertainment at the fore, the two spaces combine to create an incredible 65 sqm relaxation area, and the option of a further dining area that can host more than 20 guests for dinner at any one time.
The use of glass continues throughout the interior, too. The entrance to the living room from the aft-deck is crossed by a spectacular transversal glass wall. The ‘floating’ stairs leading to the upper deck and the low, sleek fixed furniture have been designed to leave the eye free to roam with an unimpeded sight line.
More than 50 interior layout options have been conceived to showcase the ‘inside-outdoor ethic’ of this model, as well as to exemplify the opportunities for customising – an important detail that Ugo Pellegrino, Director of Arcadia Yachts, believes sealed the deal when it came to the owner’s decision to return to the Italian yard for his third yacht.
“His choices reflected his navigation philosophy and that is something we are very familiar with: large convivial spaces for daytime and cabins that are genuinely able to offer exceptional privacy and comfort well beyond the category,” says Pellegrino. “This is why he asked us to dedicate the winter garden forward on the main deck to a playroom where he could gather with friends for a cigar or simply enjoy the bow view and natural sea breeze guaranteed by two large side windows.”
As a shipyard, Arcadia has, since 2007, been recognised for its reformist charm, its signature al fresco areas, and for building yachts that put the owner’s enjoyment at the centre of the project. This new model, built at the request of an existing owner and launched at the 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival, boasts a progressive design by Milan-based Hot Lab studio. Set against a brief that required ‘contact with nature’ the result is brought to life by large apertures that reduce the need for air-conditioning, solar panels integrated into the superstructure, and the extensive use of cutting-edge, highly efficient thermal and sound insulating glass. Indeed, more than 50 sqm of solar panels generate 4.2kW of power making this yacht an elegant option for both owner and the environment.
What’s more, the use of solar panels equates to a reduction in generator use. Producing enough energy to power electrical appliances and units (including fridges, water pumps, WCs, lights, A/V and electronics while the batteries recharge), the owner and his guests are free to luxuriate in the ambience of their surroundings. Whether listening to early morning birdsong in the Caribbean or the sound of waves lapping against the Italian shoreline, it is a further and fitting connection to the world around us, and an appreciation for being at one with nature and the elements. The Arcadia A105 provides a seascape to remember.
