Page 133 - ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL 2023

ATHENS RIVIERA JOURNAL
influence

A yacht should reflect the As a prominent designer of the

LORD OF YACHTS

inner world of its owner.
How can this component be
achieved?
Boats are among the objects
that best reflect the owner's
taste and ethics. The fact that
they are surrounded by water
and contained within a hull
and superstructure make them
Stefano Vafiadis is the artistic
independent from the rest of the world. It could also be new generation of Studio Vafiadis,
said that they are like small islands, or small states, in which
there is a lifestyle and an experience on board dictated by translator of the new yachts’ trends.
the tastes of the owner; this is also the reason for the great
appeal of owning one. The owner's taste is certainly pres-
ent in all the design choices of the yacht: starting from the Interview by ELSA SOIMIRI
type, from the chosen and desired speed, from the interiors
even more so. All the choices made during the construction
crystallize the character that is given by the owner. We, as
designers, are simply translators of these flavors and we
collaborate to fulfill the dreams and desires of these lucky
owners, making them the best.
Representing the new generation in boat design, what do
you think will be their biggest contribution?
I think that the attitude of our generation of designers is
different from the previous ones, more open to mutual
collaboration and the search for a new form of luxury: less
focused on age-old canons of intrinsic value of materials
and workmanship and more instead on value "conceptual”
and “functional” of the design on board. Freedom from
pre-established social rules and the overpassing of the old
rules in favor of a casual life on board, based on well-being
and fun, are the new must. The environmental impact al-
so represents a new ambitious and necessary challenge for
the next generations. The big compromise we are facing
between ethics and luxury is merely not to sacrifice our
lifestyle onboard and, at the same time, reduce the con-
sumptions and the emissions of our yachts on a cruise and
also, very importantly, during the construction of yachts.
Could the impressive design of the DOM Yacht be de-
scribed as the "gateway" to a series of futuristic yachts?
I believe that the design of the DOM is a good balance be-
tween the present and the future, with shapes that are never
exaggerated but rather outline a modern and contemporary
boat without necessarily chasing fashions or currents that
would instead make her rapidly age. A design at the service
of a modern owner who offers many possibilities for life
on board with lots of space and lots of flexibility, without
sacrificing the typical style and elegance of Italian design.
Is yachting the most ideal means of exploring a destina-
tion? What are its advantages?
The advantages of having a boat at your disposal is the ex-
clusivity of being able to travel at your own pace and with >
DESIGN DREAM
The clean cut lines of
Florentia reflect the skillful
132 133 approach of Studio Vafiadis.