Ocean Paradise – Benetti’s Zen-inspired 55m superyacht

The 55-meter superyacht, *Ocean Paradise*, developed by Benetti's in-house interior designer Mauro Izzo, showcases a distinctive blend of modern, Asian-influenced décor, reflecting the owner's personal aesthetic while also being suitable for charter. The owner's initial brief emphasized a desire for a cool, contemporary, fresh, and original design that would resist dating easily, prioritizing brightness and airiness to create spaces that "breathe." This challenge was met through specific design choices aimed at maximizing a sense of openness and light within the confines of a yacht. To achieve the desired airiness, Izzo incorporated light woods, innovative lighting solutions, and extensive use of glass for interior walls. A notable feature is a skylight that connects the main deck to the upper deck, integrated into the outdoor dining table, which is crafted from transparent material. The main saloon features full-height windows and lowered bulwarks, ensuring remarkable sea views even when seated. Glass walls also divide the living area in the main saloon from the stairwell, fulfilling fire zone regulations while maintaining an open feel. The foyer on the main deck houses a Zen garden, symbolizing naturalness and vitality. The tactile quality of the materials is a key element of the interior. The main hall's floor is made of large timber pieces, treated to create a worn, textured effect, embodying a "Zen principle of transience." This tactile experience extends to other elements, such as pony hide surfaces and carbon fiber furniture, which, despite their contrast, align with the owner’s vision for modernity without resorting to minimalism. The owner was deeply involved in material selection, including the types and colors of skins and stitching effects. The master suite exemplifies visual harmony with a fixed balcony that can be enjoyed while the yacht is underway. A clear glass bulkhead separates the cabin from the bathroom, creating a perception of expanded space. The bed is crafted from white leather, complemented by black leather bedside tables. All furniture in the cabins appears to float, thanks to hidden supports and diffused LED strip perimeter lighting, enhancing the spacious feel above the thick carpeting. Joinery throughout the accommodations uses oak in natural and colored finishes, with some areas featuring a special blackened process that preserves the wood grain. Leather, including alligator and stained pony hide, is extensively used, from headboards to cabin ceilings, featuring double stitching reminiscent of Lamborghini's automotive design. Another nod to automotive styling is a "love seat" on the bridge, modeled after an early Ferrari bench seat. Customization is evident in features like the upper saloon's vintage video game console from the 1980s, complete with retro joysticks and knob controls, reflecting the Singaporean owner's collection. An onyx bar forward of the gaming table glows with hidden illumination. The VIP cabin on the upper deck boasts two large artificial skylights with RGB LEDs for customizable mood lighting, alongside windows offering excellent sea views from the bed. On the lower deck, two of the four guest cabins have pullman beds with a custom mechanism that allows them to appear to float when in use and retract invisibly when not. Captain Gui Garcia praised the yacht's performance, noting its speed of 15-16 knots, with a maximum of 17 knots, and better-than-expected fuel consumption, attributing this to Benetti's hull design and ship balance. He also highlighted the yacht's stable behavior in rough seas and ease of maneuvering in restricted waters, facilitated by Benetti's BEST monitoring and control system. This system integrates with iPads and allows for attractive and functional helm areas, such as the one on *Ocean Paradise* where the console is positioned away from the forward bulkhead for easy access to components and protection from heat, further aided by vertical bridge windows and ample overhangs. The yacht's exterior features include a capacious outdoor area aft of the saloon, sheltered by the sun deck's overhang. The sun deck serves as a terraced area overlooking the sea, complete with a spa pool surrounded by a large sunpad and a carbon fiber wet bar. A seating area under the communications arch includes coffee tables, and glass panels can be deployed as wind barriers. Beyond these panels, a gym and a large relaxation area with chairs and tables are available. The beach club is accessible from both the bathing platform and stairs from the main aft deck, with a transom section that opens to create a larger deck and a shaded lounging area at sea level. The side-opening garage houses a large tender launched by an overhead crane, while the rescue boat and personal watercraft are stored on the bow. The crew accommodations are generously sized, with laundry and cold storage on the machinery deck below, and well-planned circulation paths and double stairways typical of larger yachts. *Ocean Paradise* is slated for year-round cruising in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, with plans for other destinations. #SuperyachtDesign #BenettiYacht #ZenInspired #LuxuryInteriors #YachtCharter #CustomDesign #MarineArchitecture #ModernYacht #OceanParadise #SuperyachtDesign #BenettiYacht #ZenInspired #LuxuryInteriors #YachtCharter #CustomDesign #MarineArchitecture #ModernYacht #OceanParadise