A longtime criticism of mega-yachts holds that they sometimes look like wedding cakes. There’s one white level stacked atop the next, getting smaller as the decks get higher. Nothing could be further from the truth as far as Atlante is concerned. A CRN build, she dares to be different in so many ways, starting with her stylistically strong lines, made all the more bold by a pairing of black and metallic paint. Even more surprises await in how the interior of this 180-footer is arranged — and in how extraordinary detail went into seemingly simple things.
She is the reflection of an owner who has a laser-like focus on what suits him — someone who has anything but a “me too” personality. The owner gave a clear directive to Nuvolari Lenard, which designed Atlante‘s distinctive profile with CRN’s naval-architecture office. He wanted the yacht to look aggressive and masculine, borrowing elements as much from military vessels as from sports cars. You’d be hard-pressed to find a soft edge in her exterior styling. In fact, the only real curves come in the bow flare. Even the transom and swim platform have angled edges, and all handrails aboard are trapezoidal. (That latter detail was a specific request of the owner, to better reflect light.) In addition to all of this, the owner was resolute that Atlante remain proportional from top to bottom. Few owners get as intimately involved in every detail of the design and construction process as he did. The result: Atlante rises four decks without seeming to.
As unexpected as the profile is, the boarding process is even more so. Forget the usual passerelle extending from the transom to the main deck aft. In fact, the main deck isn’t even the “main” deck when it comes to welcoming guests. Atlante receives her guests primarily via the beach club. This is a yacht that won’t be spending much time stern-to in a Mediterranean marina — though should she be at one with a particularly high dock, a hydraulic passerelle will take guests to the upper (yes, upper) deck. Since the beach club is as much a receiving area as it is a sunning area, it’s fashioned much like a serene salon. Light-toned fir wood and teak set the mood, along with facing settees. Doors to port and starboard lead to symmetrical spaces devoted to well-being: a gym, and a spa with a massage table and Turkish bath. In addition, each side’s relaxation area has a fold-down platform for more of a connection with the sea.
MAKING THE MOST OF MARBLE
Rarely do you see a mega-yacht that makes as much use of marble as Atlante. The stone doesn’t just line the en suite baths. Varying tones of light and dark marble, each with varying veins as well, adorn walls and soles alike. A white Carrara marble staircase leads from the main deck down to the guest staterooms. Another visually arresting stairway, this time in gray Carnico marble with teak, takes guests from the beach club up to the main deck. Most striking, though, is the foyer leading to the owner’s suite. Gray-veined white calacatta vagli marble rises floor to ceiling to each side.
Beach clubs often have direct access to the main deck. Atlante follows suit, but in her own way. Walls of marble (see “Making the Most of All that Marble”) flow up the stairs to an alfresco area — sort of. If you take a close look at Atlante‘s profile, you won’t find an open aft deck. There are openings, however, in the form of slat-like designs parallel to her beam and two significant opening side hatches. When those hatches are flipped up and the crew sets up the seating arrangement, the feeling of spaciousness is sensational.
Note the mention of the crew having to set up seating. This part of Atlante is a multipurpose area. When Atlante is underway, her three tenders (two designed by Nuvolari Lenard) are kept here. At anchor, the toys get unloaded via overhead cranes, making room for settees. Conversations can flow easily as everyone enjoys the scenery. A screen also comes down from overhead to turn the area into a seaside cinema. Day or night, the 36-foot-beam spot can host parties. And with the side hatches closed, those parties become quite private.
Privacy was a key concept for the owner in conceiving Atlante. Smoked glass flanking the side decks shields guests without obstructing views. Perhaps the best example of privacy comes just forward of the wheelhouse. What at first glance is simply an expanse of teak boards stretching to the bow is home to a cleverly hidden dining area. At the press of a button, a hi-lo table rises from the deck. Since the top follows the camber of the deck, it’s easy to not even realize this seating/dining option exists until it’s set up. Glossy black Bimini supports made of carbon fiber can be installed to each side of the table. The poles have integrated lights to make dining or relaxing after the sun goes down a pleasure.
From choosing the smoked oak and other rich woods used throughout to requesting a mooring room (hidden, for aesthetics), the owner of Atlante had strong ideas on how to make his yacht truly his own. Dan Lenard of Nuvolari Lenard calls Atlante “a high-impact yacht, whose determined military look becomes soft on the sea,” and a yacht packed with “original solutions.” Originality can sometimes stray too far into novelty and lose sight of utility. Atlante suffers no such fate, keeping function at the forefront of matters for guests and crew alike.
ALTERNATE OFFICE HOURS
Most master suites aboard modern mega-yachts contain dedicated offices. Not the one on Atlante, however. The owner told the design and build teams that he didn’t plan to work much while enjoying his yacht. If and when he does need to conduct business, there’s a simple solution that honors the spirit of the suite, letting it remain a respite. A tabletop slides along rails mounted parallel to the room-length leather settee to starboard. He can slide it to wherever he wishes to sit, then stash it away just as easily.
