Nauta Design’s newest megayacht really punches above its weight.
Christened Project Velor, the 246-footer is designed to deliver the comfort and functionality of a five-deck vessel across just four decks. That feeling of extra space is the result of an ingenious new layout that optimizes internal volume. The Milanese firm teamed up with Francesco Rogantin of Studio Names to create a single-tier engine room on the under-lower deck. This innovation creates a more spacious and efficient layout that enables vertical and horizontal flow throughout the yacht.
The positioning of technical spaces isn’t the only way Nauta has made Velor feel more airy. The team has incorporated expansive open decks, see-through platforms, and grand architectural staircases to connect the interior and exterior. The aft decks, for instance, are each fitted with a brise-soleil, a kind of slatted overhang system that helps them to blend into the surrounding environment, cast shifting light, and create depth. The warmth of the natural teak decks also complements the gleaming geometric forms of the hull and superstructure.
Perhaps Velor’s biggest selling point is its versatility. The 1,700 GT yacht offers a wide variety of onboard spaces that can be used for anything, from socializing to relaxation. “One of the defining qualities of Project Velor is its flexibility,” Nauta Design director Guido Valtorta said in a statement. “Every element of the design is intended to suit the many ways owners use their yachts—whether for family time, entertaining, or quiet escape.”
The water patio aft offers direct access to the sea.
Nauta Design
The vessel offers both sheltered and open-air areas, too, meaning seafarers can be out and about in any season. The “water patio” aft is the antithesis of the typical covered lounge, as it is equipped with glass panels that allow it to function as an open or enclosed space. It is also fitted with folding side platforms that afford direct access to the ocean.
“This flexible outdoor space is made possible by confining the single-tier engine room to the under-lower deck,” adds Nauta Design director Martino Majno. “It has been about eight years that we have worked on this technical solution, and the result, on this project, is a multi-functional lounge suited for yoga, wellness, social gatherings, or peaceful solitude—all with uninterrupted views of the sea.”
A few steps from the water patio lies the spa and wellness zone. A few more steps are the plush private cabins. Other highlights include luxurious upper deck lounges and a multi-purpose sundeck with a nifty kids’ nest. To top it off, Velor features a large pool on the aft deck, a pool and helipad on the foredeck, and another Jacuzzi on the sundeck.
The newcomer will be cleaner on the seas than a conventional megayacht, too. Velour is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system comprising four generators (two at 1,000 kW and two at 500 kW). An ultra-spacious hybrid? We’re in.
Click here to see all the photos of Project Velor.
Nauta Design
