We like to think that wind and water draw the lines of a boat. When you watch a vessel slice through a rolling sea, it is easy to assume that hydrodynamics and the raw elements dictate every curve and contour. But stepping aboard Azimut’s new Magellano 27M reveals a profound alternative perspective: a modern yacht can just as easily take its primary shape from light, openness, and architectural space.
This remarkable vessel represents the latest chapter in Azimut’s acclaimed Magellano Series, bringing together two distinct creative forces for a unique maritime collaboration. Finnish designer Jarkko Jämsén, renowned for his mastery over superyachts and sailing yachts, was entrusted with crafting the exterior profile. Meanwhile, legendary Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and his studio AMDL CIRCLE—alongside architect Davide Angeli—were brought in to design the interiors. For De Lucchi and his team, this project marked their very first foray into the world of boat design.
The brief handed down by Azimut was clear yet demanding. The shipyard asked these visionary designers to preserve the core DNA of the Magellano line while steering it toward a truly timeless aesthetic—one that would retain its visual power and appeal decades down the line. Avoiding fleeting design fads required a deliberate philosophy rooted in architectural purity, structural honesty, and a deep appreciation for materials.
The Exterior: Pure Forms and Timeless Lines
Jämsén is a designer who has long harbored a deep affinity for straight lines and pure, unadorned forms. His creative process starts from the fundamental premise that a straight, purposeful line leaves a timeless mark on a design, creating a silhouette that refuses to age. On the Magellano 27M, this philosophy is most brilliantly embodied in the vessel’s most recognizable element: the "loop."
This striking feature is a large, industrial-inspired ellipsoid that defines the yacht’s overarching profile, guides the geometry of the glazing, and informs numerous interior details. Eschewing the classic, traditional round portholes typically found on vessels of this class, the Magellano 27M introduces wide, decidedly horizontal openings. These windows are shaped by firm, deliberate curves rather than sharp, aggressive corners. As a result, the boat remains instantly recognizable as an Azimut without desperately chasing contemporary trends, successfully dodging the seductive, over-styled forms that can quickly tire the human eye over time.
This commitment to longevity extends far beyond mere aesthetics. Azimut specifically conceived the yacht for comfortable, long-range cruising and for living aboard as one would in a genuine, spacious, and welcoming home. On the Magellano 27M, a powerful sense of structural openness coexists harmoniously with a comforting feeling of protection, much like a natural shell. Beyond the expansive windows that flood the vessel with natural light, the exterior side walkways measure an impressive 87 centimeters—approximately 34 inches—across. Such generous side decks are remarkably uncommon, even on much larger luxury motor yachts, and they perfectly encapsulate one of the project’s guiding principles: protecting the passengers without ever enclosing them.
The Interior: The Architecture of the Loggia
When Michele De Lucchi and AMDL CIRCLE took on the challenge of designing the interior spaces, they fully embraced this overarching architectural philosophy and amplified it to new heights. The central concept governing the interior layout is the traditional Mediterranean loggia. At the stern, the heavy glazing opens completely and folds neatly onto itself, completely devoid of vertical mullions or structural posts. When fully retracted, the barriers between the vessel and the sea simply fall away, allowing raw nature to step directly into the heart of the boat.
This deeply Mediterranean reference echoes the architectural identity that De Lucchi had already established for Azimut on land. AMDL CIRCLE previously designed Azimut’s corporate headquarters as well as its striking boat-show exhibition stands, utilizing recurring architectural motifs such as wooden shutters, brise-soleil slats, and a sophisticated interplay between light and deep shadow.
Inside the Magellano 27M, natural light enters freely and dances across an array of carefully selected materials, setting matte-finished decorations right beside glossy surfaces that glow with the warm color of the sun at dawn. To establish seamless visual continuity between the indoor and outdoor zones, De Lucchi designed identical sofas that serve both environments. Outdoors, the expansive decks utilize pickled teak; indoors, the designers specified pickled oak. To the naked eye, the textural and visual difference between the two woods nearly disappears. Similarly, the upholstery fabrics chosen for the exterior lounging areas transition effortlessly into the interior saloons, effectively dissolving the traditional border between the interior of the yacht and the open sea.
Craftsmanship, Woodwork, and Global Dialogues
The interior of the yacht forms a continuous box crafted entirely from oak, worked in a variety of sophisticated ways to maximize tactile engagement. The wood is grooved intricately on the ceilings, flamed softly on the vertical walls, and laid in clean, linear strips across the floors. Rich American walnut is introduced to provide subtle visual contrast through three-dimensional, brushed surfaces. This heavy reliance on rich, textured wood goes somewhat against the grain of the contemporary yachting market, which often favors minimalist synthetics or high-gloss lacquers. Yet, on the Magellano 27M, the approach succeeds brilliantly thanks to the incredible variety of textures and an obsessive attention to touch.
De Lucchi’s long-standing admiration for Japanese design creates a fascinating cultural bridge between the Far East and the traditions of Made in Italy craftsmanship, marrying Japan’s legendary obsession with microscopic detail with the mastery of Italian artisans. Throughout the yacht, decorative trays and side tables feature surfaces hand-carved using the traditional Japanese Naguri technique. The luxurious bathrooms take their primary design cues from serene Japanese spas, utilizing soothing materials and soft illumination.
Perhaps the most poetic intersection of this cross-cultural dialogue can be found in the owner’s suite. The headboard of the primary bed is upholstered in a bespoke silk fabric crafted by HOSOO, a historic weaving house based in Kyoto, Japan. Remarkably, the intricate pattern woven into the silk reproduces a microscopic cross-section of the very same oak used throughout the yacht’s construction. It is a stunning conceptual gesture that ties together the raw power of nature, the precision of human craftsmanship, and modern technology.
Illumination and Customization
Lighting on the Magellano 27M is handled with the discretion of a high-end architectural gallery. Technical light sources are cleverly concealed within ceiling tracks, leaving center stage for signature architectural lamps. These include the Jona and Metafisica lighting models created by Produzione Privata, the experimental studio that De Lucchi founded in 1990, alongside classic designs from Artemide. In the lower-deck bathrooms, panels of natural travertine soften incoming light so that it always feels abundant and warm, never glaring, while strategically placed mirrors and reeded glass elements work to visually expand the more intimate spaces.
While every hull in the series shares this uncompromising architectural vision, Azimut offers owners extensive opportunities to customize the Magellano 27M’s layout, finishes, and loose furnishings, ensuring that no two vessels will ever be entirely identical. What remains constant across every iteration is the embrace of warm wood, expansive spatial volumes, natural light, and the distinct creative vision brought to Azimut by Michele De Lucchi and Jarkko Jämsén.
