Benetti Reinvents the Iconic Motopanfilo

Storied Italian yacht brand Benetti worked with Lazzarini Pickering Architetti to reinvent one of its most emblematic models from the sixties for modern-day sailing and luxury at sea

For almost 150 years, Italian luxury yacht manufacturer Benetti has been creating iconic boats that celebrate both life at sea and Italian craft. Drawing on this expertise, the heritage shipyard has reimagined one of its most emblematic models, the Motopanfilo 37M, for contemporary sailing. The result is a 37-metre-long yacht inspired by Benetti’s navetta — classic motor yachts — from the from the 60s, which incorporates modern elements for ultimate comfort and practicality.

To achieve this, Benetti collaborated with acclaimed designer Francesco Struglia for the boat’s exterior design, while the decks and interiors were conceived by Rome-based firm Lazzarini Pickering Architetti (LPA), experts in the yachting industry renowned for its original multidisciplinary approach. Together they designed the updated Motopanfilo 37M, which is characterised by its wide spaces bathed in light, large water-level terraces, and an open design that allows one to maintain constant sightline to the sea.

From the outside, the boat’s refined and elongated lines stand out. Its classical core structure is divided and modernised with negative shapes and a decidedly modern 45-degree cut, while lines are harmoniously integrated into the volume of the hull. The central hatch opens forward into a bathing platform, and an intimate observation deck was incorporated into the top of the structure.

Inside, LPA co-founders Carl Pickering and Claudio Lazzarini took the shape of the hull as the foundation of the design and opened up the space by replacing walls with extensive side glazing and mirrors that reflect the sea. Indoor and outdoor decks create a sense of continuity with the surrounding water and reinforce the sense of expansiveness. ‘We wanted to celebrate life at sea and create a boat rather than another floating house, as so many yachts seem to be today,’ explains Pickering. ‘We studied and analysed the classical yachts we admired and identified the bulkheads and ribs as distinguishing elements. We then reinterpreted them in a contemporary way.’

Complementing this approach, the yacht’s interiors and part of the exteriors are dressed in fabrics by Loro Piana Interiors. Dominated by linens in tones of warm white, blue and malachite — a combination that evokes the classic 1960s palette — the materials selected by Lazzarini and Pickering imbue the spaces with a sense of luxury and comfort, while being functional additions thanks to their fire-retardant and robust technical properties. The same linens cover the large cushions in all the rooms, creating visual continuity in the interiors.

In all, the Motopanfilo 37M embodies the timeless elegance of Benetti’s iconic designs. It’s a neoclassical reinterpretation of the Italian art of living, elevated with a subtle yet decidedly contemporary take. ‘It looks like no other boat on the water, yet it seems familiar,’ Pickering notes. ‘It’s a new classic that will not age — it’s timeless.’

Images / Michela Locci and Giovanni Malgarini