In La Spezia, Liguria, a marriage of great significance is being celebrated between two excellences of Italian Design: Pininfarina and De Simoni. Pininfarina, a historical signature of our Design, has a long and authoritative history of projects in Nautica. The Turin-based company over the years has developed collaborations with shipyards such as Beneteau, Primatist, Oceanco, Fincantieri, Rossinavi, Wally, Princess and Persico Marine.

Numerous awards have been won by boats designed by Pininfarina: from the German Design Award for the Fincantieri Ottantacinque to the Red Dot Award for Elan E6, from Honorable Mention at the ADI Compasso d'Oro for Wallycento #4 Tango to the "Robb Report Best of the Best in the Yacht Category" for the Princess X95.

Pininfarina in 2022 was also given recognition as "Ambassador of Historic Motoring" for the styling of the Destriero, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the feat desired by Karim Aga Khan to win the Blue Ribbon, the Atlantic crossing record.

Fulvio De Simoni Yacht Design represents a young reality with ancient roots, born from the prestigious activity carried out over the years by Fulvio De Simoni and his collaboration with Enrico Lotti and Cristiano Tonarelli.

Fulvio De Simoni began his work as a naval designer in the 1970s in Milan, working throughout his career with many shipyards in Italy and around the World: Pershing, Antago, Mochi Craft, Ilver Giannetti, Raffaelli, Wider, Rodman, Astondoa, Evo Marine, Alcon, Abacus Marine.

The architect from La Spezia has over the years received both major awards for his projects (World Yachts Trophies, Cannes 2021, for the Pershing 6X; World Superyacht Awards, Florence, 2016, for the Wider 150, etc. etc.) and high personal honors (Pioneer of Boating, Confindustria, 2020; Designer of the Year Trophy, Cannes, 2019; etc. etc.).

Pininfarina and De Simoni have now decided to join forces, launching the ambitious project of a design boutique on the sea in Porto Lotti, La Spezia, to strengthen the offer of services related to the world of Boating.

The initiative consolidates a fertile collaboration, which has already led to the realization of a first research project, X2-Explorer X Experience, presented as a world premiere at the Monaco Yacht Show 2022.

"Pininfarina Nautical is growing very fast, giving us great satisfaction. Our innovative approach is appreciated by prestigious shipyards with whom we have solid and lasting partnerships. The collaboration with architect Fulvio De Simoni and his team will allow us to further broaden our horizons with projects that combine experience and vision, allowing us to work four-handedly in the field of megayachts, to date a highly coveted market cluster," says Silvio Pietro Angori, CEO of Pininfarina.

Fulvio De Simoni, for his part, stresses that the opening of the design boutique leads "the two teams toward new opportunities for collaboration. Working with Pininfarina is a pleasure because, from the combination of our styles and experiences, we will be able to imagine new scenarios for nautical design."

This marriage could not have been celebrated in a more appropriate setting.
La Spezia, in fact, recently made official its candidacy to obtain the recognition of UNESCO Creative City.

The Ligurian city is proposed as a case of excellence precisely for Design, as the design and production headquarters of the most important brands of yachts and superyachts, representing today the de facto world capital of the Nautical Industry.

La Spezia emerges as Italy's leading province in terms of the incidence of companies in the Economy of the Sea and is home to important companies involved in research, training, and innovation related to boating and nautical design.

These are Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini’s words at the presentation of the candidacy, "Our city is home to many world-leading companies in the nautical sector and the construction of megayachts, in fact it has become the world capital of boating, thanks also to the 'Blue Mile' project. A mile that has become a district dedicated to all the productive realities related to the sea economy. We work to foster the development of excellence and are in the forefront of promoting research and university and professional training. La Spezia is the only city in Italy to have in its university pole a course in Naval and Nautical Design."

Two excellences of Italian Design launching an important partnership in Nautical Design, in a seaside city that aspires to see itself recognized in UNESCO as the world capital of Nautical Design: good wind, it is really the case to say, to Pininfarina, De Simoni and La Spezia.