Nauta Design: The Architecture of Freedom

Founded in 1986 by Massimo Gino and Mario Pedol in 1986, Nauta's story is deeply rooted in the maritime world – an influence that has shaped the studio’s signature design philosophy. Their first project, the Nauta 54, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey defined by a commitment to onboard spaces that are both functional and beautiful. 

'To create that, you need to fully immerse yourself in the project and in the owners’ vision, anticipating and imagining their dreams and expectations', says Mario Pedol, the company’s President. 

Known for its versatility, Nauta works on both motor and sailing yachts – from the first sketch to the full design of exteriors and interiors – designing custom projects as well as models for series production. Its designs are characterised by clean, timeless lines that remain relevant over time. 

'The key is to stay true to your vision, and the market recognises and rewards your style', notes Massimo Gino, Nauta’s CEO and Co-Founder.

Whether designing the Pardo GT75 weekend runabout, a semi-custom sailing yacht like the 108-foot Gelliceaux, Southern Wind KIBOKO4 or the full-custom Thunderball, a 70-metre motoryacht project created in collaboration with Vripack and currently under construction at CRN –Nauta’s goal remains the same: to deliver an exceptional onboard experience for owners and guests alike.

Following the iconic 180-metre 'Azzam', one of the latest examples is 'Dragonfly', the 142-metre superyacht launched by Lürssen in 2024. Designed by Nauta, the interiors and outdoor social areas on 'Dragonfly' earned the yacht the 'Superyacht Above 80m' award at the Yacht Style Awards 2025. 

In 2023, Royal Huisman launched 'Nilaya', a fully custom 48-metre sailing yacht co-designed by Nauta and Reichel/Pugh. Commissioned by an experienced owner, 'Nilaya' is an ultra-lightweight yet safe and comfortable yacht built for both world exploration and top performance on the regatta circuit.

Looking to the future, Nauta is focused on addressing the growing demand for sustainability and exploration by designing yachts capable of traveling to more remote, extreme locations. 

'We’ve been working on this for some time, evolving the design to make our yachts more autonomous, secure, efficient and functional, without compromising on the quality of spaces and finishes', says Massimo Gino.

A standout example of this new direction is the XP75 concept. At 75 metres long and equipped with two helipads and two pools, this Ice Class explorer is designed to feel equally at home in the Arctic or the Caribbean. Extensive research has gone into improving operational efficiency and reducing fuel consumption.

By staying true to its principles of timeless elegance, functionality, and sustainability, Nauta continues to shape the future of luxury yachting – with a vision to create fluid, harmonious spaces defined by light, continuous lines, generous volumes, and balanced proportions. A seamless connection between people and the sea lies at the heart of every Nauta project.