Where Art Meets Ocean - Inside Cristiano Gatto's New F1 Superyacht Series

There are moments in yacht design when a new idea doesn’t simply refine what exists but resets the conversation altogether. Cristiano Gatto’s new F1 Series belongs to this rare category. Conceived by one of the industry’s most artistically inclined designers, a sculptor by training and a creator known for shaping spaces that feel almost alive, the F1 Series proposes a new way of living at sea, where flow, intimacy and experience converge in three superyachts ranging from 55 to 68 meters and up to 2,500 GT.

Unlike concepts born from market pressure, this one began as a personal exploration. A project created for the sheer pleasure of imagining what a yacht could be. 

“Sometimes we create projects not because a client requests them, but because we feel the need to explore ideas we genuinely want to see brought to life,” says Gatto. 

What started as an internal study soon sparked conversations with clients, gradually evolving into a complete series. “By chance, this concept opened a dialogue with clients, and from there it naturally grew into a family of yachts.”

That openness to dialogue is typical of Gatto’s process. His career spans more than three decades, yet his approach remains deeply rooted in the artistic sensibility that set him apart from the beginning. Before becoming one of the most prolific names in yacht design, Gatto spent years sculpting marble and metal, developing an eye for volume and light that still shapes his interiors today. The F1 Series carries that signature: a sense of balance and motion, spaces designed to welcome rather than impress, and a style of beauty that functions on a human scale.

At the heart of the F1 Series lies a bold question: why do certain onboard spaces still follow patterns established decades ago, even though owners now use yachts differently? One example is the formal dining room on the main deck, iconic but rarely used. 

“The main deck dining room is often among the least used spaces onboard. Indoor dining usually happens only when the weather doesn’t cooperate,” Gatto notes. Gatto’s answer is to shift the dining experience to the lower deck and turn it into a highlight of the onboard journey. Imagine a showcase kitchen where guests can see meals being prepared, framed by terraces that open directly onto the water. “I asked myself why this space shouldn’t become a true experience, something memorable for guests,” he explains.

Freeing up the main deck allows it to be reimagined completely. Instead of a seldom‑used dining area, the deck features a generous, welcoming saloon and four VIP suites, each with its own private terrace. The connection to the aft beach club becomes fluid and natural. The upper deck becomes a dedicated owner’s retreat, while the wheelhouse deck introduces a rare continuous sightline from bow to stern, developed in collaboration with experienced captains.

The same attention extends to the crew, a defining element of Gatto’s philosophy. “A yacht of 68 meters is almost like a small community. Crew need proper spaces to perform at their best if you want flawless service,” he says. On the F1 Series, crew circulation and operational routes are planned with hotel‑level precision, ensuring privacy for guests and efficiency for the team.

Launching the series now reflects both design intent and market direction. Yachts between 1,000 and 2,500 GT represent what Gatto sees as the core of the market, offering the ideal balance between generous amenities and manageable construction. Many owners gravitate toward this size range, seeking understated luxury and meaningful time with their families. “The ideal owners are those who prefer privacy, who want to enjoy the beach club, the spa, their cabins with their children, grandchildren and close friends,” he says.

With the F1 Series, Cristiano Gatto is not simply refining the superyacht world. He is imagining a new way of inhabiting it. The result is a collection of vessels that feel crafted rather than engineered, intuitive rather than conventional, and unmistakably guided by the artistic hand behind them.

https://www.cristianogattodesign.com/

Written by Dario Schiavo