PYRAMID ISSUE • N° 45 • 2026
With this model Azimut offers a different way of living the yacht, where space becomes an experience and freedom takes form in the design choices. The lines by Alberto Mancini and controlled elegance of m2atelier create flowing spaces that are open to the sea and provide refinement without ostentation
by Paola Bertelli -
ph. courtesy by Azimut Yachts
zimut has a reputation for providing a real-world expression of the design of spaces, and its new Grande 30M yacht is a mature interpretation of a new concept of on-board freedom. The idea is a response to the evolution of the typology of contemporary owners – less formal than in the past, more focus on the quality of the spaces, the naturalness of everyday activities and the way a space is experienced.
Here, the collaboration between Alberto Mancini for the exteriors and m2atelier for the interiors finds an intriguing synthesis – not spectacular but carefully thought out. There are no special effects, just a series of measured design choices that establish a new equilibrium between comfort, lightness and modernity.
Mancini’s hand can clearly be seen in the crisp, contemporary exterior lines. The surfaces are taut, clean, designed to communicate movement and solidity at the same time. Although the superstructure is located slightly forward, the sporty lines typical of an Azimut build remain intact, thanks to a careful study of the interdeck heights and a deliberately low forepeak.
The core of the project is above all a focus on the relationship between architecture and everyday comfort. This concept gave rise to the two solutions that make the Grande 30M so distinctive – the Infinity Skydeck and Deck2Deck Terrace, both designed to increase the functionality of the spaces through a continuity of use and a direct relationship with the sea.
The walkaround layout of the upper deck, wide side decks and ‘disappearing’ windows of the Glass House are based on a clear logic – this deck is no longer a sum of functions but a single space that breathes with the sea.
The Deck2Deck Terrace on the aft main deck is the type of clever solution that makes observers wonder why it hadn’t been thought of sooner. When open the garage hatch becomes a terrace that extends the cockpit, providing new opportunities for open-air life.
The interiors express a sober, contemporary and informal vision with crisp lines, geometries that regulate the space and restrained colours that allow light to work its magic. Every element is designed to combine functionality and visual lightness. Glass and wood dominate throughout, integrating satinised metals and surfaces that are soft to the touch. The details –flush handles, seamless joints, perfect alignments – don’t strike the observer immediately but help create a feeling of order and harmony.
The main deck saloon is bright, airy and welcoming. The central corridor leads the eye towards the dining table. Its unusual plectrum shape encourages conviviality and frees up the side walkways, while the Deconstructed Wall behind the table – glass, wood strips and suspended elements – introduces a subtle architectural detail that only captures the attention when given more than a cursory glance. The sofas and chairs, with clean lines and low backs, do not interfere with the view of the sea.
The owner’s suite is located on the forward main deck. The large windows, natural light and placement of the furniture create a personal refuge that is consistent with the yacht’s overall look. On the lower deck, the four guest cabins make use of all available space. The bedheads and walls display geometric lines in sync with the rest of the interiors, while the textural finishes and integrated lights bring warmth to the spaces.
The Grande 30M is a composite build with an extensive use of carbon fibre in the superstructure. The wave-piercing bow and double-chine hull by P.L. Ausonio reflect a clear orientation towards increased lightness, hydrodynamic efficiency and dynamic comfort. The MTU engines with POD transmission provide greater fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability with lower noise levels. Their contribution, though, is not limited to performance – the compact footprint of the propulsion frees up useful on-board space and reinforces the feeling of fluid, continuous space, a system that is the hallmark of the Grande 30M. azimutyachts.com
With a length of 28.7 metres and 7.3 metre beam, the Grande 30M is a composite build with extensive use of carbon fibre. A new generation Rolls Royce system with MTU engines and POD provides a 15% increase in efficiency. Opening, the essential style of the aft upper deck terrace is highlighted by the sunpads by Paola Lenti and the clean lines of the sofa
The upper deck Glass House is a panoramic saloon open on three sides. Exteriors and interiors speak a single, informal and contemporary stylistic language. On the main deck (opposite page) the cockpit and saloon are each an extension of the other
The search for pure, well-proportioned geometries shapes all the on-board spaces, enhanced by soft, neutral colours. This page, the owner’s suite on the forward main deck with bathroom and office corner. Opposite, the principal features of the main saloon are the plectrum-shaped table and the Deconstructed Wall behind it. Through the use of glass this creates a refined floating effect. Dining area, sofa and coffee tables are custom-made, the dining chairs are by Roda and the two armchairs are by Giorgetti
Alberto Mancini, Founder Alberto Mancini Yacht Design
The starting point on the Grande 30M was the Azimut DNA –dynamism, elegance and a close relationship with the sea. I sought to give shape to a yacht that’s immediately recognisable, where every line is functional but also communicates emotion.
The main features of the exterior design are balance and continuity. The profile is crisp but never aggressive and the volumes, though large, are visually lightened. There is a constant dialogue between the decks and as a result the 30M enjoys the presence of a much larger yacht while retaining an attractive overall harmony. Rather than being expressed in a single formal element, the yacht’s innovative charge lies above all in the way the outdoor spaces are experienced. The aim was to transcend a traditional reading of the spaces, giving them greater freedom, versatility and naturalness. The garage opening that becomes an extension of the cockpit is a striking example of this approach. When the garage is open the cockpit undergoes a sweeping transformation where the border between yacht and sea becomes more direct, evocative
Lightweight design, plays of light and reflections for the interior staircase linking the yacht’s three decks. Opposite page, the extensive windows on the main and upper decks generate visual lightness for large volumes
and authentic for owner and guests alike. The upper deck is also based on a desire to break free of traditional categories, drawing inspiration from the rooftop of a New York club – scenic, sheltered and versatile, designed to be experienced in a number of ways without adding bulk to the yacht’s profile. The proportions played a crucial role in maintaining lightness and elegance while creating an area offering surprising comfort and atmosphere. In general, intense attention has been paid to design details, build solutions, materials and colours. Nothing has been left to chance, from surfaces to finishes, colour contrasts and how the lighting is integrated. This silent effort is what gives the Grande 30M its timeless elegance. Personally speaking, there are several areas that I consider to be representative of the project’s spirit. The top deck skylounge with its side openings and aft patio door is a unique feature on a 30-metre yacht and when it’s open to the sea the main deck cockpit is a perfect expression of the idea that guided the entire project – experiencing the sea in a direct, relaxed and deeply emotional way.
Interior Design
Marijana Radovic and Marco Bonelli, Co-founders m2atelier
The Grande 30M’s interiors are designed as an architectural landscape in motion. Azimut’s brief asked us to dissolve the barriers between interior and exterior and amplify the relationship with the sea and sky, designing instinctive, relaxed spaces that are genuinely lived in. For us this meant working with space, light and proportions as primary materials.
The collaboration with Alberto Mancini was a fundamental factor – elements like the Infinity Skydeck and Deck2Deck Terrace led us to imagine the interiors as extensions of the exteriors rather than enclosed destinations. This is most evident on the upper deck, where the Glass House with its fully disappearing windows transforms the lounge into a veranda. The layout follows the same horizontal logic as the exteriors, with uninterrupted sightlines from stern to bow. Materials, finishes and heights were calibrated to make the transition between exteriors and interiors almost imperceptible.
The Grande 30M’s interiors embody a quiet confidence. What
makes them distinctive is their architectural clarity, where the spaces are open yet protected, informal but carefully composed. They draw inspiration from contemporary residential architecture and art rather than traditional nautical references.
Great attention has been paid to tactility and the way materials encounter one another – wood against glass, solid surfaces that dissolve into reflections – especially in elements like the architectural walls in the saloon, designed as spatial filter rather than a partition.
Light has been treated as a structural element. The full-height windows were essential, but way light travels vertically inside the yacht was equally important. The internal staircase is a key example – designed as an ethereal, almost weightless element, it allows natural light to cascade from the upper deck to the main deck, transforming a functional necessity into an artistic gesture. The natural, timeless colour palette was chosen to enable the sea, sky and natural light to fill the space.
Walkaround layout with wide side decks for the Infinity Skydeck. The Glass House (here and opposite page) is a panoramic, sheltered and versatile space. The full-height windows, which can be opened on three sides, transform it into a veranda on the sea. The custom interior sofas and external furnishings, designed as elements suspended over the floor, accentuate the idea of a light, open space
Azimut
The Grande 30M was created for dynamic owners who want a direct, informal experience of their yacht, enjoying a close contact with the sea. It’s designed to provide great freedom of use – it can sail comfortably at sustained speeds with a maximum of 25 knots or in full displacement, with significantly reduced fuel consumption. This enables owners to adapt their sailing to different conditions without having to make compromises. In the context of on-board life, Grande 30M integrates distinctive solutions like the Infinity Skydeck and the Deck2Deck Terrace, two elements that enhance the concept of free, seamless spaces with unforced shapes.
From a technological point of view, the main challenge was to reduce consumption while increasing volumes. The Grande 30M consumes around 25% less than the previous Azimut 95 RPH at 540 litres an hour at 22 knots despite a weight increase of about five tonnes. This was achieved through the development of the waterlines by P.L. Ausonio together with our R&D office and the adoption of MTU-Rolls Royce POD propulsion, which provides greater efficiency, less vibration and noise and superior manoeuvrability.
The POD system’s compact dimensions also enabled better management of the technical spaces, making it possible to introduce a double garage – one aft for the tender and a side garage for the jet ski. This model immediately attracted a lot of interest and significant presales activity even before the launch. The feedback we’ve had confirms the perception of generous, well-proportioned spaces, the result of not only careful design but also the work carried out by m2atelier, which successfully interpreted the interiors with unconventional layout and furnishing solutions. The Grande 30M offers a high-level experience of on-board life where from dawn to dusk the owner can enjoy refined, functional spaces with an intimate connection to the sea.
The Deck2Deck Terrace redesigns the main deck cockpit spaces. When raised the garage door integrates with the cockpit and becomes a a terrace over the sea
