
SUPERYACHT #8 Spring 2006
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Article by Franca Urbani

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PAB, A DIFFERENT STYLE
Ambrogio Busnelli, the pioneer of Italian design, invites us
onboard his PAB, the ultra-modern and "maximalist" yacht designed
by Ivana Porfiri.
Going onboard the PAB in Rapallo (Italy) Ambrogio Busnelli with
his wife, B&B Italia public relations officer Fiorella Villa,
Captain Salvatore Schiano and the other crewmembers give me a warm
welcome. Immediately the atmosphere is warm-hearted because I was
asked by Abramo Mion (Kairòs) to give Ambrogio his best
wishes, which I promptly do, together with my gift, the Catalogue
of the International Film Festival of Venice. Ambrogio Busnelli
will be 80 years old next April and he is still a very handsome
man with a happy, curious look and a frequent broad, resolute
smile on his face. I also give him three issues of Superyacht.
Sitting at the table of the main deck aft in the yellow B&B Italia
armchairs we all keep silent while he curiously leafs through the
newspaper. When he sees the Admiral's advertising page he stops
and points with his finger to the boat appearing on it, looks at
me with his light blue eyes and tells me, "You see these four
small slots on the ceiling of the forward cabin? They are not
standard; I asked the yard to make them for my boat. From this
detail one understands that the boat used for the advertisement is
PAB". There are many small but important details. I find myself
thinking about how Ambrogio Busnelli, in his eighties, can appear
inexplicably young, definitely much younger than some men in their
twenties, thirties or forties and even inexplicably happy, of a
happiness that is generally found only in children and which
creates around him a sort of aura. I have the feeling that the
people surrounding him, including me, are respectfully waiting to
hear what he will say next. They are slightly fearful of speaking
first because, unconsciously, they know that they will be judged
by their first word and even though this will occur in a purely
instinctive way, without malice and arrogance, it will certainly
occur. "Less words and more facts!" Ambrogio exclaims indicating
PAB interiors, "I did not want the interior to show the structural
parts of the boat," he adds and introduces me to the ample saloon
where he shows the rounded section of the ceilings, typical of
this yacht. Busnelli, kindly starts showing us every detail of his
yacht. PAB is a custom-made Admiral, the result of Busnelli's
personality, the "genius of Italian design" and of the excellent
work of architect Ivana Porfiri. "Yes, she is very good, I've
never seen a woman with such a strong personality!" says Busnelli
stigmatizing her. The extremely modern ample saloon undoubtedly
reminds of Dionea interiors. At a glance they look alike and one
immediately recognizes the work of the architect. Nevertheless,
here the atmosphere has a magical flair and the difference is made
by the numerous ingenious details that express the Owner's dreams
and wishes. Later, Ivana Porfiri, in her Milan-based office, told
me an interesting thing, "PAB is not minimalist (as one would
superficially tend to label whatever in design appears extremely
simplified) but rather 'maximalist'*". Indeed, the yacht's
interior decor offers so many interconnected design details
revealed to the watchful eye of those who live in it and can
appreciate its intimate richness made of light, colors, details,
fantasy: all elements that are linked together as the words of a
nice tale. As a matter of fact, we may talk of PAB as an exemplar
in today's vast yacht design panorama. The floor, just to make an
example, is in precious rosewood arrived onboard PAB from afar.
Almost forty years ago, Ambrogio Busnelli led a mission to India
of Italian industrialists who should have invested in that
country. On that occasion, as he told us, the Italian guests were
invited to visit the rosewood forests. The agreement with that
government fell through but he succeeded in buying some trunks of
the precious wood and brought them to Italy, where they were
accurately preserved all these years. When Architect Porfiri saw
them, she readily understood that they were to be used for the
boat that was taking shape. The interesting thing is how the wood
was used. Anti-slipping stripes of rosewood, extremely pleasant to
the touch even when walking barefoot, were laid in the corridors
dotted by the several "blue eyes" of the recessed spotlights.
Smooth rosewood floor was laid in the sitting areas of the saloon
and of the dining room. Lastly, skillfully "irregular" rosewood
was used in the bulkhead lining of the entrance which includes the
bar cabinet to port and the personalized dishware and wine bottle
cabinet to starboard. The interior structure of the two cabinets
is in white lacquered wood with Perspex finishing creating the
effect of a "colored mirror". Ambrogio Busnelli takes a very
simple silver glass with his hand and murmurs, "Tobias Scarpa!"
The wooden cabinets are connected at the top by a rounded panel,
concealing a TV screen when not in use. In the bar cabinet the
side mirrors infinitely multiply images and Busnelli, reflected in
such mirrors, says, "Look at how many bottles I have: an infinite
number!" This is his game. Instantly I think that the history of
Italian design is a fantastic and very intelligent game that made
us worldwide famous and, undoubtedly, Ambrogio Busnelli is one of
those who translated this nice game into tangible reality. The bar
cabinet includes an icebox and a refrigerator for drinks and it is
rendered more valuable by the dot-like lights made with colored
LED's. On the floor, under the TV set, the skin of a marvelous
zebra unexpectedly stands out. I look at Busnelli bewildered and
worried by a growing animal-rights concern and he nods, with a sad
look in his eyes, "Yes, as a young man I was a hunter, one of my
many passions. I hunted all over the world, but now that I am a
"grown-up" I filled with animals a large piece of land I own near
here, with the same species of animals I once hunted and whose
trophies I brought home and, I assure you, I care for them
amiably." Two small B&B Italia Citterio tables stand on the zebra
skin in front of the Citterio "George" sofas, upholstered with a
fine sand-colored mixed linen cloth. Fiorella Villa, PR officer of
B&B Italia explains how the quality structure of the sofas is
obtained from an automated procedure with cold polyurethane foam
invented by Ambrogio Busnelli in 1969 after "discovery" of the
precious material in Bayer. Since then upholstered sofas
production continues daily for the world market with marvelous
simplicity. The procedure is based on the use of cold polyurethane
foam with a steel structure submerged in the mold. Behind the
saloon, there is the dining area, which features a low rosewood
cabinet designed by Architect Porfiri, set against the backrest of
the acid-green upholstered sofa. The sliding doors have Perspex
panels with synthetic threads mesh. The dining table is gorgeous.
It was custom-made by the architect and features a glass top
resting on steel cylinders splendidly designed. The particular of
the steel hinges is noteworthy. There are Citterio "Solo" chairs.
From what we have seen so far, it is clear that on PAB, if one
hand represents design and the other one B&B Italia contract
furnishings, both hands firmly entwine creating excellent
interiors. The catalyst of the alchemy is Ambrogio Busnelli, the
"boss" as he is called here. In the bulkhead behind the dining
table there are two of the few decorating objects existing onboard
and they are some sort of Busnelli's signature: two beautiful
Narwhal tusks which he bought from an Eskimo during one of his
trips. The narwhal is a sea creature, of the same family of the
dolphins, but much bigger, with a long straight spirally twisted
tusk used by the animal to stir the sand to find shells to eat.
Hanging on the wall there are also five black and white pictures
of Photographer Mosconi - who later became a collaborator of the
"Dove" magazine - which represent five aspects of the forty-year-
old Busnelli: playboy, hunter in the North Pole and in Africa,
rider, seaman. I look at him and ask, "Seaman?" and he answers,
"Sailing is another one of my passions. I'm a true enthusiast. I
made the tour of the world on a sailing boat." Besides these two
personal finishing touches there is nothing; no decoration exists
onboard for each particular is perfectly integrated. Lighting is
part of the interior decor and is fundamentally important on PAB.
There are three types of lighting. Atmospheric lighting entering
through the windows on the two sides, artificial lighting
resulting from a sophisticated system of LED's suitably positioned
in adequate grooves - in the vertical corners of the bulkheads and
in the horizontal corners of the ceiling - and optical fibers
hidden in the ceiling behind tiny holes, finally traditional
lighting of production lamps resting on the furniture. The
sophisticated automatic light adjustment system as regards
intensity and color by means of a touch-screen is technologically
interesting. This same touch-screen is also used to adjust many
other functions onboard and was installed for the first time on
PAB. Just as two suitably positioned mirrors indefinitely multiply
the same space increasing and embellishing its actual features, in
the same way light is used to multiply space. The ample saloon and
cabins - and bathrooms - appear more so thanks to the possibility
offered by technology of giving different colors to inner spaces.
PAB interiors feature light shafts that can have 250 different
hues starting from one basic color. This designing with light is a
good example of the "maximalist"* richness of interior design:
each color corresponds not only to a different space but also to a
different emotion. On PAB the refined use of mirrors aims at
expanding and multiplying space. We already talked about the
infinite bar cabinet. In the saloon the mirror is used to
infinitely extend the side corridors featuring the striped
flooring and blue eyes of the recessed spotlights. In the VIP and
Twin cabins and respective bathrooms, long shafts of LED light
emphasize the curved section of the ceilings and also of some
corners. In the bathrooms the light reflecting on the mirrors
intersecting with the above-mentioned luminous effect is
extraordinary. In the saloon the optical fibers are discretely
fitted in the suspended ceiling above the table and the sofas and
they look like a handful of small stars. Silver plating diffuses
light on the forward bulkhead facing the entrance and on the
bulkheads of the master stateroom hanging lockers. The simple
windows feature a small wooden bulkhead with horizontal shelf, at
a height of eighty centimeters (approximately 2ft8in), with thin
slots to let out the forced heating air. Curtains, made with a
thin fabric of synthetic fireproof threads, are electronically
controlled from the touch screen. Ambrogio Busnelli shows us the
master stateroom where, he explains, he wanted the upholstered
headboard in capitonè style for the bed and opposite the
upholstered small sofa. Architect Porfiri met this request with a
beautiful Venetian red silk velvet panel rising from the floor and
disappearing into the suspended ceiling. The small sofa is a
simple rectangular pouffe with velvet upholstering. Over the sand
silk bedspread there is a cashmere blanket of the same color. The
bed is made of a steel structure and features a rounded plywood
strip upholstered with leather. Embedded in the bed structure
there is a music loudspeaker. The yacht's bed linen is in silk and
blankets are in cashmere. The only decoration of the master
stateroom is a small antique crucifix. I look at it and ask Mr.
Busnelli, "Are you a believer?" "Yes, a strong believer; my wife
as well." While we are talking small rays of light come down from
the ceiling and light up Mr. Busnelli's face; then, with a finger
he point to the soffit of the four hatches on the ceiling we saw
on the newspaper. They are four simple rectangles connected with
two curves at each end and featuring glass on their outer side and
a synthetic threads mesh on the inner side. "It's a way to let the
first morning light come in, and I wait for it," says Mr.
Busnelli. Above the small sofa there is the TV set and on the
sides two silver-plated wooden hanging lockers. The sliding door
of the bathroom is in opaque glass and inside, the shower stall is
lined with mirrors. All accessories are by Tecma. Especially nice
are the faucets directly applied to the mirror. Along the hallway
connecting the master stateroom there are three stairways. One to
port connecting with the galley - we do not enter here for the
cook is preparing lunch, one to starboard climbing to the
wheelhouse and the central one descending to the lower deck where
there are the VIP cabin and two twin cabins with Pullman beds. In
the VIP cabin there is a large hanging locker with sliding doors
and on the bed there is sand linen and a silk bedspread. The
design of the three cabin doorknobs is extremely refined, with
central axis like that of a safe, made by a skilled Cantù
artisan. The stairwell is worth a special description for it is
really high for a yacht. The steel handrail is finished with a
strip of rolled up leather. It is late and someone is calling us
from the flying bridge for lunch is ready. The extendible wooden
table, designed by Ivana Porfiri, is set with apple-green linen
place mats, personalized porcelain dishware with golden border and
PAB golden letters, crystal glasses and beautiful dated design
pieces such as the water jar of Tobias Scarpa. We are sitting on
Zanotta armchairs, above us there is an electronically controlled
sun-screening top, concealed when not in use. We leave the table
satisfied and actually I am tempted to lie down on one of the four
B&B Italia terry sunpads but we have to set to work. The yacht is
fabulous. Tomorrow we will go to the Novedrate factory built by
Renzo Piano to see how B&B Italia products existing onboard are
born and to see B&B Italia production system, research center,
show-room and the big new establishment where in a very private
atmosphere contract furniture takes shape.
For information: B&B Italia; Strada Provinciale 32; 22060
Novedrate (CO); tel. +39 031 795111; fax +39 031 791592; web site:
www.bebItalia.it; e-mail: beb@bebItalia.it.
(*) The word "maximalist" refers to a new style in interior design as opposed to the predominant
minimalist style. Starting from minimalism, it improves on it, not by rejecting its formal aspects,
but by developing the design potentialities, details or some of its themes in order to involve the
sensory, emotional and intellectual faculties of those who will live in such interiors. (Note by
Franca Urbani)
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