Sculptural Design Studio
Project N°17 explores what happens when the elegance and tension of automotive design are translated into an entirely different environment. Conceived as a 28-metre sport yacht, the project began with a simple ambition: to create something that feels fast and dynamic, even when standing still.
The design draws inspiration from Mazda’s Kodo — Soul of Motion philosophy and, in particular, from three designs we have long admired: the RX-Vision, Vision Coupé and Kai Concept. Their flowing surfaces, restrained elegance and sense of movement became an important reference throughout the design process.
Rather than creating a car for the water, these influences were reinterpreted through nautical proportions. A long sculpted bow, low sweeping roofline and clean, uninterrupted surfaces give the yacht its own identity, while subtle automotive influences remain visible in the tension and flow of its form.
The sculpture reduces the yacht to these essential lines and volumes, allowing proportion and surface to take centre stage. The result is a design that feels elegant yet purposeful — shaped by automotive inspiration, but unmistakably created for the water.