Benetti – FB 276 Metis

Superyacht 65-Spring-2020

Metis is the name given to the 63 metre steel and aluminium custom built motor yacht initialled by a pool made up of international architects and designers with whom Benetti got first prize for “Best Exterior Design” in the course of the 2019 World Yacht Trophies. Awards.

Metis, Benetti Yachts’ 63 metre long motor yacht with a beam of more than 10 was delivered to the owner in Leghorn’s ship yard in June last. Coded FB276 it is the result of close team work and dynamic synergy between Benetti Yachts and a pool of international designers and architects namely by Giorgio Cassetta from Italy who handled the exterior styling, while British studio Bannenberg & Rowell and German atelier Birgit Otte Interiors handled the interiors.

Original video by the shipyard

A German owner commissioned the task to Yacht Moments president Kurt Lehmann who oversaw the entire construction process as consultant acting on behalf of the owner. Metis owes its exterior design which won at the 2019 World Yacht Trophies Awards to Giorgio M. Cassetta who declared: “Metis is a modern yet timeless looking yacht which reveals considerable exploitable volumes behind fluid lines and considerable innovation such as the whole of a private deck. The design work is minimal but nevertheless typical of Benetti Yachts”. The final result is a well proportioned dynamic looking yacht featuring sinuous lines which streamline an otherwise imposing silhouette.

On the other hand the interiors initialled by Bannenberg & Rowell and by Birgit Otte Interior feature sophisticated modern styling which stands out more in the beach club, and in the lounge area along the upper deck offering guests a diverse perception of the spaces which differ from their expectations.
“Metis’ special layout has freed us from what I define as being tyrannical in terms of symmetry and has allowed us to open new angles and vision concerning asymmetrical design work” said Dickie Bannenberg. With Birgit Otte’s interior design studio they both delivered an elegant and refined decor featuring whitened oak wood finishes, as well as carbon fibre and polished steel and several other precious materials as calacatta marble in a variety of diverse shapes and colour schemes.

Great care for detail has been addressed to the owner’s quarters which extend along the upper deck area covering as many as 162 square metres of surface area, with contouring ample window like ports that practically cover the entire length of the owner’s quarters producing plenty of natural light inside as well as a splendid panoramic view on the horizon. The owner’s quarters contain two bathrooms and a pair of walk-in wardrobe cabins, a day living room area, a master cabin as well as a 55 square metre terrace equipped with touch-and-go helipad.

More cabins are situated between the main and lower decks. Along the first one there are two, one’s a double and the other is for a nanny, while there’s also a large living area with lounge, a dining room and a children’s play room. Below that along the lower deck, there’s a separate area dedicated to a crew of up to twelve and a beach club situated further astern with two lateral platforms which open outward like the transom. The captain’s cabin is situated along the bridge adjacent to a modern helm controls station where there is also an exterior lounge furnished with a dining table, a sunbathing spot and a Jacuzzi tub. The fifth deck hosts a 20 square metre gym sketched out by Yacht Moments, but interpreted and fine tuned by Giorgio Cassetta and a team of Benetti designers.

“We’ve managed to maintain the same excellent level of quality we are accustomed to and which has always made our products stand out of the chorus line while fully complying to owners’ requests, including those which have been made during construction work, such as a custom built gym up along the fly deck” commented Franco Fusignani CEO at Benetti.

About Benetti

Text by Danny Lo – Photos by Jeff Brown

The sea trial was pubblished in Superyacht 65 -Spring 2020