The winning projects of the second edition of the Cantori Design Challenge: From Land to Sea have been announced. The project, promoted by Cantori in collaboration with Cantiere delle Marche with the aim of connecting the worlds of residential interior design and yachting, continues the exploration of the relationship between these two design fields, an initiative launched by the Marche-based company, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The purpose of the contest was to explore and interpret three owner’s areas of a Flexplorer 146 Yacht – Owner Cabin, Main Saloon and Main Aft Deck – through the design lens of nine architecture and interior design studios which, for the first time, were dealing with the nautical dimension. The theme ‘from land to sea’ set out the guidelines for the concept’s focus: translating the language of residential design into a yacht, while rethinking the ship as a complex living space, where comfort, form, functionality and identity coexist in harmony.
This second edition of the Cantori Design Challenge saw a number of the most renowned architecture and interior design practices on the Italian and international scene compete: Annabella Nassetti, b-arch, Dainelli Studio, De.Tales, Gascón Group, Giò Forma, Giuseppe Tortato Architetti, GMS Studio Associato, Paolo Frello & Partners.
The chosen concept for the development of the design proposals took shape from the world of music, understood as a narrative device and a source of design inspiration. Four iconic figures, belonging to different historical periods and expressive styles, became the starting point for defining the concepts: Ella Fitzgerald, with her vision of harmony, freedom and refinement; Ennio Morricone, capable of translating a narrative into sonic tension and emotional structure; Pink Floyd, interpreters of an immersive, perceptual and dynamic dimension of space; and Eminem, an emblem of contemporary songwriting characterised by rhythm, introspection and authenticity. Each studio selected one of these figures, reinterpreting them as thesensory and cultural foundation of their own project.
The nine proposals, all of exceptionally high quality, were carefully evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, including Vasco Buonpensiere, Founder and CEO of Cantiere delle Marche; Désirée Sormani, Managing Director of The One Yacht & Design; Alessandro Valenti, Editor-in-Chief of elledecor.it and About, and Arianna Bionda, Architect, researcher and Director of the Executive Master’s in Interior Yacht Design at the Politecnico di Milano. Each project was evaluated individually according to clear and agreed criteria: expressive power, the originality of the solutions and aesthetic coherence, the optimisation of space and functionality, comfort understood as a sensory and luxurious experience, and finally the ability to present and describe the project through effective storytelling.
The 2026 edition of the contest awarded first place to “Presence” by De.Tales, followed by “The Unseen Side of Luxury” by Dainelli Studio. The third place was jointly awarded to “Scion Scion” by b-arch and “Morricone Reloaded” by Giò Forma.
The four selected studios will be hosted at the Monaco Yacht Show (23–26 September 2026), one of the sector’s most prestigious events, at the Cantiere delle Marche stand, where the official awards ceremony will take place. This recognition establishes the Cantori Design Challenge as an international research platform, capable of combining Italian craftsmanship with an innovative and experimental vision, opening up new perspectives on the role of design as a meeting point between tradition and the future.
As with the first edition of the Cantori Design Challenge, all the projects will be collected in the Contest Book published by Cantori. This booklet highlights the cultural and design relevance of the initiative, and is intended to showcase the new ideas that have emerged to the shipowners at the Cantiere.
