Future relic
The city of art and water, Venice, and a boat that itself is a work of art — a perfect match. Bellini Yacht invited renowned American artist Daniel Arsham to design its debut model, the Astor 36.
Arsham clearly has a knack for business and is quite successful with commercial collaborations. Over the years, he has worked with Hublot, Tiffany & Co., Porsche, and served as the creative director for the Cleveland Cavaliers, an NBA team from his hometown of Cleveland. In Moscow, Adidas Originals x Daniel Arsham running shoes are on sale. Naturally, the enterprising artist developed his own logo (two connected A letters) and even a signature gray-green color, “Arsham Green,” inspired by the hue of sea foam. All of this was fully utilized in the yacht’s design.
The boat is worth considering not only as a piece of applied art but also as an intriguing model for anyone seeking a powerful 11-meter yacht in a trendy Mediterranean style, with clean, sharp exterior lines. It’s worth noting that this is a highly competitive category. What does the brand from Lake Iseo intend to stand out with? Design, quality of finishes, and convenient layout.
The Astor 36 belongs to the walkaround type of yachts, with a central control console. It features a large swim platform that expands with folding sections of high gunwales. These are so spacious that the transom sunbed can be easily circled from all sides to access the cockpit. The sunbed lifts to reveal access to the engine compartment. A convenient ladder for water entry by Besenzoni extends from the platform.
The cockpit includes a folding dining table with two sofas placed opposite each other. The rear sofa is connected to the sunbed, and its backrest can be moved to increase the size of the sun deck. Behind the pilot’s seat is a shallow yet functional bar with a sink, a two-burner cooktop, a refrigerator, and storage for snacks and drinks.
The sleek high-tech dashboard is entirely touchscreen, divided into zones. It is built on Simrad equipment.
The bow area is designated for relaxation, featuring two seats in front of the windshield and a triangular front sunbed.
What’s impressive is the cabin, where every square centimeter of space is cleverly utilized. For an 11-meter cruiser, it’s quite an achievement to fit a bedroom with a comfortable bed on a high mattress, a table, a bathroom, and, most notably, two additional sleeping spaces under the stairs. It’s more than sufficient for a family cruise with children.
The boat can be equipped with a pair of Volvo Penta V8 350 gasoline engines or D4 300 DPH diesel engines, providing 350 and 300 horsepower respectively. The maximum speed in the top configuration reaches 39 knots.
The “Arsham edition” stands out with a distinctive shape for the side air intakes. The color scheme is kept in elegant shades of gray and black, combined with Arsham Green. The carbon hardtop is marked with the “Arsham” inscription (as is the steering wheel), and the swim platform made of faux teak in smoky gray is adorned with a logo imitating converging wooden planks. The design of the control panel has also been updated (created in collaboration with Mònade Studio). The cabin interior features custom-made fabrics. A mirror and sink from the Kohler x Daniel Arsham collection are seamlessly integrated into the interior.
The artist explains: “My goal was to create something very elegant and impactful. I’m always looking for partners willing to put in maximum effort and allow me to try new solutions. I found such a partner in Bellini.”
Bellini Yacht is a brand beyond age. On one hand, it’s very young, having been founded in 2023. On the other hand, it has a rich heritage. In 1960, Battista Bellini from Sarnico (the same town known as the stronghold of Riva) began building wooden boats under the Sebino brand. Two years later, he launched a successful business under his own name. Unfortunately, in 1973, Bellini fell seriously ill, and the family business declined. In 1980, his 16-year-old son Romano inherited it. He managed to stabilize the situation and shifted focus to selling, repairing, and restoring boats. Two years ago, the family returned to the world of yacht building. The board of directors now includes Romano, his children, and… Norberto Ferretti, the patriarch of the yachting world and one of the co-founders of Ferretti Yachts. Incidentally, Romano Bellini is a great connoisseur of classic Riva boats. His other company, Bellini Classic, is known as one of the best restorers of vintage Aquarama boats.
To start, Bellini Yacht introduced three models of luxury cruisers under the name Astor — 36-, 58-, and 68-foot versions. Italians have a fondness for resonant English names. However, “Astor” fits perfectly: it evokes the world of old money, “those” Astors (and perhaps echoes the tap dance of the impeccably elegant Fred Astaire).
A perfect fit for the artist’s style, who loves showcasing destruction and rebirth in his works and stylizing art objects as archaeological finds. His creativity spans visual art, architecture, performances, and cinema, blending the past, present, and future, demonstrating the plasticity and power of nostalgia, often through references to events of the late 20th century.
Martina Bellini, Marketing Director of Gruppo Bellini, explains: “Together with Daniel Arsham, we wanted to go beyond functional design, creating an object that interacts with time, space, and perception.”
The Astor 36 by Daniel Arsham also represents cutting-edge technological innovation in the yacht sector. Each boat is assigned a digital passport (DPP) based on blockchain technology. It is activated via a QR code on a card provided with the boat. This ensures transparency in the supply chain and the life cycle of the vessel.
