A CLEAR BEAUTY: ON BOARD THE 47M HOT LAB-DESIGNED ACQUA CHIARA
Milan-based studioHot Lab, part of the Viken Group, has revealed its latest, truly spectacular superyacht project: the 47-metre Columbus Yachts’ Acqua Chiara.Delivered to an Italian entrepreneur in 2025, the superyacht was originally based on a 43-metre platform before being lengthened under her owner’s direction to achieve more elegant proportions and a heightened onboard balance.
A head-turning vessel on the water, Acqua Chiara follows the unmistakable design pattern of her predecessors in the Atlantique line, despite her four additional metres in length, and still fits comfortably within a 499 GT envelope.
With exterior lines by Hot Lab and naval architecture penned by Columbus Yachts, the stern lines are a defining feature of the vessel, whose identity, like all of those in the Atlantique range, is drawn from a sailing-inspired design philosophy. The aft spaces are arranged across three closely connected levels in a design which prioritises onboard liveability, whilst maintaining a strong connection with the sea.
Travelling from bow to stern, Acqua Chiara features an elegant covered dining area, a central lounge with a pool and fold-down balconies, and a flexible platform complete with a transformer, which is positioned just 50 centimetres above the waterline.
Enjoy immediate liveability as Enrico Lumini, co-founder and design director at Hot Lab explains, the function of Acqua Chiara as a refined and exclusive charter vessel played a major role in the studio’s particular design direction for the project.
“When a yacht is conceived with charter in mind, the priority becomes immediate liveability: guests should feel confident from minute one, even if it’s their first time on board. We focused on clarity of zoning (social vs private), intuitive circulation, and multiple parallel experiences so different groups can enjoy the yacht simultaneously.”
Notably, the yacht is built around multiple, flexible social scenes: the upper deck can shift from lounge to cinema-style set-up and the main social zones are designed to support both relaxed daytime living and more formal evenings without altering the yacht’s identity.
Furthermore, the Atlantique’s unique layout also helped to bring this structure to life, as Lumini highlights:“The stern is organised over three cascading levels that naturally separate dining, lounge/pool and sea access, while maintaining a strong connection to the water, exactly what charter guests look for day after day.”
Modern detail meets timeless warmth stepping inside, Acqua Chiara is designed to be universally welcoming, with a timeless, bright architectural base built upon by controlled accents, texture and crafted surfaces, creating a refined, recognisable and warm atmosphere.
The interiors’ classic appeal is enhanced through the harnessing of numerous contemporary touches, such as dark metal-effect finishes, Sicis mosaic and Vetrite panels.
A truly standout area on board, her large main saloon features large custom sofas in white sponge fabric with blue edging, alongside effortlessly-stylish Fendi Totu armchairs and a teak coffee table.
The white parquet floors and natural oak ceilings partially lacquered in matt white create a bright and airy effect. Furthermore, laquered wood wall coverings with a subtle metal effect frame her expansive floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides of the vessel, with guests benefitting from plentiful natural light throughout.
Quarters fit for kings and queens Acqua Chiara accommodates up to ten guests in style and comfort across five generous staterooms, who are looked after by a dedicated crew of nine. The owner’s suite is located on the main deck and is effectively a private apartment, showcasing a strong design signature dark leather framing, burnished metal details and Galaxy blue glass surfaces.
The suite is completed by a spa-grade bathroom experience with a marble bath and separate shower, all of which are covered in a stunning glass mosaic.
The additional guest quarters can be found on the lower deck. Maintaining the same fundamental design DNA as the owner’s suite, they spotlight white marble, tactile contrasts and Sicis mosaic accents in a calmer register, ensuring effortless comfort and relaxation for those on board.
An evolving design language as the third yacht in Hot Lab and Columbus Yachts’ Atlantique line to date, Acqua Chiara also represents a major evolution in Hot Lab’s design language.
Antonio Romano, commercial and marketing director of the Viken Group and co-founder of Hot Lab explains further: “It embodies our philosophy of ‘incremental innovation’ which we have been quietly pursuing for several years. We have been working behind the scenes to improve small elements of each project to optimise both the yacht’s construction and the experience of life on board, and this has been realised through Acqua Chiara.”
Just some examples of this in practice include the clearer integration of technology into architecture so that it does not interrupt the interior’s calm (such as screens embedded into surfaces); the pairing of timeless materials with contemporary surfaces to add depth and durability; and day-to-night flexibility in social areas, where spaces shift mood through clever lighting and layout logic, rather than by rearranging the yacht itself.
The Hot Lab touch finally, as Antonio Romano explains, the balance of architectural calm, material richness and practicality found on board the 47-metre superyacht is unmistakably ‘Hot Lab’.
“The Hot Lab touch is the combination of welcoming simplicity with precisely designed details, an interior that looks composed, but is engineered for real, intensive use,” says Romano.
