Hot Lab, the Italian design studio behind the award-winning interiors for Arcadia Yachts M/Y RJ at the World Superyacht Awards 2019, is now celebrating 15 years of success since its founding in 2004. The company has worked extensively with prestigious shipyards across the Mediterranean and beyond, including Baglietto, Oceanco, Moonen, Nobiskrug and Turquoise Yachts.

Superyacht Ipanema – Exterior and Interior design by Hot Lab

As Hot Lab continues to go from strength to strength and evolve with the times, we speak with founding member Antonio Romano (Marketing & Strategy Director) about past designs and what the future holds.

How did Hot Lab originally form?

We set up the studio in 2004, maybe too young at the time… The ‘Hot’ part represents the Italian creativity, the spicy flavour that is part of our background. The ‘Lab’ part is about the professional imprinting that we’ve given to our Studio. We’re very meticulous to every single detail and we always provide our services on time and to schedule.

Baglietto 54m motor yacht – design by Hot Lab

Hot Lab is a multi-award winning design studio: Was there any award that you are particularly pleased to receive or an award you are hoping to add to your name in the near future?

Personally I was always in love with M/Y KEYLA, a 43m/141.1ft vessel from Trinity Yachts that was re-built by RMK Yachts. Now she is 45m/147.6ft with a fantastic contemporary interior design, whereas before she sported a super classic style. The owners are still using her after almost five years and there is no intention to change her.

For the future I really don’t know; let’s say that any awards for one of the yachts that we’ve in built is more than welcome.

45m Motor yacht Keyla – interior design element – created by Hot Lab

45m Motor yacht Keyla – interior design by Hot Lab

What was your first superyacht project and what were the challenges?

She was a 30m/98ft luxury yacht called BISCUIT, done together with Filippetti Yachts. She was our first full custom interior project and the first time we had the opportunity to talk daily with the yacht’s Owner. We had a ridiculous budget for the interior and the funny thing is that the yacht after 13 years (and two different new owners) is still the same. I’ve seen her at the last Miami Boat Show and now she is called ARQUIMEDES.

What is Hot Lab currently working on?

Actually we’ve eight yachts in-build and four more projects on the drawing table. Four yachts will be delivered this year: The Arcadia A105 M/Y SEA CORAL II (delivered last month), a 43m/141.1ft superyacht with custom interior for a private customer currently in-build at the Yildiz Shipyard in Istanbul, the Arcadia Sherpa XL with interior and exterior by Hot Lab that will be presented at the upcoming Cannes Yachting Festival, and last but not least we will be delivering our second sailing boat, an 18.3m/60ft with our interior design done for Hylas Yachts.

Motor yacht Sea Coral II – main salon interior created by Hot Lab. Photo credit Alberto Cocchi

Sea Coral II – master suite. Photo credit Alberto Cocchi

Next year we will be delivering a 54m/177ft luxury yacht, now in-build at Baglietto with our interior design project, and another full custom project at Yildiz Yachts, 41m/134ft in length and again with our interiors.

The other yachts will be launched in 2021 while for the new projects we prefer to talk about after the Monaco Yacht Show 2019 (running from the 25th-28th September).

Motor yact COLUMBUS 40 HYBRID – interior design by Hot Lab. Photo credit Alberto Cocchi

Does your studio have a signature design style, colour and/or materials for interiors or exteriors?

As you’ve seen from our work in progress we’re specialised in full custom works, and so we like to listen the client’s idea and then develop something unique for them: Let’s say that we are too much influenced by the trends in order to create something that can be considered ‘timeless’.

Exterior and interior design created by Hot Lab for motor yacht Sherpa XL

What is your favourite interior and favourite exterior so far and why?

In order to be polite with our clients I prefer to say that my favourite one will be always the next one.

Have there been any significant technological innovations that have allowed for more bespoke or unusual designs, breaking from the convention of that era? How have superyacht trends changed over the last 15 years and what will the next 15 hold?

For both questions I shall say that the trend is to be always more close to the water and to be surrounded by the landscapes around the yacht. The ‘beach club beside the water’ from the last 15 years is now considered a Must Have on board. The same thing can be said for big glass surfaces and the possibility of having inside/out areas, and technology is in fact moving in that direction.

68m Motor yacht DAYS – render

68m motor yacht DAYS – interior – render

Upcoming motor yachts from Hot Lab include AES Yacht DAYS for 2020, a 67m/219.8ft explorer from Viareggio Superyachts due in 2021 and a 62m/203.4ft luxury yacht NACRE 62 from Sarp Yachts also expected in the same year. Currently on the market and available for charter in the Western Mediterranean is luxury yacht SEA CORAL II, one of the latest luxury yachts  launched featuring a spectacular Hot Lab-designed interior.