Pioneering Partnerships: Sanlorenzo Asia & Steve Leung

The innovative SX88 was first introduced by the shipyard at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2017, where it forever changed the world’s perspective on how life at sea can be enjoyed. 

Established in Italy in 1958 in Liguria and Tuscany and comprising of four facilities in Ameglia, La Spezia, Viareggio and Massa, Sanlorenzo is one of the most prestigious motoryacht and superyacht builders in the world, dedicated to designing and building the highest quality yachts on the market. In over 60 years of the company’s history, the shipyard has manufactured more than 900 yachts and is now among the top three yacht builders in the world for yachts over 24-metres. Sanlorenzo’s company focus is on building the most exclusive, quality driven yachts that reflect each and every single owner in unique, distinctive ways. 

Since May 2015, Sanlorenzo has been exclusively represented in Asia by Simpson Marine, and the resulting growth of the brand within Asia has been significant. Many new and brokerage Sanlorenzo yachts and superyachts have been delivered to Asia including highlights such as the new SX76, the SL102 Asymmetric and expedition 500EXP superyacht. A number of yachts are currently under construction for Asia-based buyers including the new SL96A and SD96 models, with owners recognising Sanlorenzo’s huge leap in quality and refinement over the more mass-produced offerings in the market.

In 2017 the shipyard introduced its all-new Crossover SX (Sport Explorer) range to its fibreglass Yacht Division, which until then had comprised of the planing SL range and semi displacement SD ranges. The new crossover SX range was inspired by the new and changing ways that yacht owners wished to live their lives at sea – highlighting exploration and freedom as new lifestyle concepts.

As the first in the SX line, the SX88 represents a successful and clever combination between classic flybridge yachts and increasingly popular explorer-style superyachts that Sanlorenzo first introduced to the market, with their superyacht 460EXP and 500EXP models currently cruising worldwide.

On regular occasion, as part of their core DNA, Sanlorenzo joins together with some of the world’s most renowned designers, including Piero Lissoni, Patricia Urquiola and Laura Sessa, among others, to create unique yachts for their owners. This time, a partnership has been established with Steve Leung, the Hong Kong-based award-winning architect, interior and product designer, and Founder of Steve Leung Design Group, one of the largest design practices in Asia.

By collaborating with an Asian designer for the first time, Sanlorenzo wanted to reconfirm its cosmopolitan vision for the yacht industry, while also aiming to reflect its profound respect and appreciation towards local cultures. This special partnership also marked Steve’s first experience in yacht design, bringing a new take on the industry with each project infused with a unique Asia-inspired flair that mirrors the distinctive personalities of each owner.

“Yacht design has long been dominated by a Western lifestyle approach, which is very different from the way we live in Asia, especially in China,” explains Steve. A keen yachtsman himself, Steve integrates his unrivalled expertise in premier residential design to create contemporary, functional and human-oriented spaces customized to Asian lifestyle preferences, perfectly combining word-class quality and sophisticated comfort with a profound understanding of customer behaviour.