Cantori Design Challenge 2026: Design Beyond the Horizon

When design meets movement, new ways of living emerge

Living in motion

What happens when design is no longer bound to a place, but begins to follow movement?

Design is about creating relationships: between form and function, material and technology, creative vision and construction expertise. But when the very context of living changes, the rules of design evolve as well.

At sea, space is never completely static. Light changes with the landscape, proportions shift, materials must respond to new demands, and the boundary between interior and exterior becomes increasingly fluid.

It is within this ever-changing dimension that the second edition of the Cantori Design Challenge takes shape: a project created by Cantori in collaboration with Cantiere delle Marche, bringing together interior design and yacht design to explore new visions of contemporary living.

Following the success of the first edition, which created a new platform for exchange among architects, designers and industry professionals, the Challenge returns with an even stronger international dimension. Nine prestigious architecture and interior design studios have been invited to reinterpret the spaces of the Flexplorer 146 by Cantiere delle Marche, an explorer yacht designed around personalization, flexibility and the ability to adapt to different experiences.

The participating studios are: Annabella Nassetti, b-arch, Dainelli Studio, De.Tales, Gascón Group, Giò Forma, Giuseppe Tortato Architetti, GMS Studio Associato and Paolo Frello & Partners.

The challenge is not simply to furnish a yacht, but to imagine new ways of experiencing space in motion. Three iconic areas – the Owner Cabin, Main Saloon and Main Aft Deck – become the starting point for a reflection on comfort, identity, materials and the relationship between interior and landscape.

When two design worlds meet

For Cantori, the dialogue with the nautical world is not a new direction, but the natural evolution of a journey built over time.

For 25 years, the company has been active in the yacht sector through a dedicated division focused on the design and production of custom interiors for high-end vessels. An experience deeply rooted in the brand’s identity: a 50-year history shaped by manufacturing culture, material research, attention to detail and a bespoke approach to personalization.

It is this culture of making that creates a shared language with the world of yachting: the desire to go beyond standards, interpret specific needs and transform every environment into a unique space with its own identity.

In a world increasingly shaped by standardisation, Cantori continues to explore the value of uniqueness: spaces designed around people, their stories and their individual ways of living.

Music as an invisible material

The second edition of the Challenge is guided by an unexpected source of inspiration: music.

Each studio has been invited to draw inspiration from a different artist or sonic universe, transforming rhythm, atmosphere and emotion into space.

From the timeless harmonies of Ella Fitzgerald to the cinematic compositions of Ennio Morricone, from the experimentation of Pink Floyd to the narrative power of Eminem, music becomes an invisible architecture: a language capable of suggesting new interpretations of life at sea.

The creative journey began with a direct immersion into the design cultures of Cantori and Cantiere delle Marche, through visits to the companies’ production facilities and a close encounter with materials, techniques, processes and expertise.

Because every authentic project begins with a deep understanding of what makes it possible: materials, craftsmanship, technology and the people who transform an idea into reality.

Beyond the boundaries of space

In this context, design becomes more than an aesthetic response: it becomes a sensory and narrative experience. Every choice – from textile textures to metal finishes, from lighting to spatial arrangements – contributes to creating an environment capable of accompanying people on a unique and personal journey.

The Cantori Design Challenge journey will reach a significant moment within the prestigious setting of the Monaco Yacht Show, one of the most important international events in the world of yachting, where the three selected projects will be awarded.

Beyond the final outcome, the Cantori Design Challenge represents the natural evolution of a vision that has guided Cantori for fifty years: a design capable of crossing boundaries, connecting different expertise and transforming customization into an authentic form of expression.

Because design evolves when it encounters new territories, new ideas and new possibilities.

And when the horizon changes, the way we live changes with it.