In the field of yachts and superyachts Italy has historically been a recognized as a world leader. Just think of the fact that about half of all superyachts are built in Italy, the first European manufacturer and the second in the world, behind the United States. Italy is home to many of the most important shipyards, designers, engineers and suppliers of components; the Salone Nautico in Genoa is the most important event of the sector in the Mediterranean area. Shipowners from all over the world turn to Italy and exports account for between 80 and 90% of production.

We have always worked in this context. Ekinex products are developed and manufactured in Italy. We proudly affirm our Italian nature: it is a fundamental value that we wish to express in our product, the result of the talent of our designers and the care taken by our collaborators to create it. We were born and raised in a country of great beauty and long history, in us the passion for style is authentic and deep. We support the idea that design cannot be limited to a pure aesthetic exercise, but must include ease of use, immediate understanding of the function and a balanced and intelligent application of technology.

While there remain some differences in the design of the interiors of luxury boats and houses, today the two worlds show a clear convergence. It is no coincidence that designers from other sectors are currently engaged in interior design, especially from the high-level residential sector. In common there are aspects such as the careful planning of the environments, the search for the livability of the interior and exterior spaces, the great attention to details or the value of craftsmanship.

The reasons? Over the last two decades a lot has changed in the design of interiors for yachts and superyachts. If up until twenty years ago the classic marine style was favored, since then a contemporary vision of interior design has emerged clearly influenced by what is done in homes. And, in addition, each yacht must express a unique language and personality, just like a house.

Moreover, the clients express to designers the desire to spend daily life aboard yachts with the same comfort and the same level of well-being to which they are accustomed in their home. It is therefore not surprising that home automation has become a standard feature of these exclusive boats. Its visible part must therefore guarantee that it is not subject to temporary fashions, as in the case of Ekinex wall-mounted controls that maintain their elegance and identity thanks to the design characterized by essential and timeless lines.

On board a yacht or a superyacht it has become normal to design flexible and multifunctional recreational spaces. The same space can from time to time act as a cinema, a wellness environment, a bar or an entertainment room for the family. The open spaces, when not present on the yachts, need to be managed properly. In some cases, the design is so innovative that the very concept of division between internal and external spaces is modified or disappears. To allow a multifunctional use of these environments, the role played by the domotic scenarios is therefore central.

In these cases, interior designers are called upon to perform a demanding task. Think, for example, of what happens with televisions: as customers require engaging experiences, today very large luminaires are set up - to occupy entire walls - and this poses a problem of integration into the environment. A large black surface would in fact compromise the aesthetics; for this purpose, the screen can however be hidden and displayed only when necessary, thanks to the recall of a predefined scenario. The same scenario simultaneously sets the right lighting in terms of direction, intensity and color and moves the shading devices.

A fundamental requirement is to maintain ease of use and immediacy in understanding the actions that are referred to. In fact, in addition to the owner and his family, they are often on board guests who are not familiar with the boat. The Ekinex controls - completed with the symbols of the function performed - are increasingly common in these applications, thanks to an extensive library of standard icons and the possibility of creating custom symbols based on the user's needs.

On a yacht, users want to control all on-board systems: from lighting to climate control, passing through shading devices to get to audio-video equipment. For this purpose touch-panels, tablets, smartphones are used and, for some functions, even voice control.

To integrate the various systems quickly and without problems, it is essential to use an open and interoperable home automation system, as in the case of ekinex, developed according to the international KNX standard.