Gilles & Boissier
Gilles & Boissier is a Paris-based interior design studio that made a dramatic entry into superyacht design with the 55m CRN Atlante, applying their residential expertise and military-inspired aesthetic to create the 'anti-yacht' unveiled at the 2015 Monaco Yacht Show.
Residential Designers Take to the Sea
Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier, founders of Paris-based Gilles & Boissier, built their reputation designing homes, restaurants, and boutiques before venturing into yachting . When a European business magnate—a client of nearly 15 years—commissioned them for his 55m motor yacht, watercraft were somewhat virgin territory, though they had previously designed two sailboats, Blackwood 1 and Blackwood 2, for the same owner . The result, Atlante, unveiled at the 2015 Monaco Yacht Show, became an instant icon as the 'anti-yacht' .
The Atlante: Military Precision, Residential Luxury
The owner wanted his liner to have the stylistic identity of military ships—something aggressive contrasting with water's smoothness . Gilles & Boissier worked closely with CRN from initial drawings through 3D renderings, designing the yacht like a house while respecting practical maritime considerations . They used 20 tonnes of Italian marble (Calacatta Vagli and Carnico), smoked oak, brushed silver fir, and custom-made furniture throughout . The beach club was reimagined as the yacht's main entrance—an unconventional choice at owner's behest—equipped with solarium, Turkish bath, gym, and lounging areas .
The main deck owner's suite features brushed black oak, eucalyptus, leather, and linen specially designed by the owner's wife . On the main deck aft, side hatches open to transform the space into discotheque, bar, or home theatre with wide couches allowing guests to feel almost level with the water—a sensation typically reserved for sailboats . Gilles reflects: 'For us designing the Atlante was a continuity of our long collaboration with the owner. Our main concern was to be sure we understood what he wanted' .
