Strength In Simplicity

Marco Bonelli and Marijana Radovic are the essence of a dynamic duo, sharing a complementary vision for family as well as design. From their m²atelier architecture and design studio in Milan, Italy, the married couple has worked on notable recent projects such as the 213-foot (65-meter) Codecasa Regina d’Italia and the 190-foot (58-meter) Codecasa Kathryn.

“The distinctive feature of all m²atelier projects, on whatever scale and latitude, is our constant effort to reduce the superfluous,” Bonelli says. “This is a selective attitude which abolishes elements of redundancy and semantic overload to achieve a dry, streamlined, minimalist design, summed up in the motto ‘Less is Enough.’”

Their studio, founded in 2011, is based in a renovated cookware factory built around a courtyard. Radovic calls their workspace/home a casa bottega. Bonelli and Radovic live upstairs with their 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. The ground floor has offices, conference rooms and a materials library, with a staff of approximately 40 designers, architects and others.

“Despite our numbers, we still operate like a small atelier,” Radovic says. “Marco and I always like to be available to our clients. We do not simply hand off a project and walk away.”

That was certainly true in Gdansk, Poland, where Radovic attended the recent christening of the 145-foot (44-meter) Conrad Extra Time. The trideck is a near-sistership of the builder’s flagship Ace, launched in 2022. Interior layout and design on both yachts is by m²atelier. Extra Time’s owners—first-time buyers—wanted their new build to retain many of the same characteristics as Ace.

“The aim was to create spaces that reflect the owners’ expectations and habits, preserving much of the highly appreciated initial project,” Radovic says. “Extra Time’s identity, characterized by meticulous, tailored details and carefully selected materials, aspires to provide moments of total freedom in a luxurious, yet informal environment that harmoniously resonates with personal needs and the natural context.”

Helping clients to achieve their vision comes with years of practice. Bonelli was born and raised in Genoa, Italy, and graduated from the University of Genoa’s architecture school. He then collaborated with Philippe Starck in Paris; worked in Barcelona on urban and residential projects; and, in 1996, moved to New York and received a master’s degree in architecture from Columbia University. In 2000, Bonelli founded the BAM studio with offices in New York and Milan. He concentrated on high-end residential projects and fashion retail spaces for such companies as Jil Sander, Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani and Dolce&Gabbana.

Radovic grew up in Serbia. She says no one in her family had anything to do with architecture or boats, yet she was personally driven to attend Milan Polytechnic and study yacht design. At the time she was there, about 20 years ago, she felt like a foreigner in multiple ways.

“I remember classmates talking about family boats,” she says. “I was raised in a landlocked country, and boats were not part of my upbringing, but somehow I have always been drawn to sailing. Maybe one reason is because I like small spaces.”

Radovic found nautical design work with Lazzarini Pickering Architects in Rome. Later, she moved to Geneva and Athens, where she worked for a shipping magnate. She then founded Standby Studio in Serbia’s capital of Belgrade and in Athens, concentrating on interior design, before moving to Milan and opening a new studio. Her workspace in Milan was near Bonelli’s studio. Mutual friends introduced them.

They soon combined ongoing projects and garnered new work together, doing their best to play to their strengths. “I wish one of us had the business head,” Radovic says, “but actually both of us are creatives.”

Radovic says they cross-pollinate ideas all the time, whether at the conference table or over morning coffee. By and large, the m2 approach is to spend time with clients, getting to know them and their habits. The couple like to visit clients’ homes and understand the choreography of their days.

“Our attitude with clients is not so much about whether they like the color white or yellow, but how they live.” Radovic says.

In 2022, m²atelier did the interior design for the 184-foot (56-meter) Vitters Alea, an ultra-modern, high-tech composite sailing yacht with exteriors by Frers Design. Currently, m²atelier is collaborating with Azimut Yachts on its Grande series; handling the custom interior for Hull No. 3 in Overmarine’s Mangusta 165 Rev series; and working on a 164-foot (50-meter) explorer, a 55-foot (17-meter) Persico, a 262-foot (80-meter) Feadship, and the 100-foot (30-meter) BlackCat 30 sailing catamaran concept with Malcolm McKeon in the United Kingdom.

Whether designing the prestigious Core Club in midtown Manhattan, a hotel and residence in Norway, a beach house in Australia, or a superyacht in Poland, Bonelli and Radovic agree that it is essential to strike a balance between lofty visions and practicality. Yin/yang, Italian/Serbian, mom/dad—it appears as if this super partnership has squared itself with a good working formula on all fronts.

The couple’s personal style tends toward being minimal and simple. Their vision, Bonelli says, is one of sustainable minimalism. It is about what’s essential, from materials to resources, promoting efficiency and reducing waste.

“The pandemic has heightened environmental awareness, making sustainable practices more prevalent,” Bonelli says. “This approach ensures conscious and lasting design, aligning with the growing trend towards environmentally friendly solutions.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue.