Besenzoni took part in the FuoriSalone for the second year, presenting the art installation “Reflections on the Sea”, created in collaboration with the Christian Grande design studio, a long-standing partner of the company. The work explored the relationship between humans and the sea through light effects, mirrored surfaces, and innovative design that blends aesthetics with functionality. We took the opportunity during our visit to the installation to interview Giorgio Besenzoni, CEO of the company specializing in accessories for sailing and motorboats such as gangways, cranes for launching tenders and water toys, helm chairs, and much more.
Let’s start with the title of the installation, “Reflections on the Sea.” It’s a concept that speaks volumes about your approach to nautical accessory design. What inspired your participation in FuoriSalone 2025?
“We thought about it from the very beginning with Christian Grande. We wanted to work on a concept that would represent our philosophy of commitment—the sea, the horizon, and the quality of raw materials. After all, Besenzoni is a metalworking company; we work with stainless steel, a shiny and durable material. But our products are also about design. I asked Christian to translate all this into an installation, with the sea and the horizon as the connecting themes. The result is a sculpture that rises from the floor and reaches toward the sky, made with mirrored blades that capture the essence of looking toward the future”.
How important are technology and design to Besenzoni?
“They are essential. To grow in this market, which caters to increasingly demanding customers, you always have to go the extra mile and invest in cutting-edge technologies. We see this in everything we use in our daily lives—like cars or smartphones. Models from just five years ago are completely different from those today. So we also have to keep up with the times, both in terms of technology and design. Our products can remain on a boat for up to 30 years, so we must design them to be aesthetically pleasing, with low impact, and still appreciated in the future”.
You’ve established an atelier for bespoke production—arguably the ultimate expression of design. How is this division doing?
“It’s going well. I think it was a clever idea, and it’s delivering good results. We’ve involved many skilled craftsmen, including experts in wooden boat construction—highly competent and passionate professionals, perfect for creating our custom helm chairs. For those, we use more refined, delicate, and premium leathers compared to our standard line.
We also acquired an upholstery workshop specializing in the restoration of vintage boats, which brought crucial manual skills into the atelier—a sense of beauty and taste, an eye for detail that we could have only found in such a reality. But instead of focusing on the past, we’re guiding it to look toward the future”.
Can innovation and sustainability coexist?
“They must coexist—it’s a necessary choice. In recent years, we’ve adapted our production accordingly, starting with electric gangways. All our materials are sustainable and recyclable. Additionally, we’ve implemented a company policy aimed at using, as much as possible, raw materials that are certified and of such high quality that they last as long as possible, with absolutely no planned obsolescence. Even our steel treatments are carried out using biodegradable substances, wherever possible. As for innovation, it has always been part of our DNA, even when the company was led by my father. Today, we collaborate with the Laba Academy, supporting the education of young designers through a scholarship named after my father, as well as with the Politecnico di Milano. In this regard, our partnership with Christian Grande is emblematic: he has designed some beautiful helm chairs for us, and we’re already thinking about other projects together”.
