Hundreds of boaters still run their 1960s and ‘70s vintage Riva runabouts, such as the iconic Aquarama, as hard as their original owners—often royalty and celebrities—did six decades ago. The marquee brand in the Italian Ferretti Group has also moved to interior design, with exclusive lounges and private decks in eight of the most sought-after locations in the world, from Venice to Paris and Naples to Lake Como. Even the original production facility in Sarnico has a lounge outfitted with pinstripe mahogany.

But its most prized location is the Aquarama Lounge at the Yacht Club de Monaco, a symbol of how that specific Riva model helped transform Monaco into the premier playground in yachting.

Riva is now making a debut in the residential world with Riva Residenze, the first yacht-branded residences in the world. In the last decade, Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Karl Lagerfeld, and Fendi, as well as jewelry brands Bulgari, Baccarat, and Jacob the Jeweler, have put their brand names on luxury residential buildings from Miami to Dubai, while Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, and even niche builders like Pininfarina and Pagani are now creating their own apartments.

The Riva Residenze concept is arguably closer to the yacht builder’s DNA since Giuseppina Arena, the lead designer, was also head of yacht design at the Ferretti Group for nearly a decade. The contemporary building will be located on the Intracoastal Waterway in the heart America’s Yachting capital, on Fort Lauderdale Beach near Bahia Mar (Riva’s first 1969 composite model was named the Bahia Mar 20). The 200-foot-long development faces both the ocean and the ICW. It will access the area’s restaurants, shopping, art galleries, and museums with an in-house marina for six yachts up to 65 feet and 36 private residences.

The two-to-six-bedroom abodes and two 8,000-square-foot penthouses will all share elements from Riva yachts—polished mahogany and chrome finishes—delivering what Eduardo Pelaez Romer calls “the essence of luxury yachting in a residential setting.” Romer is cofounder of investment firm WellDuo, which partnered with Vertical Developments, GCF Development, and Riva on the project.

“The Aquarama revolutionized the idea of going on holiday, experiencing the sea and above all of being exclusive,” says Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. “Since then, Riva has been more than simply a boat brand, representing a world of beauty and style that has inspired design, fashion, and lifestyle choices.”

Arena undertook the residential project with the understanding that it was not a one-off custom design but had to reflect both Riva’s “timeless elegance” but would also be an extension of the brand. That added an element of pressure to coming up with a nautical theme that would be timeless without any kitsch.

Working with architecture firm Arquitectonica, Arena introduced nautical “details that Riva always use,” such as saddle-stitched leather across the walls and furniture and the brand’s signature aquamarine color in the decor. She approached the residential project “like a boat.”

The top floor—or what the developers are calling a “sundeck”—has a raised infinity pool inspired by the beach club aboard the Riva 54 Metri superyacht. “We used semi-gloss walnut, stainless-steel trim and Carrara marble as per Riva’s larger yachts,” Arena says. “We wanted to incorporate materials that form part of Riva’s DNA.” That includes marine-grade materials that will weather Florida’s saltwater environment. The indoor sky lounge offers up a private cinema, a cigar lounge, a wine room, and a library with flooring that echoes Riva’s teak decks.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, large living and dining areas, and oversized terraces come from yachting’s current design trend to bring the outdoors inside. The wellness area on the fifth floor includes a 75-foot lap pool with private cabanas, spa, steam room, and sauna.

The ground floor includes historical photography of ’60s starlets, such as Sophia Loren and Bridget Bardot, who were the first adopters of the original Riva runabouts. The entrances use traditional aquamarine accents, rosewood joinery, and stainless-steel Riva handles to  reflect the brand’s enduring nostalgia. “Residents can enjoy a coffee on the ‘aft deck’ before heading to their apartments by private elevator, so it mimics the sense of being on a yacht with access to a full-service marina,” says Arena. The residences include a Riva art gallery and an indoor garden. 

The prices reflect the upscale Riva brand, starting at $3.5 million, though are still less expensive than, say, a 130-foot Riva Bellissima. Of course, the ideal setup would to have a smaller Riva, such as the new 27-foot Iseo in a slip, with a Riva apartment overlooking the marina. The complex is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Click here to see more images of the Riva Residenze.