A Dialogue Between Architecture and Nature
Based in Lima, Vicca Verde Studio is known for its thoughtful approach to contemporary architecture — where design becomes a quiet dialogue between form, function, and the natural world. The studio’s work balances precision and poetry: spaces that feel both crafted and alive.
Whether designing hospitality projects, residential developments Horacio Goitre and his team focus on authenticity — allowing materials to express their true nature and letting the landscape shape the experience. Their collaboration with Delfin Amazon Cruises began with Delfin III and has since evolved into a creative partnership rooted in shared values of craftsmanship, culture, and care for the Amazon.
“We’re interested in the honesty of things — in structures that reveal themselves rather than hide behind finishes. For us, design is about coherence, detail, and how a space makes you feel.”
After the success of Delfin III, the team at Vicca Verde was invited to take on the refurbishment of Delfin I — the original vessel that started it all.
Reviving an Icon
For Goitre, Delfin I was more than a design assignment.
“Working on Delfin I was both a challenge and an inspiration. It wasn’t just any vessel — it was the first one, the one that started it all. Upgrading it meant revisiting the spirit that began the entire project.”
The refurbishment became an act of renewal: honoring the ship’s legacy while elevating it to meet contemporary standards of design, comfort, and sustainability.
“Our goal was to rescue the essence of the original ship and bring it back to its rightful place as the flagship — the vessel that carries the strongest spirit of the brand.”
Designing a New Expression of Luxury
Every Vicca Verde project begins with immersion — understanding the client’s world from within. With Delfin, that meant engaging deeply with the idea of luxury itself.
“Delfin’s level of curation is spectacular. Our task was to align with their vision of luxury — not one defined by expensive materials or visual excess, but by experience, craftsmanship, and thoughtful detail.”
As with Delfin’s hospitality, the architecture was designed to reveal itself slowly, through gestures of intimacy and surprise.
“Refinement lives in the smallest details. Onboard, we wanted guests to discover it gradually — in a texture, a reflection, a handmade touch that connects with the spirit of the Amazon.”
A Contemporary Artisanal Approach
Structurally and spatially, Delfin I required both restoration and reinvention. The team integrated lessons learned from Delfin III and Delfin II — evolving what Goitre describes as a “contemporary artisanal” approach.
“It’s about taking the handmade and elevating it to a new level of precision and coherence — keeping the soul, but refining the expression.”
Inspired by the Amazon, Rooted in Culture
While the Amazon’s presence guided every decision, its influence remained subtle — an undercurrent rather than a motif.
“We were inspired by local art and culture, but with restraint. The geometric patterns we developed draw from Shipibo cultural motifs, reinterpreted as contemporary visual elements. They create filters of light and shadow that recall tradition, without imitation.”
For Goitre, it was crucial to weave cultural references naturally into the architecture — not as decoration, but as meaning.
“The goal was never to make the ship feel folkloric. These influences are there, quietly embedded in the experience.”
Architecture with Integrity
One of Vicca Verde’s defining principles is honesty in design.
“We like our architecture to express what it truly is. We don’t hide the structure or disguise it — the luxury is in showing what sustains the space.”
In Delfin I, the vessel’s metallic structure remains visible: the windows, railings, and even fixtures reveal the ship’s skeleton.
“It’s an unpretentious kind of luxury — refined, but sincere. Not about the most expensive wood or marble, but about how every space is conceived and lived.”
A Floating Sanctuary
Navigating the Amazon means navigating power — the untamed energy of water, wind, and wilderness. For Goitre, that context defined the emotional core of the design.
“We wanted guests to feel a sense of protection — that moment after an excursion when you return to the ship and think, ‘I’m home.’ The vessel becomes a sanctuary: strong, secure, but always connected to the environment.”
A Collaboration That Flows Like the River
The relationship between Aldo Macchiavello, Lissy Urteaga, and Vicca Verde Studio has grown into a partnership rooted in trust, clarity, and shared creative vision.
“Working with Aldo and Lissy is always enriching. They have an incredibly clear vision, which allows for a very fluid collaboration. Every decision is refined together — flexible, adaptive, alive, much like the river itself.”
Art continues to be the thread that binds design and emotion aboard Delfin’s vessels.
“Lissy has an extraordinary eye. We worked closely to incorporate unique pieces — from the sculptural fish at the bar to the carved headboards by artist Harry Chávez, each representing an Amazonian animal. These collaborations give the spaces soul. They transform the ship from a vessel into a story.”
A Vessel that Belongs to the River
Ultimately, Delfin I is more than a design achievement. It’s an expression of belonging — to place, to culture, to time.
“Delfin I is not just a renovation. It’s a continuation of a philosophy: to create spaces that are sincere, crafted, and deeply attuned to their context. A ship that doesn’t just sail through the Amazon — it belongs to it.”