Australian Architect Daniel Boddam Conceptualized a Virtual Apartment to Overcome Border Closure
Inspired by Matisse’s famed proclamation “I will make my own pool”, Australian architect Daniel Boddam has responded to the closure of Australia’s borders by conceiving a ‘virtual apartment’ in his beloved Paris – an inventive solution for showcasing his new collection of furniture.
Designed in Paris’ archetypal Haussmann-style and limited only by Boddam’s imagination, the 183 square meter apartment accessed via the designer’s website is characterized by material restraint and an abundance of natural light. Comprising an entrance hall, living, kitchen, bedroom, ensuite, study and powder room, the romanticized abode celebrates simplicity whilst allowing creativity to flourish.
“Travel has been an important part of my life since childhood, and Paris holds a particularly special place in my heart,” says Boddam, who was born to an Australian father and Venezuelan mother. “The experience of confinement has been unsettling on so many levels, however instead of lamenting what was, I decided to explore what could be through 3D visualization”.
Like Matisse, whose unfulfilled desire to see divers in Cannes led to his acclaimed ‘The Swimming Pool’ work in cut paper, Boddam’s furniture also seeks to bring the outside in.
The Geo Collection of tables is inspired by the raw yet robust Australian landscape and defined by an unconventional application of ‘rammed concrete’, while the Coast Collection of seating and lighting draws on Boddam’s life by the sea in idyllic Byron Bay. Other pieces to be discovered in the apartment include the Wave Sofa and Chair, a duo characterized by the undulating rhythm of rolling waves, and the Oscar Console available in a range of heights, inspired by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer for its curved edges and architectural presence.
“There’s unspoken poetry in placing a piece of furniture inspired by the raw Australian landscape in a historic setting,” says Boddam. “The immediately familiar Haussman vernacular heightens the ‘Australianess’ of the furniture’s expression by establishing a dialogue between the primitive and the modern.”
Completing the apartment’s décor is a curated selection of artworks that depict nature, nudes, landscapes and travel by artists Clara Adolphs, Chris Warnes, Oliver Whatts and Boddam’s wife Kelly Geddes.
While visitors to the virtual apartment will be transported to Paris from wherever they are in the world, Boddam’s furniture is a truly Australian affair. With concrete and timberwork produced in Sydney and mouthblown glass from Adelaide, each piece is made to order and available worldwide via Daniel Boddam Studio.
About Daniel Boddam Studio
Daniel Boddam founded his studio with a holistic approach to progressive and enduring design in architecture, interiors and furniture. Considered simplicity is at the core of the studio’s philosophy and is articulated consistently through every project and furniture collection. Specializing in luxury residential design, Daniel Boddam has extensive experience across a range of project types including bespoke and heritage-listed homes, residential developments, alterations and additions. By embracing function and understanding context, the Daniel Boddam studio creates harmonious and elegant living spaces.
