Glimmers of Granada — The Alhambra Table by Daniel Boddam

Daniel Boddam’s new Alhambra Table holds a mirror to Granada’s historic Alhambra Palace, which served as an inspirational reference point for the architect and designer during his travels to the Spanish city. With Moorish flourishes and modern touches, the table is made locally in Australia and speaks to a new-age Australian audience.

Daniel Boddam’s travels to Granada during his formative years helped shape him in more ways than one. Not only did it inform his outlook, but it also served to provide inspiration when he chose to branch out into furniture design. Daniel’s latest opus, christened the Alhambra Table, is a nod to the Spanish Renaissance architecture of Granada’s storied Alhambra Palace; its vertical legs reimagining the palace’s signature turrets and belltower, and its hexagonal, circular and triangular motifs reflect its sacred geometry. “We tried to echo the sense of mysticism that is often felt in the palace,” says Daniel.

Daniel Boddam’s new Alhambra Table holds a mirror to Granada’s historic Alhambra Palace, which served as an inspirational reference point for the architect and designer during his travels to the Spanish city.

Locally designed and made to order, the Alhambra Table is available as a solo coffee table, side table or hall stand, with smaller nesting options if desired. Daniel has long been known for his commitment to “the poetry of reduction” and the new collection is no exception. Produced using a range of sustainably sourced Australian timbers including Tasmanian oak and blackwood, and American classic timbers such as walnut and oak, the table comes in several variations of striking tabletop inlays of stone and glass.

For Daniel, the design process feels ritualistic. “I treat each design as a research project,” he says. “For this one, I started, as I always do, sketching the concept, before visualising the concept on the computer in 3D.” Daniel even placed the design in one of his architectural projects to see how it would relate to his other furniture, as well as how it would meld into a modern environment – needless to say, the table passed the test with flying colours.

For a design inspired by faraway lands, the table still needed to articulate a uniquely Australian voice.

For a design inspired by faraway lands, the table still needed to articulate a uniquely Australian voice. “Reinterpreting a building from another culture was a challenge. I relied on the principles and memories of the building rather than being reliant to form,” Daniel shares. “I wanted to create a timeless piece that would stay relevant to current and future design.” True to his words, each table embodies a contemporary design language, yet the spherical feet offer an ornamental edge. Built to last, Daniel detailed the stone in a way that would allow for removal and refinishing in the future.

“The Alhambra Table is an intriguing study in rhythm, harmony and proportion,” reflects Daniel. Indeed, for a studio that has long stood for contemporary craftsmanship, materiality and form, the table is an organic addition to Daniel’s repertoire.