For our ongoing series Eternally Yours we meet Paul Conrad of Melbourne studio Conrad Architects, an architect who is drawn to furniture that blurs the boundary between design and art, has the power to transform a space and is never an afterthought.
More Space: Furniture is such a strong form of personal expression, what is the selection process for a new interior?
Paul Conrad: The most powerful spaces are created when the architecture, interior design, furniture and styling are all in tune. So our process of furniture selection starts with the very first sketches we do of a building. As the character of the project develops, the selection is refined in parallel. Furniture is never an afterthought.
What is a favourite piece of design and why did it catch your eye?
It is the Favela Chair by Edra. We love pieces that blur the boundary between furniture and art. Though the Favela utilises a very simple form of construction (the nailing together of strips of wood, one over the other) it creates such visual complexity. This construction method also ensures that no two chairs are the same.
Conrad Architects studio in Toorak features the Favela Chair by Fernando and Humberto Campana for Edra and the UP7 Foot by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
'The most powerful spaces are created when the architecture, interior design, furniture and styling are all in tune. So our process of furniture selection starts with the very first sketches we do of a building. As the character of the project develops, the selection is refined in parallel. Furniture is never an afterthought.'
Paul Conrad, Conrad Architects
Conrad Architects studio in Toorak featuring the UP7 Foot by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
Toorak Garden Residence, and following, by Conrad Architects. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
Middle Park Residence by Conrad Architects. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
Portrait of Paul Conrad inside the white sculptural Toorak Garden Residence. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
Hornsby Residence by Conrad Architects. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
Drawn to furniture that blurs the boundary between design and art, here the iconic UP7 Foot by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia nestles alongside the fluid sculptural staircase in the Toorak Garden Residence. Photo c/o Conrad Architects.
'Furniture has a subtle impact on how the proportions of a space are perceived, how natural light plays in the space, and how people move and interact.'
Paul Conrad, Conrad Architects
What pieces are on your go-to list, and why?
The Edra Standard Sofa for its exceptional comfort and flexibility; the Maxalto Alcova Bed for its merging of contemporary and classic design; the B&B Italia Alanda Coffee Table for the visual richness created by the metal frame, glass top and styled objects; Living Divani’s Extrasoft sofa for its ability to form a minimal yet sculptural centrepiece in a room; and Vitra's L’Oiseau Ceramic for adding the finishing touch to an interior.
Beyond trends, furniture has a way of defining the moment, making us happy and influencing the way we live. Can you describe a recent project that has had a transformative affect, and how?
Furniture has the power to transform an interior. As our interior spaces are constructed their character is slowly revealed, but it isn’t until the furniture is placed that the full spatial qualities are revealed. Furniture has a subtle impact on how the proportions of a space are perceived, how natural light plays in the space, and how people move and interact.
Thanks Paul, great to chat with you.
