If you visit Zakaria Boucetta at his Tucson home, you may play a more important role than that of a guest: You may just inspire his next creation. “I always look at how guests use my furniture,” he says, his voice carrying a hint of a smile. “It makes my future decisions easier.” In addition to being one half of the architectural firm known as Studio BoPA, Boucetta also happens to be a talented, self-taught craftsman who is gaining acclaim for the furnishings he creates by hand through Atelier BoPA. So far, he’s released two collections (Series 00 and 01), which include chairs, stools and a chaise lounge that “all follow a similar language,” he notes. Each piece nods to the geometry of Boucetta’s Moroccan upbringing, the planks of knotty alder fitted together in perfectly imperfect ways. While North African design influences the composition of his work, the Sonoran Desert lays claim to its soul. “I’m very driven by the landscapes,” he says, explaining how he stains each piece and invites them to age naturally with use. “I really get inspired by the nature out here and the tones.” It’s an exciting year ahead for Boucetta, who plans to release a new collection and recently opened an atelier in downtown Tucson where appointments are available upon request.
