Bowden life according to Lara Damiani

Lara Damiani has lived all over Adelaide. She’s vibrant, creative, and outgoing. She owns a film company, travels the world, tells stories, and through her work, captures moments that would otherwise remain unseen.

When Lara’s at home and not working, she enjoys going for coffee and absolutely loves dining at her favorite Taiwanese street food restaurant.

In February 2023, Lara moved into an apartment at Nightingale Bowden, a first-of-its-kind residential building offering contemporary living through passive design, sustainable construction, and shared facilities.

She also became part of a growing community at Bowden, a place she became aware of from a family member who worked at the Clipsal factory when she was young.

On a sunny Friday morning, Lara sat down just outside of Plant 3 to share her thoughts about life as a resident in Bowden.

Firstly, why Bowden?

Lara’s knowledge of Bowden far predates its current format as a residential neighborhood, first hearing about the area during its previous life.

“I knew about Bowden because my auntie was one of the original workers at the old Clipsal factory here, many, many years ago. So, the vision of Bowden I grew up with was very different from the vision of Bowden that I have today.”

But before moving into the area, she had started to hear more about what it’s become.

“I never really spent much time at Bowden, I had heard about it. I had heard it’s this kind of vibey, cool place where a lot of people hang out.

“It wasn’t really until I started living here that I actually became one of these people that was joining this vibe, and you know, hanging out a bit more.”

On the community

It didn’t take Lara long to embrace the Bowden community and start to enjoy its people-centric lifestyle.

“I love the culture, I love the living, I love the fact that people gather, it’s very sort of people-centric, it’s all about bringing people together.

“Everything is easy, transport is easy, there’s a tram just so close to my doorstep almost, I can get into the city.”

At the time of design, Bowden was the first of its kind urban infill project delivered by the state government.

Its masterplan committed to creating a precinct that brought people together, prioritising multi-use spaces, housing diversity, and a range of transport options.

Lara acknowledged the significant work that had been done to create an environment that thousands of people now like to visit and call home.

“The work that has been done to create a space that is really quite unique, it’s quite exceptional, all that work is really paying off.

“You can feel it, it’s got a good vibe, there are people around, it feels good, there are houses and apartments and buildings going up all the time, which will be really exciting to see.

“It’s great being part of the Bowden vibe.”

On living

Having lived in many different areas across Adelaide, Lara now enjoys the accessibility and the sense of community in Bowden.

“I’ve lived in so many different parts of Adelaide because I’ve always moved around a lot, and I think the beauty of Bowden is its accessibility.

“The entertainment centre is right across the road, the tram is there, the train is there, getting into the city is so easy.”

But the biggest difference Lara’s noticed since moving to Bowden is the sense of community and the contrast between standard suburban life and a people-focused precinct.

“I think the biggest difference between Bowden and where I’ve lived in the past is this real sense of community.

“In the past, you can feel quite isolated, but in Bowden, there is really an opportunity for people to gather, and I really like that, you feel it, for me that is the biggest difference.”

With a career demanding quite a lot of travel, Lara says she loves the feeling of returning home to Bowden.

“Quite often my work takes me out of Adelaide.

“I just came back from a conference in Melbourne on Wednesday night, [and] it’s like I can’t wait to get home, I’m going back to Bowden. It’s great, it’s a wonderful feeling.”

Staying local to enjoy the hospitality

Bowden is home to cafes, restaurants, bars, retail outlets, and community facilities.

Lara, like many residents, takes advantage of the range of outlets available, with her favorite spots only a few footsteps and a set of stairs from her apartment door.

“At the bottom of our building is ‘A Place Coffee’, it’s so good.

“Jo and Huy are the most beautiful people, and of course, there’s Bobibao, Taiwanese street food with a little bit of an edge, they are my two favorite places.

“There’s no shortage of food places. That’s the beautiful thing about Bowden.”

Finally, would Lara live anywhere else?

When asked if Lara can see herself living anywhere else, her answer was yes, but she can’t see herself going too far.

“I would actually love to purchase a Nightingale apartment at Brompton [Gasworks] when they go up.

“I can see myself staying in Bowden and/or Brompton for the very foreseeable future for sure.”