The years go by

The other day, as I walked along an Auckland street, I noticed this sight across the street from me. That little buidling with the two interesting chimneys has almost disappeared as newer structures keep rising up around it. I wonder how much long it will last before it's gone?  

In my last post, I talked about how the crowds of people never stop and never stop changing. Well, the same is true about the brick and mortar and steel and glass. The structure of the city is in a constant state of change, just like the people are, but at a rate that's maybe a million times slower. 

For today's post, I'd like to show you some interesing old buildings. I wonder how long they'll last before some new project replaces them. Take a look. 

A few years ago, demolition was in store for this building, but then Historic Value arguments halted it. It appears it's still being discussed. As you can see, the use it's being put to now has fallen somewhat from it's glory days. A tattoo parlour, Balinese massage, money change and a souvenir shop might be keeping it from the wrecking ball though. 

Auckland right now is in the midst of a building boom. It's the greatest fit of building that I've seen during the going-on six years of my life here. Not only are buildings going up all over the place above ground, but the huge, new, deep addition to the train line is burrowing below kilometers of the city and will eventually connect above ground with our Western Line system. I've also read about a network of people-sized tunnels that were built beneath parts of the city during World War II to act as a shelter for the populace in case Japan attcked Auckland. There is a plan in the works to clear out the clay that was used to fill in the old tunnels. The clay was used to pack and preserve the tunnels should they ever be needed again, and it looks as though they will again see the light of day. That Really excites me. If you remember my posts about Northhead, you know what a fan I am of tunnels and caves. One of them I know passes through/under the hill that Albert Park is on.  I hope that I am able to someday do a post about my first trip through those tunnels. Another reason to keep watching this blog. In fact, here's some news about it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmrcC4gTmhc&feature=youtu.be

And check this out. I found that I had a picture of the side door that is shown in the video. This passageway comes off the main tunnel.

You're looking at history here. 

I'm not the only one who laments the passing of old buildings while acknowledging the need for the new. Sculptor John Radford has done pieces to remember some of the buildings that once stood on Auckland's streets. His works are in a park in Ponsonby. I'll do a post on Ponsonby soon and a separate post on the Western Park as well and show you more. To close this post though, I have two pictures of the sculptures in the park for you.   

This is in the Western Park. 

I was just walking along Ponsonby Road when I came across this...
 I flashed back to scenes from Planet of the Apes.  

A closer look at the bricks

You know, I think that those two old chimneys shown in the first picture should be taken down intact and added to the sculptures resting in Western Park when it's finally time for the building that they serve to go. I don't suppose it will happen, but Western Park has lots more room ...     -djf