Municipal Depot

It was in the early 1980's that I first began to travel to furniture shows. Probably the biggest back then was the one held in High Point, North Carolina. It was there that I saw an example of what could be done with old industrial buildings. 

I spent time in a huge cotton fabric mill that had been converted into furniture showroom spaces, restaurants and social areas. It had been all brick and the architects, when designing the new spaces within the old, had retained as much of the old look as possible. The brick work had been cleaned up and now added to the nostalgic charm of the place. I loved that building. When I got the chance to get out of our own showroom for a while, for a break or a meal, I scurried up and down the brick walled corridors, passageways and levels, always finding a new cool view around the next corner.  

I was reminded of my times there when I entered Auckland's old Municipal Depot and visited the kava room that I featured in a post not long ago.  Today's post will show you a little more of what has been done to reclaim that which should not be wasted. 

One of the restaurants that has moved in to what was the main entrance. 

The entire depot covers a block-long area.

This is now one of the main entrances. It is also connected to a carpark on one end. 

Corridors of retail spaces go in all directions. 

 The base of the chimney... (I know that it looks as though it stops at the top of the picture but it doesn't.) 

This is the rest of it viewed from a corner.  

 This corridor leads to the carpark.

 A ramp up to the upper levels. I'll probably do a future post about the celebrities identified on this walk. 

This is a central open area that houses cafes on two sides.
I have arrived to take pictures in the early afternoon when few people are around. I discovered that most businesses in the Depot open after 2 p.m. and stay late.

I first became interested in the Depot area because of the kava room. At the very back of the Municipal Depot though, over in one corner, I discovered another reason to visit this complex. This little taproom serving one of my very favorite beverages is nestled under the roof. I discovered when I stuck my head in the door that the local business men know this place.  I felt an immediate kinship with the guys in suits who were sitting around the tables. I wondered what sort of businesses they were playing hooky from.       -djf