On the boil

Last night saw the opening of the latest exhibition for the Boiler Room. It is tucked away in Shed 9, behind Deus Ex Machina in Wellesley St, in what looks like an old workshop, filled with reclaimed and salvage industrial pieces of design…

The Boiler Room is… Racing This Time

Last night saw the opening of the latest exhibition for the Boiler Room.

It is tucked away in Shed 9, behind Deus Ex Machina in Wellesley Street in central Auckland, in what looks like an old workshop.

It has the most perfect vibe for their one-off pieces of furniture and art.

The opening had a really interesting mix of people; obviously friends and family of Sue and Gary who are the partnership behind the Boiler Room.

I have known Sue since they opened their shop on Sandringham Rd 10 years ago, and all these years later they are still doing what they love, and doing it their own way. I asked Sue if she and Gary had been to France, as a couple of the pieces in the exhibition are slightly more art nouveux than they are quintessentially Kiwi. Sue explained that France had come visiting them as a client had bought them some pieces, and they had been able to incorporate them into what they were doing.

Many of the heavy steel bases that they salvage and use for tables and the like, though bought here, were originally made in France or Great Britain. So they are similar to what you can already get here.

We loved the long hall table with the art nouveux glass door as the top, and an adapted washing wringer base.

The other thing we noticed on our wanderings was that some of the pieces that have been salvaged have been left in a more original state that they perhaps would have traditionally been by the Boiler Room.

We LOVED the long paint splattered kauri desk. And the old black and gold Tailors sign.

They also have a wonderful collection of salvaged clocks, and wooden shoe lasts.

The one thing I would have loved to have taken home, was an old lantern that has been converted to electric. Chunky and interesting. But alas – it had been bought and already had a new home to go to!

“Racing this time” is running from the 23rd November to 20th December. It is open Monday to Friday from 10-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday they are open from 10-3pm. They are in Shed 9, entrance is through Shed 5, Deus Ex Machina, 90 Wellesley Street, Auckland.

By Anya Brighouse, 22 November 2010
Photography by Kevin Robinson