The Architecture Electric

Hiding in Waikowhai

sub.sist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:04:36 +0000

Stuck between the railway line and the road, this zone substation tries to bury itself amongst the bush. But the boldness of its detailing gives its presence away.

Midget sub

sub.sist — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:10:14 +0000

21 Edward St

Tucked in the back corner of Edward St is a substation of most minor proportions. Is this where all the little people get their electricity from? Was there not enough material to build a full size door? Were the engineers on this sub vertically challenged?

21 Edward close up

Door ajar

sub.sist — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:38 +0000

Elizabeth St

Someone made a booboo here – either the door has slid right or the lintel detail left. Was this the original spot for the door, or has it had a shift part way through its life? And who possesses more style – the sub or that half-van half-midget of a car? (too easy, the sub by a long shot)

Elizabeth St detail

Substation sprouts sculpture!

sub.sist — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:50:45 +0000

University Zone

Those university types are oh so artsy – even their substations have moving wind sculptures attached to them. Don’t they realise that those concrete panels are artworks on their own?

University Zone detail

Being overtaken by nature

sub.sist — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:08 +0000

Helen St

The climber has adhered itself to this sub, oblivious to the magentic field that must resonate from the internal workings. The sub doesn’t seem disturbed by its coinhabitor, perhaps treating the climber as company?

Ol’ Tin Box McColl

sub.sist — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:24:07 +0000

McColl

It may not look pretty, but this old tin box still has spades more style than the newer, plainer, tin box substations that dot our suburbs.

Small scale elegance

icetroll — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:34:06 +0000

Connaught Tce

Another fine example of the way substations used to be. In a more formal white, rather than the green of so many others, its details stand out well in relief, including the sills for windows never formed.

Hobbiton

icetroll — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:26:47 +0000

Owhiro Bay Pde

Two little green boxes are substations in minature. They have doors good for Hobbits. There is a small path and steps (almost ceremonial) dropping down between them from road level.

Kept in Reserve

icetroll — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:17:50 +0000

Mersey St

Standing at the front corner of a piece of reserve land, this sub makes a tidy nextdoor neighbour. It happily sits in front of a tire swing slung over a tree branch.

Building Blocks

icetroll — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:09:14 +0000

Palm Grove

Two yellow boxes a zone substation make. And little blocks make up the big, however not in a thoughtful way, making for an edifice more ordinary than it wanted to be.