Art Deco apartments for sale present a nostalgic look on the 1930s

Dawn Judge is not only passionate about historical architecture, she is also an excellent storyteller.

So, when she was able to buy two apartments in the 1934 Westminster Court Building located on Parliament Street, in Auckland, in 2009, she told the story of people who would have lived there in the years thirty.

"The building is in front of the High Court and in front of the university, which is why I have planned to hire a lawyer or an academic for the first apartment," he said. declared the judge. "The apartment is his refuge, he wears a smoking jacket, reads novels by Raymond Chandler and works in his legal or university affairs at night."

For the second apartment, she imagined a more sophisticated "man of the city" who likes to entertain, play music and cook for her friends.

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These stories determined the appearance of the apartments and the judge was assured that she had a blank canvas.

The basement unit had been used as an office and was not an invitation. "I went to see this one with a girlfriend and I do not think anyone has opened a window for 20 years," she says. "It was awful.My friend wanted to leave, but I loved it."

The judge completely emptied the two apartments and brought them back directly to the floor and the concrete walls. It was therefore only bare shells.

"The second apartment was actually in good condition, although very blue, but I knew it was an opportunity too good to ignore, so I told the builders to dump it before my husband Graham did not see him – he was in the hospital at the time. "

The two apartments were then rebuilt and refurbished to reflect the era of the building and the "characters" who would live there.

"My passion is historical restoration," said the judge. "It's about respecting architecture and for this building, it's Art Deco."

It is clear that Judge, who runs Design Justice and drives a 1948 Ford Pick up, is also an expert in finding the right items to place in such apartments. Most Art Deco furniture is authentic, sometimes with replicas.

She says they found them on Trade Me, in the hospice and Salvation Army stores, as well as in small towns around the country, often at an automobile meeting with her son.

"We found LGF's big lounge suite in a shop in Levin, when I was a kid we had a similar carved velvet suite, so I worked hard to find a similar velvet (for upholstery). ), because I wanted this memory. "

Even the lighting is authentic, most of the pieces come from a store in Tirau and from the Antiques Villa in Christchurch. There are even bakelite switches at the old Bungalow & Villa. "You can hear them click when you turn them on."

According to the judge, the first apartment (LGF) presents French antiques from the 1930s, while the second apartment (2A) is more American. "It has a brighter appearance and is slightly industrial.In the mid-1930s (after the depression), people appreciated what they owned and remained cautious with their money, but the interiors were getting more and more sophisticated. made in Christchurch to an Art Deco design. "

The apartments, however, are not museum pieces. They have all the modern comforts, often disguised, and the interiors are superimposed to incorporate elements from earlier eras, just as someone's home would have evolved at that time.

The judge acknowledges that it's a very masculine look – even the 2A curtains remind men's suits, which, of course, is perfectly suited to the "men" she envisioned to live there.

The two-bedroom apartments have been rented in the short term. But it required a meeting with the guests, which took a lot of time for the judges. She would like to be free to travel and say that she is also looking for another project to undertake.

As a result, she listed apartments for sale with Liz Derbyshire of Barfoot & Thompson Auckland City.

"Potential buyers should know that the company does not like short-term rentals and that there are no padlocks, so they can not list them on Airbnb," says the owner. .

Apartment LGF has a CV of 980 000 USD and a CV of 2A, 1 000 000 USD. Potential buyers are invited to negotiate a price including furniture.

Residents benefit from many construction facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, outdoor terrace and two rooms that can be rented for a nominal amount.