A Creative Haven



Words: Suzanne McNamara

Photography: Blink Ltd

Ruru Street is set to become one of the main walking routes to the new Mangawhau station opening in 2026. Nestled at the top of the road, tucked behind its New North Road facing neighbour, is 2A Ruru Street and home to Kabine & Co, a creative space for hire. It's also the residential home of David Thomas and Ginny Braun.

Looking for somewhere to live 10 years ago, David and Ginny found a building they could just afford. They wanted to live on the city fringe, but the price of housing kept pushing their options deep into the suburbs. As self-described lovers of cities, they found a run-down mixed-use building that proved to be just the solution to their housing woes.

David describes the building as being "super drab" with lowered ceilings, which were sagging, water-stained and cutting out light. Internal gutters were leaking, and most of the lights were defunct.

Fixing the building took a lot of imagination and hard work. "We have fully insulated and rewired it, and we even have an e-vehicle charging point now in our visitor car park."

That's understating it somewhat. The couple have cleverly designed a fluid space where purely domestic areas are on separate parts of a mezzanine level, leaving a high vaulted creative environment for hire, alongside a well-equipped kitchen.

The striking feature, besides the large-format art that adorns the walls and the floor-to-ceiling shelves with artefacts, art and design books that cascade down one entire wall, is the organisation of the space. The entire building feels like an exercise in precision engineering mixed with a massive dollop of creativity. There is a place for everything, including their personal collections.

"Everything disappears," says David, as he demonstrates by pulling out hidden drawers from under the stairs, storing their impressive CD collection. Another sliding door houses the couple's walk-in wardrobe and dressing room, which sits below their bedroom. All private area doors slide and snib, and are non-intrusive within the main studio space, allowing the maximisation of every inch of the floor area.

David explains their approach: "We have tried to make the living and design studio in one, with compact living so as not to encroach and limit what you can do in the main studio space. Everything is movable."

Tucked away is a workshop space where David measured, cut and built every inch of what is there today, including two sets of stairs leading to the two separate residential areas. This design still allowed the high windows to spill plenty of natural light into the studio.

Ginny says David has a meticulous eye. "His deep knowledge of architecture and design means that everything he does is thought through to the finest level of detail and precision."

They both describe themselves as caring about urban spaces, urban design and liking "urbanness" when it is done well. Co-designing the space and mostly renovating it themselves during their weekends over the past decade, they have turned the rundown building into a functional commercial space.

Both love the neighbourhood and have their favourite spots for lunch and dinner. Ginny says she enjoys the diverse community, and their unique space fits the surroundings. "I think it's nice to have created a space that's a real surprise. It highlights what you can do when you're not thinking about the conventional office or studio and even conventional living spaces."

The convenience of the location means they both walk to work. David's day job is a project manager for Public Art at Auckland Council. He's responsible for managing the design, fabrication and installation of artworks in collaboration with artists to produce striking pieces of art that help beautify Tāmaki Makaurau. Ginny is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland and travels frequently for work, which allowed David to get stuck in and do the messy building work while she was away.

Now that construction is finished, and with areas for their personal eclectic collections on display (that gives the space its personality, but these are also movable), Kabine & Co have put the commercial studio space up for lease. Both Ginny and David can work from their city offices, leaving would-be leasers to have the run of the space. Renting arrangements are as flexible as the space itself. For solo workers or teams, short-term, event use, day or night use, and longer use can all be part of the equation.

With summer approaching, doors from the studio open out onto a space that can be used for outdoor events. The well-equipped and large kitchen makes self-catering a breeze. And of course, in true David style, this has an adaptable bench space that can easily double as a bar or coffee stand.

This enterprising, creative couple have thought of every detail to welcome new people into their interesting, eclectic space.



Kabine & Co

2A Ruru Street Eden Terrace

Instagram: @kabineandco