The building in which you’ll find Faradays is an elegant warehouse in Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau, with very high ceilings and enormous timber beams and posts – it has a raw heft, with wide-planked timber floors. It started out as a merino warehouse and more recently became the Auckland office for cloud-accounting giant Xero.

Designer Edward von Dadelszen has had an atelier in the building for several years – a discreet, appointment-only cave – and had always admired the space next door. When it came up for lease, he saw an opportunity to set up a store specialising in luxury international brands, most of which haven’t been available in Aotearoa before. 

With a fitout designed by Cheshire Architects, it’s about as far from a shiny, loud department store as you can get. Inevitably in a place like this, you have to break the space up, so that each brand gets its bit of real estate. 

Instead, Cheshire have partitioned with canvas-wrapped bulkheads that flow through the space; display cases are built into the bulkhead and revealed behind openings that look like a curtain being drawn back. It’s like being inside a very elegant tent – and it smells wonderful. 

And hopefully, by the time you read this, the store’s bar will have opened, tucked into a corner overlooking the street and outfitted with banquettes and champagne. A fine spot.

Faradays
8 Faraday St, Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
faradays.co.nz

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