I like Britomart. It’s very accessible, very modern, and very METAL. And I don’t even mean that in a hardcore rock kinda way, I mean that in the spirit of modern architecture, everything in the new transport hub is made mostly of steel. Which is fine if you’re not a fan of warm, earthy tones or pretty artwork, and really into cold, impersonable atmospheres. You’ll fit in quite snugly. I, however, happen to be a fan of injecting life and culture into new buildings, and unfortunately the construction of ‘Britomart’ has ripped the soul out of one of Auckland’s heritage buildings.

ANYWAY, enough of my ramblings about the warmth of transport centres. Britomart is a fantastic addition to downtown Auckland. The signs (trains this way; toilets this way, etc.) are quite pretty, the trains are fairly regular, and as mentioned before, it’s very accessible for both blind people and wheelchair users. From the multiple entrances, all graced with generous curb cuts and bright yellow tactiles, right through to the steel-encased lifts (see picture) with braille on the buttons, I’m very impressed with the way the place has been set up.

For those outside of Auckland, Britomart is our new transport centre, incorporating a plethora of on-street bus stops, ticketing booths, and an underground train station. Check out the pictures here! It’s located at the bottom of Queen St, and is really quite architecturally unique. Featuring water fountains, random metal poles, and green palms where you’d least expect them (see photo), it really is worth a visit if you’re in the area. It’s also really close to Vector Arena, so it’s a good option for travelling home after the gig you’ve just shelled out in excess of $100 to see, (like Justin Timberlake).

Oh, the toilets. Yes, they’re branded accessible, and yes, they have the pretty wheelchair sticker, but sadly, we have another case of the ridiculously-heavy-door syndrome. What is up with architects caring so much about their building’s aesthetics that they forsake what would otherwise be a reasonably accessible bathroom?! Not only that, there are actually two doors to get into the bathroom. After negotiating the first beast of a steel pull-door, you’re then greeted with a relatively manageable sliding door. Why they didn’t simply install that in the first place beats me. Again, check out the full gallery here.

There’s not a whole lot more to say really, other than it’s a very accessible, architecturally bizarre, centrally located transport hub. I would like to say, however, how much more I enjoy catching a train these days than a bus, the train operators are so much friendlier and accommodating than their fellow public transport counterparts. Seriously, if you’re a wheelchair user, I recommend catching a train sometime. You even travel at a discounted rate!

Let me know about your experience of Britomart in your comments below, and don’t forget to check out the full gallery!