WWII Bunker Becomes Award-Winning Mosaic Art Shed

A forgotten piece of wartime history is now a colorful celebration of community, thanks to one family's creative pandemic project.

When Liz Forde moved to her North Shore home in 2009, she inherited an unusual garden feature: a reinforced concrete bunker built by the US Navy during World War II. The structure had once stored weapons and ammunition as part of a dispersed defense strategy that scattered supplies across Auckland to avoid creating single targets.

For years, the 2m by 9m concrete chamber served practical purposes. The family used it for storage, a wine cellar, and even briefly as a fortune teller's tent for Halloween. But Liz knew it could be something more beautiful.

She designed a mosaic pattern in 2017, drawing inspiration from indigenous Aboriginal dot painting to honor her Australian roots. But the real magic happened when the pandemic arrived in 2020.

With seven people sheltering together and suddenly "time rich and activity poor," the bunker project became a family mission. Soon, neighbors and friends joined regular "crafternoon teas" where G&Ts flowed and mosaic tiles found their homes on the concrete canvas.

The finished work tells countless stories through tiny details. A ceramic cat from someone's collection sits beside a broken teapot fragment showing a map of Melbourne. A shard from a ladybird teacup, gifted by a friend's late son, catches the light among thousands of other pieces.

Sunny's Take

What makes this transformation special isn't just the artistic result. It's how a cold military structure became a warm gathering place where memories and friendships literally became part of the walls. Every crafternoon tea session added not just tiles, but laughter, connection, and shared stories during an isolating time.

The project recently earned runner-up honors in NZ Gardener's Resene Shed of the Year 2026 competition. Liz received a $500 voucher and a year's subscription to the magazine, but the real prize was already won: a backyard space that brings joy every time someone discovers a new detail hidden in the mosaic.

From storing instruments of war to housing instruments of creativity, one bunker has completed an 80-year journey from military necessity to community treasure.