Robinson House

This project is located on the coastal edge of Plimmerton Beach, overlooking the entry to Porirua Harbour and Mana Island beyond. The house has been designed as a composition of forms, maintaining privacy from the street and neighbouring properties while creating a focus towards Porirua harbour entrance and Mana Island beyond. A primary two storey form accommodates the day to day living on the ground floor with the main bedroom area above. Large open plan areas interconnect to provide spaces where various functions can occur independently but also remain connected. Additional bedroom spaces are more discrete providing sheltered and restful areas removed from the open plan environment. The design intention was to reference the influences and vernacular of the original seaside architecture. The use of natural materials is simple but deliberate, chosen to reflect the building’s origins, its form and the nature of the site. The strong uncomplicated form of the building heightens the experience of the site giving the feeling of being close to the elements but also enabling protection from them at the same time, creating a sense of shelter in close connection with its environment.