Matata Home

Doug and Robyn Richardson are one of those international love stories. They met in 1983 in Canada and moved back to Robyn's hometown of Edgecumbe in 1986. A few years ago, they decided to build a new home in Matatā, in a conservation estate, which comes with its own set of unique challenges and considerations.

“We love this beautiful part of the country,” says Doug. “This is where family is - we raised our kids here, even though they are scattered now.”

In 2020, right in the middle of COVID, they started the process of creating their new home, wanting to move to higher, safer ground. “We were on the flats, down on the plains, and we just wanted to get away from the threat of floods, so we shifted up the hill, and now we have this phenomenal view.”

And what a view. The large windows at the front mean the couple wake up and end their day with a view of bush, sea and land. “We have an easterly view. We look straight out towards the coast. On a clear winter's day we can see Hikurangi off in the distance, we've got Whale Island to our left, we've got Putauaki (Mount Edgecumbe), on our right, and the plains below.” Robyn says four years later she still feels like she’s on holiday.

Building in native bush and close to the coast comes with factors that differ a bit from regular suburban construction. With exposure to salt air and the elements, durability becomes particularly important, and the couple also needed to stick to a neutral colour palette as part of the consent. The exterior needed to sit naturally within the surrounding landscape, rather than stand out against it.

They loved the idea of a Colorsteel and cedar combination, but when they spoke to their builders, Linton, in Whakatane, they weren't so sure. “Our builder, Simon, said not to go with cedar where we are, because we would have to end up painting or staining it every year. He said he'd heard there was an aluminium siding that looked like wood grain, and he sent us to Andy from Fairview. Andy was great; he had a booklet of samples, and there were a few options close to cedar. He gave us some to bring up here, and we ended up choosing the one that we've got now.”

“This Eurowood product was ideal for Doug and Robyn as it doesn’t rust or break down in weather,” says Andy. “They used Dark Cedar for the woodgrain finish and Flaxpod for the powder coat, one horizontal and the other vertical. It’s so perfect for them as it’s basically no maintenance. In a build like this, if they had used wood, they would have to get scaffolding up to paint or re-stain the timber regularly. With this, they just need to give it a quick wash, and it will stay like this forever. We are finding it particularly popular with the older age group who don’t really want to be going up and down ladders all the time at this stage of life.”

Four years after the Richardsons moved in, their house still looks like it was finished yesterday. “We are so happy with it, and the service we got, and it still looks absolutely brand new. And when we show people around, many of them can’t actually believe it’s not wood.”

For Doug and Robyn, Eurowood has proved to be the best of both worlds: the warm, natural look they wanted, without the ongoing maintenance that comes with timber and steel. And, perched above Matatā with views stretching from the bush to the sea, it’s given them a home that feels very much part of the landscape they live in - and love so dearly.