Fairways Gardens

A retirement village for active retirees

Sector

Aged care

Applications

Entrance & high traffic areas

Architect

Ignite Architects

Builder

NZ Strong Construction

Photographer

Jono Parker

Writer

Folio

Products used

ExtraTread

Advance Flooring - Entrance Matting System - Architectural

ExtraTread is a premium aluminium and carpet strip mat with extra-wide infills engineered for 37% greater water absorption than comparable mats. Its ultra-low 10mm profile and plush design make it ideal for high-quality entrances. With a variety of polyamide and rubber insert colours, it offers a stylish, customised look.

THE SPACE

Welcoming spaces for active living

Located right beside the Pakuranga Golf Course, the new Metlifecare retirement village, Fairways Gardens, is a place for active retirees who enjoy golfing and the outdoors. For entranceways throughout the complex, designers Ignite Architecture selected ExtraTread entrance matting from Advance Flooring.

Eight residential blocks are nestled within park-like grounds, with two more under construction for 2024. As well as access to the next-door golf course, the new three-storey amenities building offers a restaurant and café for residents and golfers, as well a pool, gym and hobbies room for residents. All the main building entries are fitted with ExtraTread.

THE ENTRY

Providing a safe entrance for residents

ExtraTread is a stylish, low-profile entrance mat designed with extra-wide polyamide infills that provide 37 per cent more water absorption than comparable systems. For the active residents of Fairways Gardens, this recessed flush entry mat provides a safe transition onto the tiled interior flooring.

‘With a tiled entrance, it is essential that it be non-slip,’ says Friedrich Strey, Associate Director at Ignite Architects, ‘particularly for people with imbalance, those who use walkers, and for the wet or dirty shoes coming off the street or golf course.’

THE OUTCOME

Style to match the surroundings

In the amenities building, which forms the hub of the community, the entrance spaces are open both sides, creating flow through the grounds to the golf course. ‘You can see the green through this space,’ says Friedrich, ‘so we chose entry matting colours to match that view, and to blend in with the tiling and the colour schemes of the interior.’

ExtraTread also matches the materiality of the exteriors, which are clad in Manorstone block and Nu-Wall aluminium, creating an elegant transition that is stylish, safe and protective.

Friedrich Strey

Ignite Architects

“We have nice carpeting off the tiled areas, and ExtraTread is great for keeping those areas clean and looking good for the residents.”