The Foundation Parnell – Luxury Retirement Village Auckland

The Foundation Parnell is an Auckland-based luxury retirement village featuring 46 apartments across five levels. It represents retirement without compromise—where every detail, from its prime central location to the smooth operation of a kitchen drawer, is focused on quality, refinement, attention to detail, and, above all, comfort.

Design and Accessibility
Architects Peddlethorp approached the design with a focus on quality and aesthetics while ensuring accessibility for ease of movement and comfort for all residents.
Allproof Industries was engaged to manufacture and supply a range of drainage and passive fire protection solutions, including shower channels, a perimeter channel drain for level entry at the building entrances, and fire collars.

Custom Shower Channels
Allproof supplied approximately 100 Vision shower channels with tile insert grates, each custom-made for a wall-to-wall finish of roughly 1600 mm in length.
Throughout the process, Allproof provided on-site support to ensure accurate measurement, supply, and installation to the highest standard, all without disrupting the project’s tight schedule.

The Vision Series includes a specially designed puddle flange installed by the plumber before waterproofing. Once tiles are laid, channels are measured and fabricated to fit precisely, ensuring seamless integration and preventing delays for other trades.

Why Custom Solutions Were Required
Designing tiled showers and wet areas around off-the-shelf channel sizes is challenging:

• Small variations in measurements naturally occur during construction.
• Outlet positions may not be perfectly centred due to other building elements.
• Designers would need to pre-detail the exact finished dimensions at the early stage, including wall linings, membranes, and tiles.

To overcome these issues, Allproof manufactured all 100 shower channels to measure, providing a perfect wall-to-wall solution for each individual shower space.

Discreet and Accessible Design
The Tile Insert grate for the Vision shower channel was chosen for its discreet aesthetic, allowing the floor tiles to blend seamlessly into the drainage solution while maintaining slip resistance.
The channel was installed across the shower entry, preventing surface water from entering the bathroom and removing the need for hobs or level changes—ideal for improved accessibility.

Passive Fire Protection
For safety, a high-performing passive fire system was required, giving residents time to evacuate during an emergency.
Allproof’s Cast-in Fire Collar (CIFC) was chosen, providing a fully tested, high-FRL solution. Manufactured from 100% recycled polypropylene using clean solar energy, the CIFC delivers reliable passive fire performance while supporting sustainability goals.

Perimeter Drain for Main Entrance
For the main building entrance, Allproof’s Perimeter Channel Drain was specified to create a level, accessible entryway while preventing surface water from entering the building.
The system is mechanically separated from the door joinery using a bracket and leg system, allowing moisture to escape through joinery weep holes.

The Wedge Wire grate was selected for its R11 slip rating and durability, thanks to its 316 stainless steel construction, ensuring long-term performance and safety.