Each day, from dawn till dusk, our interaction with doors is ceaseless. These omnipresent fixtures stand sentinel at the threshold of various spaces, their role integral to ensuring convenience, privacy, safety, and security. Tracing their roots back to the ancient world, doors have evolved through centuries of technological advancements. This journey has led to the creation of intricately designed modern hinges and ergonomic handles, a testament to mankind’s ingenuity and functional aesthetics. Beneath the surface simplicity of this essential architectural component lies a complex world of considerations that architects must navigate with thoughtfulness and precision.
One of the first door systems used was the Pivot Door. They could originally be found in ancient stone building constructions, where they were used to hide secret passageways. Since then, they have been used for all kinds of purposes.
The Romans, for instance, characteristically used solid bronze double doors that were supported by pivots fitted into sockets in the threshold and lintel. The earliest large examples are the 24-foot (7.3-meter) double doors of the Roman Pantheon.
Modern Pivot Door History
In more recent history, they were favored by the Modern Movement. Architects like Le Corbusier or Josep Lluís Sert used them for their ability to sculpt free-flowing spaces with ease.
During those decades, pivot doors needed a subterranean door closer. So in the early phases of a building project, architects had to take into account the placement of the closer on the floor, which was always a hassle.
Now, in modern times, these pivot doors can be installed with great ease because all technique is now mortised in the door, making it a lot easier to install oversized pivot doors in both new and retrofit projects.
Pivot doors are movable walls. In a closed position, they are virtually invisible; in an open position, they can determine the space. It is precisely this that is the strength of the pivot door: it is a rotating part of a wall that can influence space, functionality, and perception.
As is the case with many construction products, the simplest ones are often the most complicated. A frameless and hingeless door might not look too complicated, but underneath that clean exterior is a menagerie of mechanisms and channels, all carefully orchestrated to make themselves completely invisible.
The FritsJurgens Pivot Door Invisible System
The FritsJurgens modern pivot door hinge is unique in that there are no structural elements on the floor or the ceiling. The hinge is fully integrated into the top and bottom of the door, which means that outside the door, only one small floor and ceiling plate need to be fitted. A virtually invisible system that can be used simply in both existing and new situations.
FritsJurgens pivot hinges can be fitted in doors of all conceivable lengths and widths up to a maximum weight of 500 kg. The door should be a minimum of 40 mm thick and can be made of any material: glass, steel, wood, etc.
Private House in Onnen
Steel Pivot door | Via FritsJurgens
Steel pivot doors have a modern and industrial look that fits in almost every interior and can upgrade the exterior appearance of a building to create a grand entrance.
Antique Pivot Doors of Palazzo Madama
Palazzo Madama Doors | Via FritsJurgens
The modern technology of System M was chosen by architect Diego Giachello to “move” the old glass doors of Palazzo Madama in Turin from the 15th century, which allowed access to the Scalone d’Onore and were designed by Filippo Juvara.
Modern Pivot Door in Austalia’s House
Black Pivot door | Via FritsJurgens
Taouk Architects chose System M for his black wooden pivot door in the living room.
Natural Wood Pivot Doors
Wood Pivot door | Via FritsJurgens
Natural Wooden Pivot Doors were chosen for the HarryVan office in the Netherlands.
The ‘AP House’
Wood Pivot door | Via FritsJurgens
The appearance of the rectangle-shaped space is highly influenced by the positions of the multiple pivoting doors, all fitted with FritsJurgens pivot hinge systems.
Secrets of the Bookshelf Door
Secret Pivot door | Via FritsJurgens
Ernst Hoek did not want to create an obvious passage between his home and his office. It could not be just a door. Therefore, he designed a hidden bookshelf door as a room divider.
Find out more about pivot doors at FritsJurgens
