Licence to dream: FritsJurgens

It’s a rare treat to design with total freedom, without worrying about execution. As an architect and designer of space, there are numerous rules and requirements – both spoken and unspoken – to be complied with. But, what if you could unlock complete design freedom by utilising some smart and simple strategies? It sounds too good to be true.

Very often, though, a key to discovering this freedom can be found in ‘doors’ – elements that play an enormously important role in the way a space is perceived. They enlarge space beyond what is visible to the eye, and allow the mind to ponder what’s on the other side of them.

Besides the psychological benefits, doors offer limitless design possibilities. Architects shouldn’t underestimate the positive influence of their design – they are, after all, often the first tangible element of a building that is encountered, setting the tone for the rest of the interior.

When seeking to make a statement, designers usually discover that a basic, hinged door can be somewhat mediocre. A pivot door, on the other hand, offers many possibilities. Rotating on a vertical axis, determined by a pivot hinge and top pivot placement, the freely rotating canvas creates a spectacular sense of movement – transforming a passageway into an experience.

With the right hardware, pivot doors can carry enormous amounts of weight and span large areas. Unfortunately, though, the pivot hinge itself can present a number of challenges that may potentially limit design freedom. For instance, installation of an in-floor pivot is expensive and time-consuming, it is not compatible with underfloor heating, adjustment is impossible, and the necessary cover plate often clashes with the interior design scheme.

Thankfully, however, Dutch company FritsJurgens has created a range of pivot hinges that solves all of the issues described above. Besides being easy to install, these hinges make unlimited door heights possible and can carry loads of up to 500kg. In addition, movement happens very smoothly as the pivot hinge is not placed in the floor, but rather in the door itself – a crucial switch that makes all the difference.

When installing a FritsJurgens pivot hinge, the only elements entering the floor are 8mm long pins that hold the small, well-designed floor plate in place. This plate replaces the unsightly cover plate of an in-floor closer. The pivot hinge, hidden inside the bottom of the door, then rests on this floor plate.

Execution is just as effortless. The system’s straight-forward installation requires little on-site labour and takes just 30 minutes. installing the floor plate, the ceiling plate, and the door is done when the final floor is in place. Thanks to the floor plate’s short pins, underfloor heating is not an issue, and they can be installed in new and existing interiors without the need for excavation of the floor.

Freedom remains in the hands of the designer, who can choose from four different ranges of FritsJurgens pivot hinges: System One, System 3, and System M – all with their own unique features. Last year, FritsJurgens launched System M+, a system that adds increased adjustability to the existing System M range. This enables doors of unlimited height to be installed, while still maintaining full door control and smooth flawless movement – even at 7m tall. In addition, every pivot hinge system in the System M range can be easily adjusted even after the door has been fitted.

Often aesthetic considerations must be compromised for function – not, however, in this case. With various materials such as wood, metal and marble available – all scratch-resistant and compactly designed – a FritsJurgens floor plate can be tailored to fit the interior design, allowing even further opportunity for expression. So while some systems require visions to be diluted, FritsJurgens’ door design solutions only expand and concenrtrate design freedom.

© Architonic