In 1993, I went to Magdeburg to give a lecture.
Although the cathedral had been closed to the public for many years, it had survived as one of the most outstanding medieval buildings in Germany. The interior is a magnificent space, entered through a door on one of the long sides of the building. I was intrigued by the handle to this door, which was cast in metal in the form of a stylized bird.
It was not only good to look at.
More important was the way it sat in the hand...
When we accepted the challenge to design a range of door handles I was reminded of my experience in Magdeburg...
The handle of a door could be linked to architecture in miniature - it has to work well, but it must look good. In another sense, it is an important part of the furniture in a building - literally one of the few points of physical contact.
Another source of inspiration was the world of pocket-knives.
The blades with their mechanism are really like the middle of a sandwich, and they can be packaged in between moulded grips of a variety of materials.
The choice is extensive and determines the appearance and quality of the end product. Our project uses the same principle. The blade of the handle is a flat plate.
The sides can be made in metal, timber or black rubber.
The process sounds like a step-by-step progression, but the reality is closer to a game of snakes and ladders.
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H 334
Series NF Novantotto
H 328
Series NF Novantacinque
Stainless Steel
H 5010
Series Cresta
H 5007
Series Tofane
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