Providing the right framework

Making a grand entrance and setting the scene: Doors have always been the eye-catcher of a room, simply through the movement and the fascination of the simple opening and closing, with which two worlds can be separated or connected. Eclisse has reinvented exactly that.

The two Italian designers Francesco Valentini and Lorenzo Ponzelli, who have been working together successfully since 2018, came up with the idea of making the door an inclusive design element and thus raising it to a new level in terms of content in addition to its architectural functions. The result is the development of a new product and exclusive patent called Eclisse 40, which the two creatives have designed for the manufacturer of the same name. This is a door frame that is bevelled by 40 degrees, thus creating depth in the room. This gives the door a portal-like effect. At the same time, the frame appears flush with the wall, meaning that the door and wall are completely flush. The reveal with its striking 40-degree angle, where the vertical and horizontal profiles also meet, creates an impressive interplay of light and shadow. The anodised aluminium frame is resistant to weathering, stains and scratches.

Like every creative project, this one also has its very own genesis. ‘The project began primarily under the impression that something was missing in the world of doors. Something that would further develop the concept of a flush or minimalist door,’ say the two designers about the beginnings. ‘Knowing that creativity arises from the rejection of a potential solution, we imagined something that would be a recognisable feature of this further development, a decorative element. However, it was not to be realised by adding material, but by taking it away - the invisible was to become visible through a convincing, geometric and at the same time discreet sign. With the functional and practical aspect in mind, we created an edge protection element between the wall and door.’

J.A. Schumpeter once said: ‘Doing the old in a new way - that is innovation.’ The elegant door frame gives the wall a secondary role and instead emphasises the wall opening. Like a frame, it adorns the door and invites you to walk through. The sloping wall openings of old buildings, which have been using this element for centuries, were the unmistakable model.

‘The inspiration comes from the richness of the past. In the portals and wall openings of ancient and historical buildings, the wall areas adjacent to the windows were bevelled, thus extending the wall surfaces into the wall openings,’ the two creatives explain their inspiration. ‘The purpose of this structural design was to allow as much light as possible to flow inwards, even with smaller wall openings. In architecture, this technique is referred to as a ‘jamb’. In this product, the proportions of the traditional mouldings of wooden interior doors have been retained. A feature that the human eye has been used to seeing for many decades.’ The proportions of the door frame are also the same as those of conventional doors with bevelled wood panelling. The result is a fundamentally new way forward. A path that nevertheless does not call everything into question, that gives the door an important role and gives it a slimmer appearance.

The two soon felt that their ideas, which had matured over time, were the right ones. This was already evident in the initial research activities and in the realisation of their vision into a concrete industrial product. ‘With Eclisse, we were able to get to know a large company with a pleasant dynamic that is more typical of a small family business. This was a decisive factor for us right from the start. From the very first meetings and briefings, we sensed an unrivalled enthusiasm from the De Faveri family and the entire Eclisse team.’ Intensive dialogue created a working atmosphere that was perfect for completing the project in close collaboration and successfully bringing the product to market.

‘Eclisse is a company that has focussed on technology and innovation since its beginnings. With the flush-to-wall door, something hidden was shown. The innovation was experienced here by means of a system that was hidden from view. This frame, on the other hand, stands out from the wall for the first time and makes a statement of discreet presence and ultimately its visibility. It is not just a technical and functional element, but becomes part of the final design itself.’

Suitable for both drywall and solid walls, the aluminium door frame is not only anodised for corrosion protection, but is also available in the various Eclisse anodised colours. The primed version provides an optimum adhesive base for paint applications. The door frame profile is designed to prevent cracking. At around three and a half kilograms per running metre - with a finished wall thickness of 12.5 centimetres - installation remains easy. However, the key difference lies in the detail. The design performance behind the simplified assembly, sophisticated technology and perfect aesthetics only becomes apparent on closer inspection of the product.

This door has been created for a wide range of users and for numerous application scenarios. In the case of the single-colour, minimalist version, the bevelled edge of the door frame creates a special play of light and shadow. However, special customer-specific designs are also possible, both for the door leaf and the aluminium frame, for example by creating a solution with maximum emphasis on the door frame itself. ‘We want to renew the love for doors among our large customer base. By clientele, we mean architects, fabricators and end users. We would like this product to be the starting point for a new perception of the door itself. The point is that doors, with a few exceptions, have so far been elements that are only seen and experienced as functional objects.’

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