Helen Viola Müller

The first stage of the project took the form of a field study on the streets in our locality. The subjects under investigation were the various entrances and exits there. I was particularly interested in cellar entrances, which often had a shabby, cramped, neglected look about them. In the subsequent phase I investigated the various mechanisms for opening and closing doors.

My curiosity was aroused by the unusual design engineering that underpins the twin-rod system by Klemens Torggler. Attached to a door comprising two large panels that seem to move without visible hinges, this mechanism has a magical, weightless feel about it. I attempted to recreate the Torggler door in cardboard and Kapaline in order to solve the riddle for myself and better grasp the principle involved. This proved more demanding and complicated than expected.

Where were the slabs’ points of pivot? Where were the panels’ points of pivot? Where were the handles? I only got to the bottom of these questions by trying, failing and trying again. Following our inspirational tour of FSB’s factory and showroom, I turned to the topic of “door handles”. I concentrated on their haptic properties and experimented with material. My aim was to raise the handle’s haptic and aesthetic qualities.

Research on the merits and drawbacks of various materials led me to view cork as an interesting material. It also accorded with my interest in mixing materials, in this case cork and metal with their highly contrasting properties: hard and soft, hot and cold.

Metal feels smooth and cool and is, in addition, very malleable. One thing I like about cork is that it is harvested in an ecologically sound manner. It is won from the bark of the cork oak tree, which is stripped off in planks without felling or damaging the tree.

The material can be recycled and is abrasion-resistant. It is used to manufacture the likes of shoes and seats. Where safety in the home is at issue, this is a fire-retarding material.

I first got down to finding a basic shape for the door handle. It was important here that I should be able to integrate the cork material into the shape well.

The main body of the door handle was to be made in high-grade steel, at the same time embedding sizeable areas of cork so as to generate a certain warmth during use. This would contrast to great effect with the brighter colour and the coolness of the steel.

After I had produced a few sketches, I fashioned the basic shape of my door handle in polystyrene, cut pieces out and replaced them with cork.

The first trials with a cork-mat model were time-consuming and unsatisfactory. A large cork block (yoga block) then proved to be a better material to work with. I decided to build the model with larger pieces of cork.

Theses were employed for the smooth and soft part of the handle, since this makes what is an interesting new haptic experience more immediate for the user.