Luis Riechers & Leander Leyendecker

When we look at front doors, we are forced to concede that, in terms of logic and common sense, they often leave something to be desired and can only be properly used given prior knowledge or alternative approaches. The original function of the key, for instance, is often expanded to include its being used as a door handle. It becomes the most sensitive part of the door if this occurs. Even where a disproportionately large handle is fitted, the key is still frequently used as a lever and pushing device. The question presents itself here as to why lever handles have made way for push/pull pad handles on the outside of doors despite the latter only delivering a fraction of the formers’ functions: whereas the one can be used to lever a door open, pad handles are restricted to being pushed (from the outside).

It presumably saves time if a key is used instead of either a lever or a push/pull pad handle. Opening the door by key and not just with the handle may also enhance a feeling of privacy and personal security, even if the door is not locked in the prescribed manner.

So how might a door look that can be conveniently opened and provide a simultaneous sense of accessibility, safety and privacy?

Taking this question as a point of departure and assuming that, under the principle of “grasping with hand and mind”, it would be desirable to recommence fitting lever handles to front doors, we were inspired to design an invisible handle that is rendered visible when needed and can only be operated on this basis.

The handle appearing in this way can likewise be interpreted by unwitting guests as a definite invitation, whereas the apparent lack of a handle will have a deterrent effect on anyone else. Just how much there is to handle culture became clear to us during the drafting process.

That the handle has to be taken hold of stands to reason, yet it’s impossible to say what the next step will be. The handle’s function can only be grasped if its shape is right. Thus, an invisible handle ought also to be of a shape that indicates whether it is to be pulled or pushed.

By a process of visualising our ideas and trying them out, we developed a handle solution that is inconspicuous when withdrawn whilst prompting users to push it when extended.

In a chapter entitled Greifen und Begreifen (“Grasping with Hand and Mind”), Otl Aicher observes that modern thinking is becoming increasingly detached from the natural principle of hand, mind and eye interacting and confines itself instead to logic and common sense.

Where no solution is to be found in this way, a playful approach is adopted that equates to the pattern just referred to. It appears to be logical, therefore, to devise systems in which people act in accordance with these laws. That’s what we have done with our handle solution.