Practical architectural ironmongery to give an aesthetic refresh to your interiors: we select the best architectural, design-led door handles, pulls and knobs for a quick update of your domestic space.
Milano by Antonio Citterio for Olivari
Italian company Olivari perfected the door handle craft and design over a century of creative experimentation, in collaboration with some of the greatest minds of design. Its latest collection is inspired by an imaginary journey from Milan to Lugano, in collaboration with modern masters such as Antonio Citterio and Carlo Colombo. Citterio, whose door handle design embodies the spirit of Italy’s design capital, created an understated and timeless handle, created as an evergreen addition to the home that celebrates Milan and its discreet creative force.
Clémence by Pierre Daems for Maison Vervloet
Based in Molenbeek, Brussels, Maison Vervloet has been making decorative hardware since 1905. Their door handles have been designed in collaboration with some of today’s most respected creators, from India Mahdavi to Glenn Sestig and Charles Zana. Its latest collection sees the essence of Pierre Daems’work being scaled back to the small forms of a door handle: the Belgian interior designer’s signature sinuous lines are replicated on the hardware, whose composition of straight and curved lines is inspired by Art Deco. Photography: Backflash Studio
Note Design Studio for Haven
Created for Swedish bathroom specialist Haven, Note Design Studio’s collection of handles and knobs is suitable for any room of the house. The minimal, well-considered design is available in a palette of metals that encourages mixing and matching, while maintaining a discreet, sophisticated aesthetic. Designed as simple geometries, the elements are ‘additional graphic expressions’ to enhance the look of a cabinet door. For the brand, the design duo have also created a series of complementing trays and boxes.
Nexxa by Zaha Hadid Design for Izé
Zaha Hadid Design have created a new sculptural door handle concept for architectural hardware specialist Izé. The Nexxa door handle is designed and engineered to maintain its strong aesthetic intact at all times. ‘We looked at how we could make it more innovative and at how we could design a handle in a single continuous line which isn’t broken even if the handle is being turned,’ says Woody Yao, co-Director of Zaha Hadid Design. ‘We did a lot of research in how to make use of the break between the two elements as part of the story. Izé is all about the bespoke and the customized, so the idea was to create not an off-the-shelf design but a sculpture.’ Available in a range of finishes (including satin, polished black titanium and solid rose gold, a material never before used on a commercial door handle), the design was first conceived in 2006 by Zaha Hadid herself and further developed by her team in collaboration with Izé.
Madeleine by Inga Sempé for Dnd Martinelli
A tribute to the eponymous French cake, Inga Sempé’s Madeleine door handle replicates the delicate ridged surface of a shell. The compact, elegant handle is made of hot stamped brass and available in polished antique gold (pictured), matte black, polished nickel and and satin gold, graphite and copper.
Symbols by Adam Nathaniel Furman for Swarf Hardware
British artist and designer Adam Nathaniel Furman has created a series of handles inspired by building blocks for British manufacturer Swarf Hardware. The geometric, modular designs of the Symbols collection follow Swarf’s engineering-led approach and can be combined to create diverse compositions both horizontally or vertically. The shapes are hand-finished to provide a comfortable grip, and each piece is available in satin brass, polished brass and four powder-coated shades (with bespoke colours available on request). ‘Symbols is a little celebration of diversity in the home, like a set of beautifully crafted geometric emojis for quotidian life,’ says the designer. ‘They are a parade of small characterful personalities for you to pick and choose from, combining them in various fun ways to populate and animate your furniture.’
Fela Handles by House of Eroju
Since 1997, London-based House of Eroju has been crafting door handles ‘that privilege a sense of touch’. Brothers Keji and Tunde Eroju specialize in architectural ironmongery defined by attention to craftsmanship and precision engineering, using materials such as bronze, concrete and leather. Their Fela handles (available as pull handles or door lever handles) combine a minimal slate form with leather details in tan, red, olive and white. ‘Our use of leathers is second to none, from the hand-picking of skins, hand-cutting and hand-stitching techniques to the attention of an individual craftsperson,’ say the brothers. ‘Each piece is instilled with passion and pride incorporating years of experience.’
Seppa by Vbrokkr
Melbourne based design studio Vbrokkr specialises in creating unique architectural hardware using traditional silversmithing and hollowware techniques. Its growing collection of limited edition door handles, knobs and pulls was developed by founder Ned Vernon, who studied craftsmanship and design in Europe before launching the brand. His time in Europe led him to appreciate architectural ironmongery and its carefully-considered designs and traditional symbolism. ‘Different cultural rituals and mythical symbolism of the door, such as protection, transience and the family unit’ became driving inspirations for Vernon, who also looked at architecture throughout history with a particular focus on Brutalism and Italian mid-century design.
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