Good architecture has many manifestations. For that reason, HEYLIGERS architects does not use one design style, but one design method that responds to the aesthetic and functional wishes and needs of the property owner and user to the maximum extent.
HEYLIGERS architects was founded in 1988. Once started as interior designers, the firm has grown into a valued partner for architecture and interior design. From Amsterdam and Utrecht, 20 to 25 employees work daily on impressive projects. "From a private house of 300 m² to the transformation of Berghaus Plaza in Amsterdam, for which we created the entire design - from SO to UO - in close cooperation with MVSA," says Willem Heyligers, architect and founding partner of HEYLIGERS architects.
"In addition to new construction, we are strong in transformation and repurposing. For example, of the many office buildings that need to go from energy label D/F/G to at least label C. But also of the beautiful national monumental buildings in our country, which we like to make more attractive for their users."
Currently, HEYLIGERS architects has no fewer than eight national monument buildings in Amsterdam under construction. "Moreover, the design process of a special national monument in Utrecht will start soon."
Heyligers likes to use pivoting doors (pivot doors) in his designs. Not only because of their minimalist look and functio-
nality, but especially because of the extensive design possibilities. "A pivot door is a true eye-catcher and the centerpiece of a carefully composed design," he says. "The look and unique pivot allow true design statements to be made. Yet the doors cannot be installed just anywhere. Most pivot door systems require a floor pot as the lower pivot point. In an existing floor, where often floor heating, ducts and (pipe) pipes are already present, this cannot simply be fitted. Fortunately, FritsJurgens' pivot system provides a beautiful and effective solution for this."
Heyligers discovered the pivot system in 2017, during the Salone del Mobile home and design fair in Milan. "I was immediately charmed by the simplicity of the system," he says. "But so was I by the invisible integration into the pivot door. I had to remember that one! I asked project manager Jeroen Iemhoff of FritsJurgens to send me a hinge to make the system visible to my clients as well. After all: seeing is believing! Since then I have already applied the system in several projects."
As an example, Heyligers cites the legendary The Valley in Amsterdam, which has won many (international) awards. "The Valley was designed by MVRDV, which was commissioned by developer Edge Technologies to design a fantastic organic building. A month after construction started, however, the project was sold to Amsterdam-based RJB Group, which had a different perception of the residential floor plans."
Heyligers was invited to create a new design for the homes that was suitable for rental in the upper segment.
The resulting design is unique to the Dutch market. "We removed almost all single bedrooms from the design," said Heyligers. "In addition, we put the living or living space in good proportion to the number of bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms.
Each bedroom has a private bathroom en suite, with or without a toilet. In addition, all apartments have a general and separate toilet at the corridor. High-quality brands and materials have been selected both for the plumbing, kitchens and lighting. In addition, built-in and walk-in closets have been integrated into the design of each apartment, and the number of hallway meters has been significantly reduced."
To raise the connection between the hallway and living space to the highest level, a top-notch product was needed, said Heyligers. "FritsJurgens' pivot system was immediately top of mind for this. After all, the cement screed with underfloor heating, cables, supply and return pipes had already been laid. De Rooy Metaaldesign supplied beautiful steel doors with a black profile and light smoked glass, which were firmly anchored to the floor with FritsJurgens' pivot system. For mounting, drilling just two 8-mm holes was sufficient."
At the heart of FritsJurgens' system is an innovative, invisible and maintenance-free hinge, which is already integrated into the pivot door at the door manufacturer's factory. Architects and homeowners have a choice here between a standard System One hinge (installation depth: 40 mm) or a self-closing System M+ hinge (installation depth: 8 mm).
"Unique to System M+ are the adjustable closing damping (soft close) and hydraulic opening damping, which ensure smooth door movement," Iemhoff said. "It also protects the adjacent wall or door, no matter how much force is used to open the door. Because the door can be fixed at any 90-degree angle, users can determine the spatial impact themselves."
For mounting the door, only a 40 x 80 mm floor and ceiling plate need to be attached. "Whereas the ceiling plate is fastened with regular screws, for the floor plate two 8-mm holes are sufficient. This allows the system to be installed excellently in combination with underfloor heating."
Many people initially think it is impossible to rest a door of up to 500 kg on a floor plate of only 40 x 80 mm, with 8 mm long pins, Iemhoff knows. "Yet with our system, the pressure of the door is evenly distributed across the floor plate. The pressure on the floor is even lower than that of a person in stiletto heels! Meanwhile, the weight of the door, the pins and a special strong adhesive glue keep the plate in place."
In The Valley, the pivot doors were mounted about 10-12 mm above the screed, Heyligers says. "This allowed all residents to easily lay their self-selected floor coverings against the floor slab. We are now three-quarters of a year on and not a single door has had to be readjusted! The solid technology and fastening indicate that!"
At least one pivot door was installed in each apartment. "I am convinced that these doors, in addition to the aforementioned approach and luxurious finishes of the living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, have contributed to the rapid leasing of all 198 apartments."
In addition to the aesthetic and assembly benefits of the FritsJurgens pivot system, Heyligers also praises the logistical and cost advantages. "The doors could be hoisted in quickly and assembled immediately, minimizing the number of crane hours required. Because the hinges are produced in the Netherlands, delivery problems were not an issue."
Following project The Valley, Heyligers also applied the FritsJurgens pivot system to his own home. "In 1988 I moved into a former office building on Plantage Middenlaan in Amsterdam Center, which was converted into a residential building with four apartments," he says. "The central hall of the building still had the old-fashioned office folding doors. When I saw the beautiful result in The Valley, however, I immediately worked out a plan for my own home with steel pivot doors from Stieva Metaal Groep. I have the doors in my hands several times a day and am still super happy with them."
Neem dan rechtstreeks contact op met De Rooy Steel Doors.