Yacht Door Handles What To Consider

Every yacht not doubt is as much a cherished home to its owner as any land based house. So are there any special needs a yacht owner needs to consider when choosing a yacht handle? Design follows function is key to choosing the right door handle or grip. The style, type and weight of yacht, whether it has been designed for racing or more extended leisure will impact the owners’ choice. The location of the handle, exposure to the sea and type and amount of use will also play a role.

From Cruiser Yachts

Consider the impact of sea water and whether yacht is designed for cruising or racing - Corrosion by sea water or aqueous corrosion is an electrical chemical process that some alloys like stainless are better suited to resist. While platinum gold and tantalum are most resistant, their cost make stainless steel a more commonly used alloy.

Door handle manufactures will often have a selection of  handles that are made from marine grade or 316 stainless steel,  this is the preferred alloy as it is most resistant to pitting corrosion. This grade of stainless steel is expensive and labor intensive both to machine and polish but it is a good long term choice. If budget considerations rule this out then consider anodized lighter weight aluminum or use plastic or carbon fiber all of which are lighter in weight and less expensive. By anodizing the surface of aluminum a film is created to protect the corrosion prone aluminum from degrading. As aluminum is lighter than stainless steel it makes a better choice for racing but if racing is the primary function then consider carbon fiber as it is extremely light and very strong. 

If you have decked out your yacht for cruising in what will be your home away from home then stainless steel is undeniably beautiful but a similar look can be achieved by chromium plating over a less expensive alloy like brass. Plating and anodizing both create a protective film that slows down the corrosive impact of sea water.

Boarding Handle from West Marine

Location -The location of  the door and the  presence of efficient air and water filtration systems that remove any air born corrosive elements may afford the yacht owner the option of working with less corrosion resistant alloys.  In those areas furthest removed from the ocean with good filtration systems the use of brass or bronze handles and wood and leather clad grips present a decorative and warmer option to steel.

Leather clad grips and levers from www.liveyachting.com

Operating function - Consider the function of the handle, is it being used as simple grip or pull or does it need to hold a door in place by means of a latch or lock or is it  being used as a winch handle. If it is a fixed grip, then provided it is sturdy there are a wide range  of materials available. If this is an operational lever or knob and it will see a lot of wear and tear then stainless steel is the preferred alloy. If you go to the expense of 316 stainless steel door handle set then ask the manufacturer if the spindle that supports the lever is also made from marine grade stainless steel.

Door Handles For The Office And Home

Design professionals will often chose to specialize in a specific field of design, some focusing their energies on residential project and others choosing more commercial or hospitality projects. The American Society of Interior Design   is a good place to find the right design professional for your project and thereby ensure that the chosen door handle fits your budget , suits the aesthetics of the setting and meets any applicable regulatory standards. So what exactly do we mean by residential versus commercial projects and how do they differ when it comes to choosing a door handle? Let’s begin with considering the different areas that are encompassed by the term commercial design. 

The term covers projects in the health care sector, restaurant and hospitality arena as well as office and retail space and institutions. In the hospitality sector an interior designer will be working with public areas that are being used for entertainment ranging from brand conscious casino and hotels to individual and multiple location restaurants. In the office sector the range of use runs the gamut from the campus style planning for a corporate headquarters to the private and public areas of a professional or service company. 

Stainless Steel Entry Doors to Office Lobby

At first glance the residential sector may appear more homogeneous but ask just about any interior designer to describe their portfolio of work and it becomes clear that this sector embraces every interior from a compact Eco designed studio to the renovation of a cantilevered home in the Hollywood Hills. Many designers chose to encompass both areas and in part one can thank the global recession for broadening the designers’ client base.

However, regardless of specialty, the areas of commercial and residential design demand a different type of door handle. In the commercial sector where the number of door handles for a given project will be considerable then budget constraints and wear and tear will be a major consideration. We might only use the door handle to our kitchen a few times a day but consider the number of times a door handle in a guest suite may be used in a hotel or casino. Not surprisingly  the spring mechanism within the door lock or bored lever  will need to be strong enough to endure repeated cycles of use and the ANSI/BHMA l standards  will require a performance of anywhere from 800,000 to 5,000,000 cycles depending on  the location and intended use of the door. While the regulatory requirements may well limit the choice of door hardware for commercial projects, there are companies that offer a wide range of custom door handles and that are designed for use with the American made  mortise lock by Accurate Lock which meets the ANSI/BHMA A156.13.2005 standard of 5,000,000 cycles. 

New Contemporary Door Handle By Martin Pierce In Development

Progress continues on the new tree door handle that Martin is working on.

We first introduced you to this new tree door handle in our July 1, 2016 post. As you can imagine, creating a bespoke door handle is a time consuming process, a bit like knitting a never ending scarf.   Every single leaf on the tree has to be carved, making it necessary for Martin to take the piece home in the evenings and over the weekend!  And if that isn’t enough, this design includes a second handle, the right mate to the left.  This will not be simply a mirror image of the first piece as that is not how nature works, but will be similar.  Anytime Martin designs a left and right of anything whether it be a lizard, a sycamore leaf or a tree, the two pieces are complimentary but never identical.

We hope these photos will help to illustrate this labor intensive process.

This first picture shows the two pieces of the door handle, painted gray to fill in the grain of the wood pattern, giving the piece a smooth surface.  When these two pieces are eventually cast they will be welded together either at the wax stage or, if that is not feasible, after the pieces have been cast in bronze.

How the Trunk and branches will look when welded together

The most time consuming part of creating this design is the tree canopy.  If you look closely you will see that every single line of every single leaf has to be carved.  It is hollow as the final design will have LED lights inserted into this area, allowing the light to shine down onto the tree trunks.  We think this will create a stunning effect.

Each leaf is carved

We will continue to share updates on the progress of this new and innovative door handle.

Door Handle Styles How They Evolve

Art can be a visual clue into the style of a particular period. This is certainly the case with the Art Nouveau movement as seen through the functional art of door hardware. This period has been defined in different ways and the exact expression is often country, region and culturally distinctive, making it difficult to pinpoint in words but easier to identify visually. The period for Martin Pierce has been the basis of his work be it in furniture making or in door hardware.  The art nouveau  period spanning the 1890 to 1910 was in part a reaction to the formality  of the Victorian style and its very name  “new art” expresses  the intent of breaking with tradition and older recognized forms. While every country and culture expressed their new art in local terms there is an adherence to organic shapes, fluid lines and a holistic perspective that is common ground.

The holistic and fluid nature was something that few periods have achieved since. In  Antonio Gaudi   and Victor Horta their work was not limited to architecture but spanned the furniture within the building, the door hardware  and lighting and even the silverware and china that a family would use. It was a period where the details mattered. As such it is a design philosophy at the heart of Martin Pierce’s work and continues to influence his door handle designs as seen in his current new door handle design.

Below the influence of vines and old gnarly roots seem to have figured into door handle design at at Parc Guell the intended location  for a new upscale housing development in Barcelona.

© 2016 Martin Ujlaki; All rights reserved; Tous droits réservés

Compare this with the Victor Horta's creation of functional art in the door handle at the Brussels Hotel Hanon.

Photography: Marie-HélèneCingal

 Nature had a different influence on Horta when it came to the door handle below for a residence in Brussels.

Photography: Marie-HélèneCingal

New Modern Door Handle Design

From paper to wood, from one dimension to three- the tree takes shape. This is the second post detailing the creation of a new custom door handle and how it is made by Martin Pierce.

The process of designing a custom door handle involves several steps which take the piece from a one dimensional sketch to three dimensional pattern.

A sketch is drawn, allowing Martin to make adjustments as he goes along.  Once he is pleased with the sketch the next step will require a three dimensional model.  In this instance, the tree model or pattern was outlined and cut from 2" thick basswood using a band saw and the angular tree topography was then carved with chisels.  The use of a V chisel  creates the sharper ridges that separate the different planes of the model.

The depth of the carved tree and the layers are more clearly seen from this profile and,if you look closely, you will see, to the left, the flat paper template of the same design.
The next step for this particular door handle design was to carve the tree canopy that will sit atop the trunk and branches. 

The canopy was also carved from 2" basswood using a spoon gouge with a swan neck, so called as the gouge is bent at the end

The Evolution Of Different Styles Of Martin Pierce's Door Handles

Like a beautiful garden, door handles are available in a seemingly endless variety of styles.  At Martin Pierce Hardware we offer several architectural hardware collections that will satisfy your interior design aesthetics.  All items are cast in the lost wax method which allows for exceptional detail, turning these pieces into functional art that will leave a lasting impression.

Hedgerow

Unique Door Handle Hedgerow Style

One might say that the Hedgerow collection started it all.  This versatile design was inspired by the trees and bushes from Martin Pierce’s childhood home in England.  The concept of growth is represented in each piece as the roots are exposed and grow into a beautiful and leafy tree.  Door knobs, entry door handles and cabinet hardware, as well as other accessories,  are available and will enhance the décor of any residential or commercial property.

Ergo

Modern Steel Door Handle ERGO

As a long time student of the Art Nouveau movement and, in particular the works of Victor Horta and Hector Guimard, Martin finds inspiration in their organic designs.  The creation of the sleek Ergo collection was his first foray into contemporary door hardware design.  Cast in 304 stainless steel, door levers, handles and knobs, cabinet and drawer pulls are ergonomically friendly, making them easy to grasp and operate for most people. Other accessories have been added to this collection including towel rails and soap dishes.

Morphic

Modern Steel Door Handle MORPHIC Style

Fluid lines and openwork design define the Morphic door hardware collection.  Further styling is achieved through the finish selection of bronze or stainless.  A colored hot patina option is also available, making it possible to truly customize your door handles.

Grapevine

Vine Door Handle

Martin’s love of not only wine but of the beautiful vineyards that dot the hillsides of Paso Robles, California was the obvious inspiration for the Grapevine series of door hardware.  Amongst the beautifully detailed leaves and vines you will spot the occasional cluster of young grapes waiting for harvest.  Cast in investment grade silicon bronze, the Grapevine collection, along with the entire collection of door handles, is hand-cast in the showroom and foundry in Los Angeles, California.

Lizard

Unusual Door Handle Lizard Style

Martin’s love of nature and the outdoors has always been an inspiration for new door handle collections.  To achieve the amount of detail and realism found in his designs he spends countless hours studying photographs of not only nature’s inhabitants but of their habitats as well.  This knowledge is then transferred to the design of the entire door handle set and can be found in the Lizard collection.

Willow

Unique Door Handle Willow Style

 The Willow collection of bronze door handles and cabinet pulls was launched by Martin Pierce in 2004 with entry sets cast in solid bronze with an oil rubbed finish.  The design represents, in Martin’s words, “An artistic three dimensional expression of willow leaves bending and cascading in the wind.”  He chose this design to introduce the new cremone bolt as the classical style of Willow was perfect for this  unique piece of door hardware.

Unique artistic designs and the attention to detail are what sets Martin Pierce apart from other door hardware designers.