How to design a space that is as flexible as we are

The home office

Many people have experienced it: working at the kitchen table with the whole family. Separating work and private life is a full-time job in itself. How wonderful it would be to close off a space in a beautiful way at one moment, and then enjoy the home with the whole family again.

Beautiful designs using FritsJurgens pivot hinges for working from home were already being made before working from home became the norm. Ernst Hoek designed a double bookcase with FritsJurgens’ System M+, enabling the living room to be separated from the workspace without compromising on functionality.

These steel cabinets appear as a solid wall when closed. The idea of a passageway is completely transcended by the functionality of the cabinet. It is not only an aesthetic and functional solution, the ingenuity of the solution surprises every visitor.

Flexible living

A flexible space at home is not only practical when working. Designing and creating a flexible home increases the quality of life for all individual residents. Standard Studio designed a pivoting cabinet wall with FritsJurgens’ System 3, with a TV on one side and a bookcase on the other.

Behind the wall is a play area for the children that can also be used as a guest room when visitors come. TV can be watched and games played to your heart’s content, while on the other side, in the kitchen, work or dining can continue in peace. Toys put away and dishes done? Then the full wall can be opened up. And if there’s no energy left for that, it can just stay closed.

Smart design in 40m²

It is not only large homes with open spaces that lend themselves to flexible room dividers. Smaller homes and studios in particular benefit enormously from the clever use of available square metres. When living, working and sleeping are all in the same space, it is very convenient to be able to easily adapt your space, even when living alone.

In St. Petersburg you will find such a flexible studio. SL Project Architectural Bureau designed a space where the bedroom can be separated from the living area thanks to five pivot doors with FritsJurgens’ pivot system System M+.

These pivot doors can all be opened and closed individually thanks to the hold-open positions at 0, 90 and -90 degrees. The atmosphere and functionality of the space are therefore entirely in the hands of the resident and can be adjusted with just a touch.

From open-plan office to individual workspace

The importance of a pleasant workspace has become abundantly clear over the past year. Many office buildings are due for renewal in order to provide as many employees as possible with a comfortable and safe workspace at the same time.

It is also very practical to make spaces as flexible as possible. A meeting room can be transformed into an open-plan office or even individual workspaces with flexible room dividers.

To create workspaces that also provide peace and concentration, it is important to be able to properly close off spaces. In the NNZ office building you will find large open spaces that are still easy to close off thanks to glass steel pivot doors with FritsJurgens’ System M+ pivot hinges.

Interior architect and owner of BuroBulder, Marjan Bulder:

“The desire was to work in open-plan offices in an open, transparent and friendly environment. Communication is important. The glass steel pivot doors support the overall feeling of openness and transparency, and when and where you need it, you can close those doors for more privacy, noise reduction and quiet.”

Flexible use of public spaces

Public spaces are used in a highly multifunctional way. Flexible division of spaces can be achieved here, for example by means of a row of pivoting walls, especially when it involves a large space.

In this tennis centre, a row of soundproofing pivot doors with FritsJurgens’ System 3 has been used to divide the reception area of the sports club so that conferences can be held, for example. This allows athletes to use the canteen while a meeting takes place in the adjacent space.

Short- and long-term solutions

FritsJurgens’ pivot systems are a suitable choice for flexible room dividers in both the short and long term. Each system is easy and quick to install without structural modifications to the floor and ceiling. This makes the systems suitable for all existing situations, whether in homes, office buildings or public spaces.

FritsJurgens is also suitable for use in flexible room dividers in the long term. Each system is made from the highest quality materials. The systems last more than one million movements — the equivalent of 136 years of daily use.

Flexible systems for flexible designers

The choice of the right FritsJurgens pivot system for your design depends on the placement of the pivot point, the weight of the room divider and the functionalities the room divider needs to have.

For 360-degree rotating walls, System 3 is particularly suitable. This system has multiple hold-open positions and closes automatically, providing control over the door movement and its impact on the space.

For off-centre placement, for example for a double rotating bookcase, System M+ is an ideal choice. This system provides full control over every door movement and this movement can also be adjusted to preference.

The choice of the right pivot system for your specific design is also made easy with the FritsJurgens Selector. This online tool converts the information about your design into the best possible choice.

Work to be done

From working at the kitchen table at home to a conference in one moment and a quiet workspace the next — there is work to be done. For optimal living, working and lifestyle comfort, our spaces need to become just as flexible as we ourselves have proven to be.

It starts with a good design. Whether you opt for a pivoting wall or a hidden passageway: flexible, pivoting room dividers offer the flexibility we are looking for today.