The Best Pivot Door Contest 2026 introduced a refined selection process, in which FritsJurgens nominated fifteen exceptional projects from over one hundred global submissions. The independent jury is composed of the following professionals and firms:
Winners of the Best Pivot Door Contest 2026
Celebrating excellence in pivot door innovation: architecture, craftsmanship and movement at their finest
Inspiration
19 January 2026
From private residences to heritage sites and experimental digital environments, the fifteen nominated projects for the 2026 contest show how pivot doors continue to expand architectural potential. Through material expertise, spatial intelligence and refined engineering, this year’s entries offer a matured yet forward-looking perspective on pivot door design. An independent international jury reviewed all nominated projects to determine the Jury Award winners across three categories: Exterior, Interior and Speciality Application.
This group of leading experts evaluated each project across five criteria: design quality, material execution, contextual fit, technical refinement, and the architectural effect of movement.
This edition also introduced the Public’s Choice Award, offering the international community the opportunity to support their favourite projects. While the public score did not influence the jury ranking, the highest-scoring public favourite and nominees in each category receive an equally esteemed custom-designed award and Certificate of Excellence.
Below, and via ArchDaily, Architonic, and Designboom, we proudly present the Jury Award winners, Public's Choice Award winners and the other finalists.
Best Exterior Pivot Door 2026
1st place: Silent Giant, Switzerland
Designed by: Mattia Canepa architetto
Manufactured by: Cattani Falegnameria
Photographed by: Alessandro Radice
Silent Giant transforms the entrance to a private garage into a transparent architectural element. The door measures nearly four metres in width and weighs 470 kilograms, yet moves with calm precision through the FritsJurgens System M+. The expanse of glass reveals the interior like a curated exhibition, while the engineered oak frame provides structural definition and warmth.
The jury valued the clarity of its detailing, the precision of its proportions and the way the door elevates a functional space into an architectural experience. The movement is almost silent, reinforcing the purity of the form.
Specifications
Door height: 2314 mm
Door width: 3917 mm
Door weight: 470 kg
Materials: Engineered oak and glass
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“Technically outstanding and visually serene. The door reads as a moving wall whose elegance comes from precision rather than expression.”
Fernando Garcia, Arup
2nd place: House of Faith, Singapore
Designed by: RT+Q Architects
Manufactured by: Construkt
Photographed by: Irieeyes Pictures / Skyscapist
House of Faith introduces a sculptural entrance inspired by the Christian cross. At more than six metres tall, the door combines Chengal timber with a galvanised steel frame. A secondary door is integrated seamlessly for daily use. Despite its 500 kg mass, it pivots smoothly on the FritsJurgens System M+, balancing monumental form with fluid movement.
The jury appreciated how the project communicates both symbolic meaning and architectural clarity, creating a threshold that is expressive and grounded.
Specifications
Door height: 6345 mm
Door width: 1770 mm
Door weight: 500 kg
Materials: Chengal timber and galvanised steel
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A deeply intentional and beautifully executed entrance. It combines scale, symbolism and craftsmanship with a confident sense of restraint.”
Alessandra Laiso, Zaha Hadid Architects
3rd place: Lost Villa, Bali
Public's Choice Award
Designed by: Single Art
Hardware provided by: SIMU Indonesia
Lost Villa is carved entirely by hand from locally sourced Balinese timber, then charred to enhance its depth and texture. The result is a richly patterned surface that feels both traditional and contemporary. The door’s movement, achieved through System M+, contrasts with its material solidity, creating an unexpected sense of softness.
The jury praised the project for its cultural sensitivity, material authenticity and the expressive quality of the carved surface.
Specifications
Door height: 2800 mm
Door width: 2050 mm
Door weight: 300 kg
Materials: Solid Balinese wood
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A beautiful example of material honesty and craft. The surface invites touch and the movement introduces a quiet theatricality.”
Jesper Boye Andersen, BIG
4th place: Modern Tuscany, United States
Manufactured by: Blackwell Carpentry
Hardware provided by: Index D
Modern Tuscany is constructed from Parota wood book-matched across an aluminium honeycomb core for stability. Solar-dried slabs preserve the wood’s natural figure while providing structural reliability. The FritsJurgens System M+ allows the tall, narrow composition to move with ease.
The jury admired the craftsmanship, the commitment to material integrity and the technical care given to an inherently challenging natural material.
Specifications
Door height: 4500 mm
Door width: 1500 mm
Door weight: 205 kg
Materials: Parota wood and aluminium honeycomb core
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“The material is celebrated with sincerity. Every decision supports the beauty and performance of the wood.”
Dikkie Scipio, KAAN Architecten
5th place: Warm Welcome, The Netherlands
Designed by: Bureau IN
Manufactured by: Different Doors
Warm Welcome extends vertically slatted ash wood across both wall and door, forming a unified façade expression. A slender glass insert introduces natural light while maintaining privacy. System M+ ensures controlled, gentle motion, reinforcing the calm, rhythmic design.
The jury appreciated its domestic clarity, subtle detailing and the warm, tactile expression created by the continuous timber.
Specifications
Door height: 2400 mm
Door width: 1780 mm
Door weight: 250 kg
Materials: Ash wood, HR++ glass, steel handle
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A well judged and welcoming entrance. The detailing is quiet but carefully resolved.”
Tomasz Wozny, Foster + Partners
Best Interior Pivot Door 2026
1st place: Tafelberg, The Netherlands
Designed by: Studio Massimo
Manufactured by: Broporte exclusive doors
Photographed by: Riccardo De Vecchi Photography / Christian van der Kooy
Tafelberg forms a continuous interior landscape of Red Grandis. Walls, ceiling and doors merge into a calm, unified timber envelope. The pivot doors form part of this composition, establishing a seamless spatial rhythm. System M+ allows the doors to move silently without interrupting the visual continuity.
The jury appreciated the project for its architectural coherence, refined execution and the subtle way movement contributes to the atmosphere.
Specifications
Door height: 2200 mm
Door width: 900 mm
Door weight: 180 kg
Materials: Red Grandis and glass
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A masterclass in consistency and spatial calm. The design allows architecture to breathe without distraction.”
Dikkie Scipio, KAAN Architecten
2nd place: Hidden Antolini Door, United States
Designed by: Pullen and Reed
Manufactured by: Mill and Forge
The Hidden Antolini Door integrates flawlessly into Antolini’s Perception marble wall. Veins align across the entire surface, concealing two pivot doors so precisely that they disappear when closed. System M+, combined with sensors and actuators, enables smooth operation beneath the stone’s weight.
The jury praised the precision of the alignment, the high difficulty of the execution and the sculptural impact of the surface.
Specifications
Door height: 2210 mm
Door width: 890 mm
Door weight: 410 kg
Materials: Marble, steel and wood
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: pivot with cable grommet
“Technically demanding and beautifully resolved. The stone geometry creates an intriguing surface that quietly transforms.”
Fernando Garcia, Arup
3rd place: Dubai Cinema Door, United Arab Emirates
Public's Choice Award winner
Designed by: World Design Team (WDM)
Manufactured by: Concept 5 Kitchen & Wood Industries
Hardware provided by: Chabros
Photographed by: Yasar Curtay
The Dubai Cinema Door is part of a three-dimensional travertine wall that conceals a private cinema. The door is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding stonework until it pivots open on FritsJurgens System One. The depth of the travertine panels creates rich shadow play and a sculptural presence.
The jury admired the bold geometry, the integration of the mechanism within a very heavy material and the theatrical quality of its movement.
Specifications
Door height: 2400 mm
Door width: 1500 mm
Door weight: 500 kg
Materials: Marble, steel and wood
Bottom pivot: System One
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A sculptural object that becomes architecture. The sense of weight and precision is impressive.”
Alessandra Laiso, Zaha Hadid Architects
4th place: Rotterdam Residence, The Netherlands
Designed by: Robert Kolenik
Manufactured by: Broporte exclusive doors
Photographed by: Jurrit van der Waal Photography
This interior pivot door disappears into a wall of vertical wooden slats, revealing a soft interior palette of stone and indirect light when opened. The FritsJurgens System M+ ensures gentle, controlled motion that supports the calm atmosphere of the home.
The jury praised the subtlety of the integration and the sensitivity of the material dialogue.
Specifications
Door height: 2600 mm
Door width: 1090 mm
Door weight: 100 kg
Materials: Wood and glass
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“Quiet, elegant and well balanced. The integration is thoughtful and unobtrusive.”
Tomasz Wozny, Foster + Partners
5th place: Pegasus, Sweden
Designed by: REPPEN WARTIAINEN arkitektur + development
Manufactured by: Janax Snickeri
Hardware provided by: Beslaget AB
Photographed by: Christian van der Kooy
Pegasus introduces five multi curved pivot doors that define movement within a renovated 16th century loft. Each door solves spatial and structural constraints through carefully modelled geometry. System M+ ensures fluid and silent operation.
The jury appreciated the inventive approach to spatial continuity and the craftsmanship needed to bring the curved forms to life.
Specifications
Door height: 2390 mm
Door width: 1780 mm
Door weight: 59 kg
Materials: Oak, pine, plywood and MDF
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“An imaginative response to a complex interior. The curved doors guide movement with grace.”
Jesper Boye Andersen, BIG
Best Speciality Application 2026
1st place: Villa Venezia, Italy
Public's Choice Award
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Manufactured by: U-Keg Group
Favoured by both the jury and the public, one can state that the Villa Venezia is the most favoured project of the entire Best Pivot Door Contest 2026, or the overall winner. Villa Venezia features two thermally broken steel pivot doors nearly four metres tall with an exceptionally slim 73 millimetre profile. The doors connect interior and landscape with clarity and transparency, while a custom-engineered arch detail allows the FritsJurgens top pivot to be seamlessly integrated into the frame. System One supports the 450 kg structures with ease.
The jury praised the project for its engineering refinement, precise detailing and the purity of its architectural expression.
Specifications
Door height: 3885 mm
Door width: 2636 mm
Door weight: 450 kg
Materials: Steel and glass
Bottom pivot: System One
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A beautifully engineered composition. The balance between structural logic and visual delicacy is remarkable.”
Fernando Garcia, Arup
2nd place: Liquor Motion, Belgium
Designed by: SOM architecten
Manufactured by: Waeles Puur Maatwerk
Hardware provided by: Deceuninck Deforce
Photographed by: Demasure Bert
Liquor Motion conceals a warm, illuminated bar behind a dark eucalyptus veneered fireplace wall. When the pivot door opens, the contrast between calm exterior and glowing interior creates a sense of discovery. System M+ supports a smooth, quiet movement that enhances the reveal.
The jury noted the refined detailing and the elegant relationship between furniture and architecture.
Specifications
Door height: 2240 mm
Door width: 1370 mm
Door weight: 170 kg
Materials: Smoked eucalyptus veneered MDF and bronze finished metal
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A refined interplay between stillness and warmth. The reveal is subtle but highly effective.”
Dikkie Scipio, KAAN Architecten
3rd place: TAD Entry Portal, United States
Designed by: Technology Architecture Design (Tad.) and Model Practice
In collaboration with: Hypersonic, Once Future, Motion Automation Intelligence
Manufactured by: DetaiLED Solutions
Hardware provided by: Better Building Hardware
The TAD Entry Portal reimagines the pivot door as an active digital surface. Two large pivoting panels, clad in modular LED screens, transition from an architectural calm to dynamic visual content. Despite their 360 kg combined weight, System One ensures precise and effortless movement.
The jury praised the concept's ambition and the integration of architecture, technology, and experience.
Specifications
Door height: 2450 mm
Door width: 3660 mm
Door weight: 360 kg
Materials: Aluminium extrusions, custom steel components, LED panels
Bottom pivot: System One
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A bold reinterpretation of the door as a medium. The technology becomes architecture rather than ornament.”
Tomasz Wozny, Foster + Partners
4th place: Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen, Germany
Designed by: cappellerarchitekten
Manufactured by: Stahl- & Metallbau Bernd Halfpap
Photographed by: Max Méndez
This semi-transparent pivot door stands before the entrance of a historic church and operates in three positions for different liturgical and spatial functions. Its perforated steel and anodised aluminium surface glows gently when illuminated from inside. System M+ ensures controlled rotation across its full 180-degree range.
The jury valued the project for its sculptural presence and its sensitive approach to heritage context.
Specifications
Door height: 3735 mm
Door width: 3185 mm
Door weight: 350 kg
Materials: Galvanised and perforated steel, anodised aluminium
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“A compelling dialogue between tradition and contemporary craft. The surface reads like a veil of light.”
Alessandra Laiso, Zaha Hadid Architects
5th place: Kindergarten Sonneninsel, Germany
Designed by: SSR Architekten
Manufactured by: Zimmermann
Photographed by: JO!RGE
Two large spruce pivot doors divide and connect the kindergarten interior in a single gesture. When closed, the doors form a continuous timber wall. When opened, they dissolve boundaries and create a generous shared space. System M+ ensures silent and gentle movement suited to a children’s environment.
The jury appreciated the project’s simplicity, tactility and functional clarity.
Specifications
Door height: 2400 mm
Door width: 2250 mm
Door weight: 100 kg
Materials: Solid spruce wood
Bottom pivot: System M+
Top pivot: 70 mm
“Warm, functional and honest. The design supports the daily rhythms of the space with quiet intelligence.”
Jesper Boye Andersen, BIG
Celebrating the best throughout 2026
Congratulations to all for contributing to an inspiring and diverse edition of the Best Pivot Door Contest. The 2026 selection reflects the growing integration of craftsmanship, engineering and architectural expression across a wide range of contexts and typologies. These projects demonstrate that movement, when handled with precision and imagination, remains a powerful design tool.
Last but not least, we proudly introduce a panel of leading professionals in the world of architecture. The Best Pivot Door Contest 2026 was evaluated by those whose work spans cultural buildings, advanced façades, large-scale public projects and highly detailed architectural environments. Their combined expertise brings a balanced perspective on design quality, craftsmanship, technical refinement and the expressive potential of movement.
Dikkie Scipio - KAAN Architecten
Architect, Professor in Architecture, and Co-founding Partner of KAAN Architecten. Known for significant institutional and public works, she brings a strong understanding of material clarity, architectural coherence and long-term spatial value.
Jesper Boye Andersen - BIG
Associate and Project Manager at BIG. With a background in construction technology and digital coordination, he offers a precise and pragmatic eye for detailing, fabrication and the integration of architecture and engineering.
Fernando Garcia - Arup
Architect and Façade Specialist at Arup. He contributes deep knowledge of building envelopes, structural logic and performance-driven design, ensuring that technical excellence is recognised alongside architectural intent.
Alessandra Laiso - Zaha Hadid Architects
Lead Architect at Zaha Hadid Architects. Her work combines advanced digital design with a strong sensitivity to spatial experience, material articulation and the sculptural qualities of movement.
Tomasz Wozny - Foster + Partners
Partner and General Manager for Foster + Partners. He brings extensive experience in delivering complex international projects, with a focus on proportion, contextual reading and the integration of refined engineering within architectural form.
Submit your project for the Best Pivot Door Contest 2027
We invite architects, designers and manufacturers to submit their finest work and join the next edition of the contest.