“FritsJurgens is really helping us with the dance of the door. And with the threshold, which is something that is really important for us. And the freedom.”
Tucked away in the enchanting town of Arzignano, Italy, awaits a hidden gem. And like the name of the town it resides in, this place too is downright enchanting. Which is only fitting when you consider that Marcello Galiotto, both architect and owner, has shaped Caffè Nazionale into a masterpiece of design and gastronomy. Whoever sets foot inside, has a hard time leaving. As we know from personal experience.
Marcello is an architect that strongly believes that in the sum of all parts, every part must be aligned perfectly. Anything less, simply does not suffice. This becomes evident in everything he does as an architect, but also as the owner of Caffè Nazionale.
Here, his vision is reflected in an adventurous chef residing over the modern kitchen, a progressive cocktail maker creating tastes that linger long after the drink is done, professional bar personnel that give you a feeling of belonging, and, finally, an interior so striking that it leaves many simply aghast with awe.
In this design, he has sought—and found—a refined blend of old and new, classic and modern. By preserving the best parts of the original classic design—thus maintaining its timeless elegance—and adding modern materials, lighting, two pivot doors and other refined details, he created a seamless fusion of past and present. A perfect sum of all parts, if you will.
Marcello though, remains as humble as ever.
“I think I'm not yet an architect. I'm trying to be an architect. To be an architect, it's not just to be a normal worker, but it's more creating a piece of life. So, then to be an architect, I think you need your complete life. You can be a super nice architect, do nice things, but if you do shitty entrances and shitty frames, you can destroy the architecture.”
An exterior door as a statement
At Caffè Nazionale, two striking pivot doors enhance both function and style. One on inside and one leading its clientele from the outside world to the internal beauty of Caffè Nazionale.
The front door immediately beckons attention. Featuring a diamond-shaped design and a rich, bronze-like texture, it leaves a lasting impression. Marcello explains his architectural choices.
“Usually, the door of a cafe, of a bar, is glass. But I decided to say: ‘no, it needs to be black. It needs to be strong, and, closed.’ Also, the shape of the door is diamond. In the past, the entrance of the old factories here were always designed like a diamond. So, all our buildings have the diamond shape, because it’s about the past and a tribute to what happened here.”
Furthermore, he elaborates on the use material.
“The material is simple iron, which is really delicate and looks like bronze, but it is not, it's just iron. Because bronze was too precious, and, at the same time, we want to keep things grounded. So, the space is not pretentious. It's a space for people. For everybody.”
The outside door is striking within itself, but even more so when Marcello dives into the deeper meaning behind an exterior door—especially a pivot door—and reveals his vision of the threshold. He sees it as a step into another world, or even life. With one opening and closing, with one step, you leave the outside world behind, and the person you were there, and become the person you are within the confines of your home, your workplace: your internal self.
“I think the main point from the outside to the inside is the experience of that moment. This is a theme that we at AMAA investigate a lot. In the past, in the Japanese culture, for example, the threshold before entering the house has a special path. Or in the Indian tradition, the threshold has a step.”
Marcello wholeheartedly believes that pivot doors have a great impact on the idea of the threshold and that sensation of moving from one reality into the other. Especially pivot doors that move with a FritsJurgens pivot system, that move like a dance.
“And, I think for us, it will be really difficult to abandon the pivot door and the system of FritsJurgens, because it's really an emotion, it's a dance. When you move the pivot, it's kind of smooth, and it's giving you a new three-dimensional feeling of entering a space. It's a threshold.”
Overcoming the dimensions of an interior pivot door
When creating the interior pivot door, Marcello wanted a door that would fit into the design but also stand out. So, it had to be big and impressive. And the material and shape would also have to be just right.
“For the inside it was about the dimension, because the dimension was so big, and the weight of the door was kind of impressive. And then we will have this effect of moving the things with one finger.”
The door has a wavy shape and is made of aluminium with tiny perforations. This material is continued throughout the entire wall, not just the pivot door. This works miracles for the overall feel of the place where people are seated to enjoy a coffee, lunch, cocktail, dinner, etc. The same material extends to the high cupboards behind the bar, where bottles and other ingredients for crafting cocktails are stored. It binds the two spaces Caffè Nazionale consists of together. In a seamless and near organic manner.
The wavy aluminium pattern contrasts with the classic elements of the interior. Yet rather than clashing or overwhelming the space, the sleek aluminium wall and pivot door harmonize effortlessly with the historic Italian frescoes and ornaments, striking a perfect balance between modern innovation and classical artistry.
Another clever detail is the tiny perforations in the aluminium. As a result, the pivot door leading to the restroom reveals a large window overlooking a lush backyard. This design choice allows daylight to cascade into Caffè Nazionale, creating a breathtaking effect—especially in spring and summer. And that was intentional. Marcello wanted to maintain a connection to the outside world. Even though you leave the outside behind at the threshold, he doesn’t want you to forget it exists. The pivot door plays a key role in that vision and feeling.
“The not super-fast movement of a pivot door enables you to leave outside your thoughts of the day, your daily life, and enter the house, which is the space for yourself and for your family. Even though outside is always there waiting for you to return.”
Why FritsJurgens?
“So, that’s the point: you can really be free in design. And it's the sensation. So, it's the dance! I would say freedom and dance are the points that you should highlight with FritsJurgens.”
Freedom and dance. Moving a very heavy door with just one fingertip. Creating a new threshold where you divide inside and outside into two different layers of living, and aspects of being. That is what is important to Marcello. And as it happens, that is also what is important to us. We want to give architects the freedom to design whatever their vision dictates. No boundaries, no limits, but sheer creative freedom. Our systems are manufactured to function exactly as the architect needs them to function. They move smoothly, close with a whisper, are impactful.
Marcello believes that pivot doors, and with the systems of FritsJurgens, have the power to revitalize the idea behind the threshold. Stepping from one life into the other. And again, we agree. We also believe that pivot door is more than a doorway or entrance, it is a transcendental emotion and becomes a thing of singular beauty.
We are proud to be a pivotal part of the bigger vision of Marcello Galiotto. Not only does our systems and his architecture align perfectly, but so does our idea of architecture.