best pivot door contest 2026 highlights projects that push architectural thresholds

Best Pivot Door Contest 2026

The Best Pivot Door Contest 2026, organized by FritsJurgens, brings together leading architects, designers, and makers from around the world to celebrate innovation in pivot door design. Announced in 2026 and drawing from more than 200 international submissions, the contest highlights 15 nominated projects that demonstrate how pivot doors continue to redefine architectural thresholds across private homes, cultural settings, and highly specialized environments. Evaluated by an independent jury of internationally recognized architects and engineers, including BIG, Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, KAAN Architecten, and Arup, the initiative underscores why pivot doors have become a key architectural element: they merge structural performance with spatial expression, turning functional access points into defining design moments.

the Best Pivot Door Contest 2026 by FritsJurgens highlights 15 nominated projects | all images courtesy of FritsJurgens

Founded in the Netherlands, FritsJurgens is a company rooted in precision engineering and architectural collaboration. Established by FritsJurgens, the brand emerged from a clear ambition: to develop high-performance pivot systems capable of supporting very small and light, and exceptionally large and heavy doors while maintaining effortless movement and visual restraint. From the outset, the company positioned itself at the intersection of design and technology, working closely with architects and fabricators to solve complex spatial and mechanical challenges.

Over the years, FritsJurgens has built a reputation for systems that operate invisibly yet decisively shape architectural experience. Its pivot mechanisms are designed to be concealed within the door, allowing doors to read as moving walls rather than technical objects. This philosophy naturally extends into the Best Pivot Door Contest, which functions not only as a competition but also as a platform to showcase how thoughtful engineering can expand architectural language across climates, cultures, and material traditions.

evaluated by an independent jury of internationally recognized architects and engineers, the initiative underscores why pivot doors have become a key architectural element

The 2026 edition introduced a refined nomination process, with FritsJurgens selecting fifteen standout projects from a broad global pool. These shortlisted works were assessed by a jury of renowned architects, ensuring a multidisciplinary perspective that balances architectural intent, structural logic, and material execution. Alongside the jury awards, a newly introduced Public’s Choice Award invited a wider audience to engage with and support exemplary projects, reinforcing the contest’s international reach.

The Best Exterior Pivot Door 2026 – Jury Award was awarded to Silent Giant in Switzerland, designed by Mattia Canepa architetto. Transforming a private garage entrance into a transparent architectural feature, the nearly four-metre-wide glass door operates with remarkable calm despite its 470-kilogram weight. The jury highlighted the project’s precision, proportion, and the way controlled movement elevates a purely functional threshold into an architectural experience. ‘Technically outstanding and visually serene. The door reads as a moving wall whose elegance comes from precision rather than expression,’ says Fernando Garcia, Arup.

name: Silent Giant

award: Best Exterior Pivot Door 2026 – Jury Award

design: Mattia Canepa architetto
manufacture: Cattani Falegnameria SA
photograph: Alessandro Radice

country: Switzerland

The Best Exterior Pivot Door 2026 – Public’s Choice Award went to Lost Villa in Bali, designed by Single Art. Hand-carved from locally sourced Balinese timber and finished through charring, the door stands out for its tactile richness and cultural sensitivity. Its expressive surface contrasts with the smooth, almost weightless motion of the pivot system, earning praise for material honesty and craftsmanship. ‘A beautiful example of material honesty and craft. The surface invites touch and the movement introduces a quiet theatricality,’ comments Jesper Boye Andersen, BIG.

name: Lost Villa

award: Best Exterior Pivot Door 2026 – Public’s Choice Award

design: Single Art
hardware: SIMU Indonesia

country: Indonesia

Best Interior Pivot Door 2026 – Jury Award was presented to Tafelberg in the Netherlands by Studio Massimo. Within a continuous Red Grandis interior, the pivot doors blend seamlessly into walls and ceilings, reinforcing a calm and unified spatial language. The jury valued the project’s consistency and restraint, noting how movement becomes an integral yet almost imperceptible part of the architectural composition. Dikkie Scipio from KAAN Architecten says, ‘A masterclass in consistency and spatial calm. The design allows architecture to breathe without distraction.

name: Tafelberg

award: Best Interior Pivot Door 2026 – Jury Award
design: Studio Massimo
manufacture: Broporte Exclusive Doors
photograph: Riccardo De Vecchi Photography / Christian van der Kooy

country: Netherlands

The Best Interior Pivot Door 2026 – Public’s Choice Award was awarded to the Dubai Cinema Door by Worldesignteam WDM. Concealed within a sculptural travertine wall, the door remains visually indistinguishable until it pivots open, revealing a private cinema. The project was recognized for its theatrical presence, bold geometry, and the technical achievement of integrating a heavy stone door into a seamless architectural surface. ‘A sculptural object that becomes architecture. The sense of weight and precision is impressive,’ says Alessandra Laiso, Zaha Hadid Architects.

name: Dubai Cinema Door

design: Worldesignteam WDM
manufacture: Concept 5
hardware: Chabros
photograph: Yasar Curtay

country: United Arab Emirates

Winning both jury and public votes, Villa Venezia in Italy received the Best Speciality Application 2026 – Jury Award and Public’s Choice Award, making it the only project to receive both jury and public recognition in this year’s contest. Featuring two nearly four-metre-tall thermally broken steel pivot doors with an ultra-slim profile, the project achieves a rare balance between structural rigor and visual delicacy. The jury praised its engineering refinement, precise detailing, and architectural clarity, positioning it as a benchmark for future pivot door applications. ‘A beautifully engineered composition. The balance between structural logic and visual delicacy is remarkable,’ exclaims Fernando Garcia, Arup.

name: Villa Venezia

manufacture: UKeg Group srl