Thyssenkrupp Steel AG, Management Duisburg
Sometimes the devil is in the details: By using the unexpected element of steel mesh, Ines Mach had already made a mark in designing the foyer, casino and restaurant in the executive suite of her renowned client – when the comparatively small area of the cloak room came up. The management of Thyssenkrupp Steel was so enthusiastic about the steel mesh curtain in the restaurant area that Design-Funktion wanted to use this material again. Which meant that while a major decision had been made, the challenges had only started. Steel mesh is heavy and unstable and not inherently well-suited for a door. »The steel mesh curtain had to be put into a frame for the cloak room passage«, Ines Mach – furnishing advisor for Design-Funktion – explains. »And here is where raumplus came in.« The sliding door system, which has a high load capacity and frame profiles that accommodates unusual panels, was a natural choice. But it quickly turned out that one frame alone wouldn’t be sufficient, since the steel mesh remained flexible and unstable in the large door formats. As a solution, strips of white glass – a material that had already been used for the tables in the foyer – were integrated to divide the panels. The process leading up to the final installation included a series of intensive discussions with the on-site raumplus partner, several tests and even the construction of two sample doors. The effort paid off: The functionality of the doors was guaranteed, the design of the foyer was carried over and the management was pleased. Ines Mach explains how to keep such a complex design process under control: »By working with a supplier who demonstrates an incredible commitment and offers a practical solution even for the most unusual requests.«
Design_ Design-Funktion GmbH, Ines Mach
Realization_ Design-Funktion GmbH, Ines Mach and raumplus
