Turnstile for every space

The fact that even with modern technologies one can work as with an art element is evidenced by many buildings where COMINFO turnstiles have been installed. This manufacturer, in collaboration with architects, can meet even the most specific requirements for aesthetic execution and create a turnstile for every interior – from historical to ultra-modern.

An example can be the matte turnstiles in the lobby of the National Theatre in Prague, which accentuate the historical character of the surrounding space thanks to their suitably chosen shape and titanium nitride coating. Alongside them, in the COMINFO portfolio, we can find turnstiles custom-made for a number of global projects. Among them, we can mention a high-rise building in Sydney, Australia, designed by the architectural firm Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp. The EY Center attracts attention at first glance with its "gold" façade and sculptural form, significantly contributing to the shaping of the city's panorama. During construction, a significant number of artifacts from the colonial and Victorian eras were uncovered during archaeological research, so the project authors decided to incorporate Sydney's historical heritage into the design itself. The reception area and the public space in front of the building are adorned with a large-format artwork by Judy Watson, carved in sandstone, and the floors and the reception cladding are also made of stone.

Stone-clad turnstile

The architects therefore sought to ensure that the entrance turnstiles also had a stone cladding and turned to the Czech manufacturer COMINFO, as this company is one of the few that can implement even completely unusual requests that architects often present. "First, we made wooden templates, according to which the stone cladding was subsequently made. However, no one could tell us in advance what the weight of the individual panels would be, which made it quite difficult to design the internal load-bearing structure of the cabinet itself," reveals Ing. Tomáš Gergela, a designer at COMINFO. The stone was brought to Australia all the way from Italy – from where the cladding for the reception counters originates – and was only processed and fitted on-site. The architects also had a request for the upper parts of the EasyGate IM turnstiles, which were to consist of narrower strips of stone to correlate shape-wise with the cladding of adjacent counters. Together, the reception and the turnstiles thus form a cohesive artistic element for the entire space, resembling a stone ensemble.

Black stainless steel in neofuturistic style

COMINFO was also the only company among all those approached that successfully managed the design of turnstiles for the Dominion Office Building in Moscow by the renowned studio Zaha Hadid. The individual floors of the building, designed in a neofuturistic style, consist of vertically stacked panels connected by a series of staircases. Given that the entire space is dominated by only two colors – black and white – the interior of the building appears very plastic. "Classic stainless steel turnstiles would appear out of place in this context, so it was necessary to design something simple yet imaginative that would blend with the environment and emphasize the specific character of the given space," explains Ing. Tomáš Gergela. The architects proposed slanting the turnstiles, which were then positioned on the black lines on the floor. Because the lines and turnstiles have not only the same color but also the same width, they blend into a single entity when viewed from above. "The architects had very specific notions about the design and even the smallest details, such as the direction of the brushing of the brushed stainless steel. We had to figure out how to technically realize these ideas," adds Ing. Tomáš Gergela, noting that the turnstiles for this project were made in pure black, unpainted stainless steel (Rimex).

Unique magnetic motor

The turnstiles for both mentioned projects were equipped with a unique magnetic motor developed by the company in its own R&D center, and besides purely aesthetic requirements, they also meet functional demands. COMINFO offers complete solutions for controlled access of people and specializes in the implementation of its own attendance, access, visitor, catering, or ticketing systems. The company also supplies terminals, contactless card readers, contactless coat locks, or card catchers. Turnstiles of this brand can blend into any interior and are used daily by thousands of people in more than 75 countries worldwide.

Text: Kristýna Brožová
Photo: company archive
www.cominfo.cz