Turnstile as a design element

Gone are the days when the word turnstile referred only to a stainless steel three-armed product that essentially did not fit into any space. Over time, the situation has changed, and today a turnstile represents not only a functional element but also serves as a design accessory. Its shape and the way one passes through it have changed. Stainless steel has been replaced by other materials or colored surface finishes, and instead of a "tripod" handle, a glass wing is installed. A fresh example of such an entrance solution in commercial spaces is the turnstiles installed in the newly built building on Wenceslas Square in Prague – The Flow Building. In this project, it was again possible to combine functionality with the design requirements so that the appearance and overall architectural concept of the reception were not disturbed.

The first inquiry about whether our company could supply turnstiles with a specific finish did not sound unusual – we regularly encounter specific requirements from architectural firms and strive to accommodate them if the construction of the turnstile allows. Because we design and manufacture turnstiles ourselves, we offer customers the option to choose a specific surface finish or integrate various devices into the body of the turnstile. For the VN47 project, we received a very specific brief from the architects, which initially left our engineers somewhat uneasy. Gradually, however, a concrete idea began to form regarding how the turnstiles should look. Here, I must thank the architectural firm Chapman Taylor, which guided us in the right direction and also understood us in situations where it was not possible to meet the requirements 100% from the perspective of the internal construction of the turnstile. Finally, from the three proposed options, the version of the turnstile emerged after discussions with the investor, which fit well into the overall design of the entrance lobby of this building.

The combination of brass and steel

The materials used for the cladding of the turnstiles were chosen based on the investor's and architects' requirements: patinated brass – from which large numbers indicating each floor in the building, for example, are made – was applied to the upper, front, and rear panels of the turnstile. Patinated special steel, which can be found on the interior walls of all elevators in the building, was used for the side panels. The combination of these materials creates a very pleasant color contrast, and the turnstiles resonate with the surrounding space. The patina on the materials used can be recognized only upon close inspection – this effect can thus attract attention on its own and certainly surprise. Dealing with the materials used was not simple from a construction perspective, and it was necessary to know the bend radius of the materials, the thickness of the sheets used, and other details. The material for the cladding of the turnstiles was supplied by two different companies, to whom we can only express our gratitude for their cooperation and approach to the realization of this project.

Functional elements

In addition to processing special materials for the cladding of the turnstiles, we also met the investor's request to embed a contactless card reader as a standard. We also addressed the increasingly frequent request to install a system that automatically calls the elevator (specifically, here the Schindler Port). For the entering person, after presenting the card, a prompt appears on the display in the upper panel of the turnstile indicating which elevator to board. Additionally, the front panels of the turnstiles were equipped with LCD displays featuring guiding arrows that direct entering individuals to the respective passage. As both a design and functional element, lighting for the turnstile wings was installed, the color of which clearly signals whether entry is permitted for the given person. When passing through, the wings light up green; conversely, during an unauthorized entry attempt, they light up red. For the stand-by mode, the color white is set, which pleasantly illuminates the space between the turnstiles.

The motorized gate with a stainless steel body complements the turnstiles with a wide passage. The gate post and its glass wing were placed at the same height as the bodies of the turnstiles. The entire entrance assembly is thus in line in terms of the height of the installed elements. The same card readers, as those installed on the turnstiles, were chosen for operating the gate. For the installation of the card readers, the body of the nearest turnstile was advantageously utilized, and the readers were integrated into the upper part of the side panel of this turnstile. The gate can, of course, also be operated from the reception.

Thanks

It was a very interesting project. The investor's vision was reflected in the technical brief thanks to the architects' work. Then it was just a matter of "simply" realizing the entire project. We believe we have met expectations. In conclusion, I would like to thank the investor and the architectural firm Chapman Taylor for giving us the opportunity to participate in this very special project. Through our joint efforts, we succeeded in creating a work that I dare say is very unique in terms of the materials used, not only in the Czech Republic.

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