International. Boon Edam announced that the Arta'a Arts Center in Aalter, Belgium, has installed a Crystal TQ revolving door, putting the Arts Center in full compliance with European safety requirements. The glass door also enhances the environment by creating a comfortable entrance filled with natural light.
Built in 2020, the Arta'a Arts Center houses numerous facilities, including the Academy of Mündic, Lüdsyet and Dürgen; the Academy for Visual Arts; the municipal library; one cent of documentation; and the culture and tourism unit. In addition to these public areas, there are residential apartments above the Center which are also accessed through the main entrance of the building. In coordination with Basil Architecture, Boon Edam took on the challenge of designing an entrance solution that was safe and secure, while complementing the building's beautiful architecture.
Design of a multipurpose building with unique needs
The Arts Center building is six stories high, with two of the stories located below ground level. The residential apartments are located on floors 2-4, and the facilities that make up the Arts Center are located on the first floor, and the two floors underground. The Basil Architecture team challenged themselves to incorporate natural light into the two underground floors, while also muffling the sound of an orchestra rehearsing at night for those living in the upstairs apartments.
To address the problem of lighting, the architects strategically placed large areas of glass, or "light wells" in areas that would shine on the underground floors. They also incorporated a bright and unique yellow color in the Center to give the impression of more light in the building. The addition of crystal TQ's revolving door at the entrance also lent a hand in flooding the building with natural light.
The Crystal TQ revolving door is constructed from glass with only the slightest stainless steel frame and capping. Because the Crystal TQ is the most transparent revolving door available, it makes an excellent addition to any building façade. The door is available in 3 or 4-wing configurations and is easy for the general public to push through.
Requirements for the main entrance of the building
When considering the type of door to be incorporated into the entrance of the Center for the Arts, the architects had several requirements: (1) ability to handle the large flow of residents and visitors, especially during peak hours; (2) easy to use for young and old; (3) the ability to close the door after hours, while still allowing entry to apartment residents; and (4) an open, bright and elegant design to match the interior of the building. The Crystal TQ revolving door checked all these boxes and more.
