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Three Doors in One. Why?

By Rain Noe - February 7, 2012

in Object Culture

While I can't imagine ever installing one of these, London-based ID firm Slam's ThreeStyle door is weird enough that I had to give it a look, hoping to find some compelling reasoning behind it. Something like a pet door for children of differing ages, the ThreeStyle is a door-within-a-door-within-a-door, adding three sets of hinges, three latches and three handles where one used to do.

The copy doesn't shed any real light on the object's purpose:

ThreeStyle is primarily an expression of contemporary design, exploring and pushing what can be done with the humble door. However, there's know [sic] denying that it's of interest to the little people in our lives. Through Threestyle we can give the younger people in the world a greater connection with their environment during their growth through childhood.

Do any of you see an application that I'm missing? Or is this a case of "Just because you can, doesn't mean...."

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Jomy

12 years ago

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Shaq needs this.
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Jill

12 years ago

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It's for when you shrink from taking a drink from a bottle marked 'DRINK ME' and then you grow back to normal size after eating a piece of cake, duh!
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Nermal

12 years ago

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Nothing wrong with a splash of whimsy.
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Ollie

12 years ago

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Cool idea with one human factor flaw: what happens in the once-in-a-while event when two people try to enter from each side at the same time?

I envision the "peek-a-boo" moment ending with dads getting hit in the groin.
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product tank

12 years ago

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Seems a lot of effort when you can just put a second handle on a standard door at child height and link the two via a pulley or chain or armature. I have friends with a dog and they tied a ball on some string to the door handle so even the dog can open the door. Looking at the distance the handles are from one another in this design, there's no need for the middle door. But hey ho, it filled blog space.
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Renato

12 years ago

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cute and pure gimmick. one door with three knobs could do the same job.
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Ken J

12 years ago

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Man that door must be made sturdy else it will twist like Chubby Checker
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Anthony

12 years ago

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My kid is 3.5 and has been opening regular sized doors for a while now. So I'd say this is just design for design sake.

I's say their most viable client would be a children's museum. But still.. 1799 pounds is like $2800.

Maybe their best clients are hollywood?
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Fabio

12 years ago

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Limiting air currents in the domestic climate thus possibly saving energy? (That's one of the explanations I'd give.)
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Ugo

12 years ago

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Well I can't imagine ever installing one of these either. BUT i can see how the idea goes. I mean as a kid you are small in a large environment. Such a door gives the child the title of "He who can open doors" which is usually reserved to grown ups.

Now, how does this affect self esteem (i can do it myself) or the concept of living the moment (not wanting/needing to be a grown up at 3, therefore living the childhood more fully), I am not sure. It would be worth a study (yeah some folks would love to analyse this doors and its impacts on childhood) :)

On a sustainable note : poor design as it uses much more material than needed.

U
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