WERE YOU BORN IN A TENT

Saturday 26 July 2014

THE LUI BAR - VUE DE MONDE

Shop 55/525 Collins St, Melbourne

Visited: 24th July 2014

Design: I have reviewed so many styles of door since I began this blog, this is was definitely an experience. Upon entering the building I noticed a reception desk with a sign for Vue De Monde. At first I thought this was just to help you find the way. Only later did I discover this was "the" reception desk for Vue De Monde. This is the first door I have had to go to a reception desk and get them to escort me to the door as they were the only ones able to activate the lift. Led into a marble foyer, I was taken to the personal and private Vue De Monde elevator. This would have to be the longest entry through a door ever, in fact 236.07 metres or 55 stories high. It is the most surreal experience to enter a door, ground floor, stand in this black Matrix-like box, accelerate at a decent speed up 55 stories in a matter of seconds and feel your ears pop from the pressure on the way up. As the doors opened, I was greeted by a friendly staff member who could of stepped out of the 1920's with his magnificent moustache and debonaire attire who took me across to my seat by the window. What a view. 10 out 10 for entrances. That makes walking through a door one hell of an experience.

It was strange as I was currently reading H.G. WELLS' novel, The Time Machine when I reviewed the door. I find there is always a sense of being transported somewhere magical when one steps into a lift. To leave a corporate foyer and emerge into this contemporary bar high above Melbourne after a few seconds, still astounds me that we can do that and it is safe. Philosophically, the idea of entering a door, only to come back through that door in order to enter a building is something to ponder as well.

Door resistance: 0.2

Closure mechanism: Automated doors

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 20 sec

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PROFESSIONAL DOOR REVIEWER

Searching the world for the perfect door to eat behind.

First impressions are always important, especially for a restaurant or cafe. So many people are focusing on the food these days that I felt there was a hole in the reviews world. No one was looking at the most important thing, THE DOOR! Everyone complains when it is left open, death stares are exchange when the unsuspecting group of friends having a fun night enter the premises from the cold only to walk straight in and go straight to their table totally oblivious they have left the door wide open to allow an arctic strength gale force wind to cut through the previously warm interior. Like a scene from a western film where everyone in the premises stops what they are doing and cuts down the new comers with a deathly stare. Occasionally you will get the confident diner who gets up, walks across the restaurant and closes the door with a BANG! Just to let the new comers know they have done wrong and to NEVER, EVER DO IT AGAIN!!!!! This individual makes their way back to the table staring at the newcomers, just to make sure they got the message. The only problem is, is that 5 minutes later another group come in and do the same thing and he/she feels obliged to continually do this for the rest of the night.

Well hopefully this blog puts a light on the owners of these establishments and encourages them to lift their game and create doors that allow diners to sit and enjoy their meal, to give the diner an experience before they enter the building. It is also a thank you to the makers of quality doors who care about craftsmanship.

I have developed a scoring system based on,

DESIGN:

This is assessed by the materials the door is made from, whether the door is themed, cluttered or minimal and whether there is an element of surprise or not.

DOOR RESISTANCE: 1 to 5

1 = light push

5 = heavy push

CLOSURE MECHANISM: Manual, automatic or

hydraulic arm

DRAFT: Minimal, medium or high

SQUEAK LEVEL: 0 up to 5

0 = No squeak

5 = Ear piercing

Then the last assessment is the,

CHANGE RETURN TIME:

This is the amount of time it takes to get my change once I have given the waiter the money for the bill. Last impressions are always just as important as first.