MAJOR MAJOR

5 Smith St, Fitzroy

Visited: 17th November 2014

Design: 

PD: "Double Edge this is Pinnacle Driver do you read me?"

Silence

PD: "I repeat, Double Edge this is Pinnacle Driver do you copy?"

Crackle, silence

Crackle

DE: "Pinnacle Driver this is Double Edge, we read you go ahead. Over"
PD: "Double Edge, my search has confirmed the location of MAJOR MAJOR. Over"
DE: "All sins forgiven, proceed Pinnacle Driver and describe. Over"
PD: "I'm presented with strong, bold, vertical and horizontal matte black steel work, framing the front of the building. There is a defining presence in its visual weight that appears as though it could crush the subtle window frames below. It has the gracefulness of the Millau Bridge in Southern France. The frame work is accentuated by a skeletal number of protruding pieces of metal that come out at right angles to the wall. Over"
DE: "How does this affect you? Over"
PD: "It has a feeling of containment and everything is in its right place. Nothing can go outside of the boundaries. There is no room for error. Over"
DE: "Anything else? Over"
PD: "Yes. There are unusual box-like forms that extend out from the building acting like contemporary architectural signage. The boxes appear to reference Anthony Gromley's, RETREAT II or some bunker protection firing window. On closer inspection, I find they are extensions of the the smaller frames that frame the windows and door. They have a peculiar psychological effect, where I feel they could represent some unknown purpose of the future that we of the present day don't yet understand. Over"
DE: "Do you feel they are a threat? Over"
PD: "No, more beneficial to mankind. Over"
DE: "Explain the door, we need to know about the door. Over"
PD: "The door is a 3 panel beauty. It has a decent width that gives the light framing of the door a sense of contemporary grandeur. A vertical tubular handle fits to the hand perfectly. Not too thin. There is a soft close and nice resistance. Soft bristles on the edge seal the door from the elements outside. They have thought about aesthetics. One is the middle frame of the door lines up with the window frame and benches creating a continual line across the front of the building. By god I like their spirit! Over"
DE: "Anything else to add Pinnacle Driver? Over"
PD: "The colour choices are brilliant. Soft on industrial. Scandinavian undertones drip from ever pore. It takes me back to my student days in Ornskoldsvik. Over"
DE: "Well done Pinnacle Driver, information is being assessed. We will inform you of future action. Over"
PD: "If for some reason I don't make it back, I would like to share with the owners of this establishment the words of Churchill." 

"Then turn again to your task. Look forward, do not look backward. Gather afresh in heart and spirit all the energies of your being, bend anew together for a supreme effort."

"Pinnacle Driver, over and out."

Door resistance: 2.5

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 26 sec

THE DOJO RAMEN BAR

333 High St, Northcote

Visited: 30th October 2014

Design: Approaching this door always feels like you are about to enter a Japanese cage fighting arena. I think it's the smattering of great graphics, the wrap around windows and the strong vertical and horizontal framing of the black window and door panels. It's a full show from the street as there is nothing to hide here. I loved the symmetry and the full length glass panel on the doors with no interruptions. The solid black, frames the interior beautifully. A simple steel L-shaped handle, nothing too overstated or showy. The slight off gold signage compliments the black nicely. A soft open without too much resistance and an easy close. The thing I like about a lot of these old shop fronts that are renovated and converted when new businesses move in, are the random features that are left behind. For instance, the vertical louvers, the black paneling above the door, a power cable or an air-conditioning hose. They all come together to form a cohesive collage of history. Kappei (Katsuhei) Toyoguchi would be proud.  

Door resistance: 3

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 1

Change return time: 32 sec

RIPE CAFE

376 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Sassafras

Visited: 18th October 2014

Design: Back in Victoria and I come across this charming old wooden door at a little cafe in the Dandenongs. Almost an olive green in colour, the two panels complimented the weatherboard paneling of the walls. Just looking at it, the feel of the entrance had a warm inviting country home feel to it. The day I arrived it was a crisp wintery morning and I knew just by the look of this entrance, once I entered through that door, I was entering into a world of comfort food and people who care about their produce. Sure enough on the push open, there was a beautiful squeak that felt like a cashmere blanket being placed around your shoulders as you sit in front of a fire. The squeak held you and guided you in to a room filled with jams and gourmet produce. The close was soft and left you wanting more. The doors were uncluttered with a simple, OPEN & PUSH sign above a fantastic brass Lockwood lock that matched the brass push panel below. The handle had some nice wear and behind the brass panel the rustic chipped paint from years of hand action, added to the visual historical layering. The text wasn't too offensive, considering the whole town is filled with Devonshire tea houses that push the OLDE WORLDE to the limits. Two aluminium kick panels at the base, didn't distract the eye, instead I found them to bring a lightness to the olive green. All in all, this was a pleasant experience.  

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Hydraulic arm

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 42 sec

I'M BACK!!

In case you were wondering, I didn't get abducted at Raj's. I wasn't forced to be a drug mule hiding Fijian trinkets in my lower intestine to serve an Indian supplier in Malaysia. 

No, life just became busy and I haven't had a chance to get on the old digital typewriter.

So, I have some more doors, check em out.

RAJ'S CURRY HOUSE

Queens Rd, Sigatoka, Fiji

Visited: 11th August 2014

Design: You know you are in a good neighbourhood when the front of your shop has to be  caged in as well as your bar (inside) the restaurant. Raj's Curry House, where do I begin? As we arrived in Sigatoka for dinner we were warned by the taxi driver to be careful as Sigatoka had just beaten Suva in a major rugby match and the locals were known to go a little crazy with a win, (kind of like English soccer hooligans, but Fijian). Ok, I can roll with that. We then spotted the cages on the front window, that's reassuring. We made our way through the cage door only to find we were the only customers where we were then lead into a separate room off the restaurant that felt like an interrogation room in Colombia. Now I feel relaxed. 

So let's get back to the door. The wire was a solid steel fencing wire welded onto steel bars. All locally made, you have to give it to them for supporting local business. Company's will customize your cage to fit each window. Brillant! There was a decent padlock and bolt to keep unwanted hands out. A nice design touch I found was the safety hole on the right door for mail or having a safe conversation from behind the wire with a potential customer, (owners discretion) was replicated with a small metal panel to the bottom left. I quite liked the fact that the wire pattern replicated the red tiles, (seamless) and the red tiles  complimented the Coke sign which Raj had made an important part of the sign. Once entering through the cage door, (which had nice squeak to it) you come to the main door. An aluminium framed two panel that was simple with some 70's inspired wood laminate panels across the centre added a nice touch. Easy on the push with a manual close, there was a slight squeak on the open and close. I did find the entry width of the doors a little narrow but on hot balmy nights they apparently both open and lock in, to give you ultimate space on entry.

All in all, despite its appearance from the outside it was clean, simple and uncluttered and even though there was the smashing of bottles and yelling out on the streets and a thumping bar coming through the walls when you were in the toilet. The food was some of the best Indian I have had in a long time and the service exceptional. Vinaka Raj.
  

Door resistance: 2

Closure mechanism: Manual

Draft: Medium

Squeak level: 3

Change return time: 48 sec

The thing I loved about this place is that there was consistency right through to bar. It kind of puts a little edge on your dinning experience when you have a waitress serving you drinks through a cage. MOOODY!!!!!!!!                                                                                                          Kick in Phil Collin's, "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord". 

PRINCE ALBERT RESTAURANT

Grand Pacific Hotel, 584-618 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji

Visited: 10th August 2014

Design: No clutter here. Everything is in its place, perfectly positioned and symmetrical. This was a nice take on the glass panel pivot door, as the entire wall was large panels of glass that extended from the door. This incredible glass barrier acted as a metaphorical division of the past to the present. The designers had managed to the marry the modern, with the pre-existing structure of the original building, seamlessly. The door appeared to magically float in the wall and almost disappear. The sleek contemporary refinement of the door was balanced by the light, airy, white interior, giving the impression of the room being suspended in an ethereal bubble of high-class elegance. The tubular stainless steel handles were a decent size and helped visually to emphasis the vertical height of the interior. The simple wooden restaurant sign on the glass reflected the timber panelled floors and I hope this was a recycled piece of the original floor which would be a nice gesture to the past. With a full wall of glass, it created the perception of a room open to the elements, (common in the tropics.) Once inside though, you are contained and surrounded by the comforts of a controlled environment.        

Door resistance: 3

Closure mechanism: Hidden Pivot

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 37 sec

STEAMSHIP BAR

Grand Pacific Hotel, 584-618 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji

Visited: 10th August 2014

Design: Before lunch we headed in to the STEAMSHIP BAR. You enter through the exquisite foyer and reception area with its modern/nostalgic fit out that transports you back to 1920. It had that feel of a lodge one would retreat back to after a day of big game hunting. The natural timber flooring against the white French windows and doors simply could not be faulted. The soft yellow lamps on wooden tripod stands entice you in to the comfortable interior of the bar. I found the three ribbed bands that followed the contours of the room, broke up the pillars and reflected the wooden louvers at the top of the door. The brass handles were of a time long gone but still held an antique beauty that will never pass. You could imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald putting to pen to paper many years ago in this bar plotting out the foundations for The Great Gatzby. 

Door resistance: 1.5

Closure mechanism: Manual

Draft: Minimal

Squeak level: 0

Change return time: 43 sec