Hidden talents: Eclisse

Those under the age of 40 might not know the sweet relief that comes when you caress the handle of a sliding door and it kicks instantly into motion, gliding falcon-like to an invisible resting spot. But if you spent your childhood wobbling your wardrobe door along ill-fitting tracks, only for it to jam inexplicably or make a bid for freedom every now and again, know that we owe that relief to the enquiring mind and fine-tuned engineering skills of the likes of Luigi De Faveri.

In 1989, De Faveri picked up explorations he began in the 1960s when working in a metal workshop, and developed a pocket sliding door system that was smooth, strong, and integrated. It was the founding product of Eclisse, a company based in Treviso, Italy, that now numbers 180 employees and with 2000 distributors across Italy, and also operates internationally with ten subsidiaries.

Seeing the scope to design more sophistication and intelligence into doors, their frames and opening systems, De Faveri built a team and a mission to innovate further in this field. As a taste for minimalism in interiors evolved in the intervening years, Eclisse developed products and systems to support architraves and jamb-free, flush-to-the-wall doors, with pocket systems or hidden hinging. Its products answer the needs of a growing number of architectural purists, but even those who are dedicated to decoration benefit from the discretion of an Eclisse doorway, and the blank canvas it facilitates.

From self-closing mechanisms for fire doors to integrated hoist systems for disabilities, Eclisse minimises the intrusion of the necessary mechanics of interiors, evolving functionality and improving the experience for both installers and end-users along the way. It often means its successes are invisible, but a drive for quality and technological excellence makes Eclisse a favourite among architects.

© Architonic