Design click in Czech interpretation

Authorial design is one of the essential pillars of the Czech manufacturer of door and window fittings M&T. This is how the company distinguishes itself from others in Central Europe, where it is the only one that can design its own design and mechanics of handles, while also manufacturing them. In terms of authorial designs, it is also open to collaboration with architects and designers. The latest additions to the M&T fittings line—UP & DOWN and MINIMAL 2.0 handles—are proof that Czech handle design continually has something to surprise with.

UP & DOWN: A Handle of Two Faces

One handle, two shapes. The pronounced asymmetry gives the new handle UP & DOWN a distinctive character that completely transforms the expression of the handle and its operation, all by simply changing its position on the door. The authors of this exceptional handle's design are designers Eduard Herrmann and Matěj Coufal, who have three awards from the prestigious international Red Dot award and have also become Grand Designers of the Czech Grand Design awards for the year 2020. The design of the handle was conceived by the designer duo as an artwork, a sculpture that stands out especially on minimally styled doors with a clean decor.

It was precisely its ingenuity that attracted the Czech manufacturer M&T, to whom the designers approached with several proposals. Together with Roman Ulich, the chief designer of M&T, they further developed this design, and the very distinct asymmetry became the impulse for the idea of installing the handle in both ways, that is, UP and DOWN. “The UP & DOWN handle allows for two placement options on the door leaf. Its handle can be at the top, or by merely changing its position, it can be at the bottom. Over time, the handle can also be turned at any time to give the door a refreshed look,” says Roman Ulich from M&T. To allow this variability, the handle required a special construction solution, which was taken care of by the experienced constructors at M&T.

MINIMAL 2.0: A Locking Handle

Minimalist maximum… this simply describes the new handle MINIMAL 2.0, which hides maximum functionality within its minimalist form—integrated into its surface is a comfort locking system with watchmaker precision. The author of the design and construction solution for this unique handle is Roman Ulich, the chief designer of the Czech manufacturer M&T, who has been dedicated to door and window fittings design for more than 20 years and is the owner of over 150 industrial designs and patents, as well as a holder of three prestigious Red Dot awards. The MINIMAL 2.0 handle is essentially an improvement of the MINIMAL handle, which has been one of the long-term most successful models of M&T fittings. The designer revitalized the original appearance with a new beveled shape and gently rounded curves. The detail of the minimalist rosette not exceeding the outline of the handle itself has been preserved.

The manufacturer M&T brings a fundamental innovation to the world of door fittings with the MINIMAL 2.0 handle—there is no need to install a separate rosette with a small lock controlling the bolt under the handle for locking the door, as the locking system is an integral part of the handle. “We incorporated a small sliding mechanism into the upper surface of the MINIMAL 2.0 handle that serves as a WC/bathroom lock. By toggling it, the movement of the handle is blocked, so it cannot be turned and therefore the door cannot be opened,” describes Roman Ulich and adds: “On the paired handle, there is a hidden safety feature on the underside to allow the door to be opened from the outside in case of emergency.”