New elevator range opens architectural possibilities
Schindler New Zealand is giving architects and designers more options to make elevator interiors part of a building’s overall design.
The company has introduced its largest range of elevator interior options to date, giving architects and interior designers more scope to integrate elevator cars into the wider design of a building.
The range expands the choice of materials, colours, finishes and user interfaces available for projects, including wall finishes in premium laminate, stainless steel, glass and ceramic, along with options for floors, ceilings and car doors.
Five décor themes provide the starting point, with each taking a different approach to the combination of colour, material and texture.
‘Natural Nuances’ draws on earthy tones found in forests, mountains and meadows, using relatively simple laminates to create a more natural interior. Finishes shown by Schindler within the theme include lotus white and Travertino Canyon ceramic.
‘Tone on Tone’ takes a monochromatic approach, using different shades of a single colour and placing greater emphasis on texture, pattern and materials. Schindler’s examples include Amazon green and forest green ceramic.
For projects requiring stronger contrast, ‘Accent Colour’ combines a predominantly neutral or monochromatic interior with a more vibrant focal colour. Examples include pearl white glossy and hibiscus red, paired with finishes such as basalt smoke ceramic.
‘Architectural Elegance’ is intended to reflect the architectural character of the wider building. The theme draws on both traditional architectural detailing and contemporary forms, with Schindler showing finishes including fossil beige and calcatta snow ceramic.
‘Digital Space’ moves the range towards more interactive interiors, combining clean lines and minimal forms with digital technology. Silk white glass and calcatta lightning ceramic flooring are among the finishes shown within the theme.
Across the five themes, designers can combine wall, floor and ceiling treatments with elements including mirrors, handrails, skirting and operating fixtures, allowing the elevator car to be considered as part of the building interior rather than separately from it.
Digital operating panels are part of the new range, providing another interface for communicating with people as they move through a building.
Schindler has been supplying elevators, escalators and moving walks in New Zealand since 1989, drawing on the wider experience of the Switzerland-based Schindler Group, which operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 69,000 people.
Schindler New Zealand managing director Nikko Valenti says the expanded range gives project teams greater freedom when considering elevators as part of the overall building design.
“This launch represents a significant step forward in how we support the design aspirations of our customers, architects and designers,” says Valenti.
“By expanding our range of interior designs and user interfaces, we’re giving project partners greater flexibility to create elevator spaces that are not only functional, but visually cohesive and aligned with architectural intent.”