The handle as the centrepiece of the room

Selecting a handle is a key step in designing an interior, because it becomes the focal point of a door, and new access to a room. "In architecture, the handle is a kind of miniature. It belongs to the history of costume, and with respect to a house it has the same aesthetic task that a piece of jewellery has with respect to the human body," wrote the designer (and twice editor of Domus) Alessandro Mendini, emphasising the central role that such a small element can have within a room. In addition to aesthetics, functional aspects must be taken into account: grasping such an object can offer feelings of total comfort or emphasise the solemnity of the gesture. These considerations form the basis of the work of Becchetti BAL, which has been dealing in handles since 1882, offering today a great variety of proposals, some of which have still been on the market for more than 140 years, demonstrating how a constantly evolving company nevertheless has its roots firmly planted in its tradition. The method with which Becchetti BAL approaches the project has not changed, working alongside the customer at every stage and helping them to solve every problem, thus creating a unique relationship.

An example of this attitude is the project for Portrait Milano, a new hotel opened in the heart of the Quadrilatero. The request received by the company was for assistance in redesigning a system of handles, pull handles and knobs that would be fully in line with the environment. In addition, the project involved recreating models already present on site. In fact, the historic building had handles and knobs made by expert craftsmen more than two centuries ago. Thanks to an accurate 3D scan of each element, the company was subsequently able to exactly reproduce the historical models using the die-casting technique, and then finish the products by hand in order to achieve a perfect result and fully satisfy the customer. This case study represents the approach of how Becchetti BAL has distinguished itself in the market for over 140 years.