A collaboration begins

In 2008, Valli, the renowned manufacturer of door handles, engaged SOM to design a new collection for its Fusital line of architect-designed hardware. Using aerodynamics software from the auto industry for visualization and early forms of 3D printing to build models for ergonomic testing, the team created a collection of simple yet classic handles.

The handle shape is a single bold stroke that implies the motion required to operate it—a twisting form that morphs from a cylinder to an ellipse to comfortably accommodate the hand. Fabricated in metal with finishes including chrome, nickel, and bronze, the handles are customizable for a variety of settings.

The Alina collection

In 2018, the team worked with Valli to create a new collection of door levers, knobs, and pull handles that began with a survey conducted in our own office. Responding to feedback from architects working across many different project types, our designers developed a framework for door handle design rooted in minimalism, personalization, and smart technology.

The award-winning Alina handles use a single material, an idea born out of a study into the malleable properties of metal. The hardware is incorporated into the door itself to reduce the need for separate pieces. Ergonomic and easily customizable, the knobs and handles are available in a range of finishes from matte black to polished and satin chrome.Applicable to a variety of settings, the handles can be found in a range of buildings and interiors designed by SOM—from the residential tower at One Steuart Lane in San Francisco to the renovated interiors of 9 West 57th Street in New York, as well as our own studios in New York and Washington, D.C.

The SOM-designed collections, which each received Environmental Product Declaration and ISO Environmental certifications, are available worldwide through Valli.