Study In High Style: JELD-WEN unveils the year's most dramatic door designs Creative visions take shape as JELD-WEN brings inspiration to real life

March 20, 2007 -- KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - What do you get when you take a dash of inspiration and a pinch of history and stir it up with some of the most creative young minds in the architecture industry? For the top winners of this year's JELD-WEN Student Door Design Contest, the results are dream doors turned into reality.

Anna McCorvey's radius-top door design, inspired by Victor Horta and Art Nouveau style

JELD-WEN, the world's leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, unveiled the prototypes of this year's winning door designs at the International Builders' Show (IBS). The designs, created by students Nathan Williams of Virginia Tech and Anna McCorvey of Howard University, earned each winner a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to IBS in Orlando, Fla., where they saw for the first time full-scale versions of their door designs. While very different in style, each door is a study in high design.

"Every year, students amaze us with their creativity," said Shane Meisel, product marketing manager for JELD-WEN. "This year's winning designs perfectly blend today's hottest contemporary looks - modular doors and radius tops - with historic inspiration."

A door that commands undivided attention
The winning door design created by Williams is based on the traditional Dutch door, a style that has a 400-year-old history. Dutch doors were used long ago as a way for homeowners to keep livestock out while allowing in fresh air. However, unlike the traditional Dutch door that is simply split in half, Williams' design includes six individual hinged wood and glass panels that can be opened separately - giving it a very contemporary, modern flair. Also heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's legendary residential designs, this door artfully blends creativity, beauty, simplicity and functionality.

Nathan Williams' modular door design, inspired by Dutch doors Contest judges felt that the design was not only modern, but also inspired fun and creative new uses. For example, to help control ventilation, homeowners could simply open one or two panels while keeping the others in a locked, stationary position. The bottom section may be opened separately to let in the family pet. Or, opening the middle panel allows just the right access for delivery of a package or a pizza. This door also provides an interesting twist on a classic design that is already enjoying a major resurgence in popularity.

"We're seeing quite a bit of interest in contemporary style as well as more classic styles, such as Dutch doors," Meisel said. "This design combines the best of both worlds and provides a completely fresh take on a door design that is beloved by homeowners."

The prototype unveiled by JELD-WEN at this year's IBS trade show demonstrated how different wood stains and hardware may be used to give the door a distinctive look. Different glass styles and wood species are also possible.