It is the heart of the “Maria Veen” residential care home in Reken, Münsterland region (Germany): The “Room of Silence”. With its circular design and clearly organized furnishings which are focused on the essential, it invites you to enter, creating a framework for quiet and contemplation. It is also a place for getting together. The flowing and threshold-less transition to the light-filled adjacent dining room is created by a large double-leaf sliding door system. It is made to measure and follows the curve of the wall, disappearing completely into the wall when it is opened.
As far as the planners from Münster-based Hartig, Meyer, Wömpner Architekten are concerned, the circular room represents the “new center” of the converted and extended three-story building, and is a “Rendezvous with a wide range of uses and a high degree of residential appeal”. A new residential structure has been created around it which fulfills not only the changed framework conditions in the care and nursing area, but also the architectural requirements for openness, spaciousness, and clarity.
Curved sliding doors that get the job done
The sliding door system for the “Room of Silence” designed by the architects makes a significant contribution to the concept of creating “more light, more space, and orientation”. The Brandmann joinery from Telgte technically implemented the design as a made-to-measure solution. The two 2400 x 1980 mm door leaves follow the radius of the wall, and disappear completely into the wall pockets when opened – a detail which has practical advantages. The spacious passage width of 3.50 meters seamlessly connects both rooms.
The “Hawa Media 70” sliding door hardware provides a smooth-running mechanism and a threshold-free transition. The top-mounted hardware is suitable for curved and also straight wooden doors weighing up to 70 kg and with a minimum axis radius of 500 mm. The joinery installed the individually curved running track in the door lintel, where it is enclosed by a two-part block frame which is maintainable from the front.
Home that provides protection and orientation
The “Maria Veen” home was established in October 1888 as the first of two care facilities of the Verein für katholische Arbeiterkolonien (Association for Catholic Workers‘ Colonies) in Westphalia, Germany. It does not only provide a home for homeless people. People with special psycho-social needs or addictions can also find accommodation, support and care here. 116 places are available for people in need of care.
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Caption 1: A large double-leaf sliding door system in the “Maria Veen” residential care home in Reken, Münsterland region (Germany), creates a smooth, threshold-free transition from the “Room of Silence” to the adjacent, light-filled dining room. Photo: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG
Caption 2: The made-to-measure sliding door system follows the curve of the wall, disappearing completely into the wall when it is opened. Photo: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG
Caption 3: The sliding door system for the “Room of Silence” designed by Münster-based architectural company Hartig, Meyer, Wömpner Architekten makes a significant contribution to the concept of creating “more light, more space, and orientation”. Photo: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG
Caption 4: The two 2400 x 1980 mm door leaves follow the radius of the wall, and disappear completely into the wall pockets when opened – a detail which has practical advantages. The spacious passage width of 3.50 meters seamlessly connects both rooms. Photo: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG
Caption 5: The top running “Hawa Media 70” sliding door hardware provides a smooth-running mechanism and a threshold-free transition. The joinery installed the individually curved running track in the door lintel, where it is enclosed by a two-part block frame which is maintainable from the front. Photo: Hawa Sliding Solutions AG 
