Graphical Construction Glossary >> Doors. >> Door types >> Panelled Doors

Panelled Doors

Doors consisting of a frame and infill panels of various materials.

Panelled Doors : Oak doors and frame seen at Greenwich, London UK

A modern wooden four panel door.

The thought that springs to mind at the mention of panel doors is something like the doors above. Finely crafted by people who cared about what they were producing.

This style of door with a basic frame and panels has long been seen as an attractive entrance door and even the most humble of homes often has a panel door for the front door. There are cheaper doors both in labour and materials to build , but these doors have always held their own as making a statement. There is a huge variety of panel layouts available that a walk down any suburban street will show you plenty variety.

At the right is a quite simple hardwood door, once again clear finished to bring out the features of the timber.

Panelled Doors : The incomparable "Gates of Paradise", to the Baptistery in Florence, Italy.

This detail is from one of the sets of bronze doors to the Baptistery in Florence. They were designed by Andrea Pisano and later embellishments to the frame were done by Lorenzo Ghiberti. In all the doors took about six years to build and they were finished in 1336. The panels depict scenes from the life of John the Baptist.

Looking at this photo from a practical point of view I like the way that the top of each panel is set well inside the frame, and yet the bottom of the panel sits proud of the frame to give a drip edge. Providing a degree of weathering that we don't see in normal doors.

I believe that these doors that are on the building today are reproductions of the originals. It is said that Rodin used these doors as inspiration for his masterpiece "Gates of Hell"

A design touch seen in Venice.

A closer look at the panel and moulding around it. In the case of this door the panels are just about flush with the stiles and rails and the moulding is raised about 20mm above the face.

This door looks like it uses a softwood timber that could be pitch pine. I am fairly sure that the brass handle was not designed for it's current use as a junk mail holder :-)

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"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900