The fittings and fixtures we select for our homes are driven, in large part, by two key factors: the size of our homes, and interior design trends.

For example, demand for open or broken plan designs has boomed amongst homeowners in recent years. Many want to reconfigure the floorplan of their property by knocking down walls to create an open plan layout with a more spacious feel. Others use fittings to break up larger spaces to achieve multifunctional zones, as part of a broken plan layout.

Meanwhile, those living in dwellings where space is at a premium have to be especially selective about the fixtures they install into their homes to create effective storage solutions and ensure they can move easily and seamlessly around their home, without having to navigate ill-planned fittings.

In both cases, sliding doors play a major role. Saving around 1m of space per door compared to swing-out alternatives, sliding doors offer a different function and purpose for every room within a home and, with a variety of materials, weights and finishes available, there’s a sliding door option to suit every design scheme and budget, too. One particular range, the Hawa Porta, is making a great impression in the market as the ‘all-rounder’ of sliding door fittings.

Available in the most popular weight classes, Hawa Porta sliding fitting systems take up little space, are extremely practical and combine functionality, simple installation, high-quality design, and ease of use all in one, whether integrated into the ceiling or wall, or as a pocket solution.

Its modular system supports easy installation of top-running glass or wooden doors of any weight, with the range available between 40kg (88 lbs) and 600kg (1320 lbs). With its ball bearings and integrated soft and self-closing mechanisms, the system is easy to use and can support even the heaviest doors, while the versatile design options mean there is a look to suit all styles. The same fittings are required regardless of whether the user selects wood or glass, and there is minimal glass processing required thanks to a clamping shoe connection.

The range can be easily retrofitted as a pocket door, sliding into an existing wall cavity to be stored away while not in use, or it can be installed as two synchronously opening doors for wider outlets.

Hawa has also responded to changing interior design trends with its Porta range, having recently introduced its Black Edition. New black matt running tracks, panels, cover caps, and bottom guides tap into the ever-popular industrial theme homeowners seek in their properties, meaning designers, interior architects, and joiners are better equipped to meet customer demand.

The Hawa Porta is just one sliding door range available from Häfele; also on offer is the Hawa Concepta collection, a slide and pivot system which can be used to conceal mini kitchens, office spaces, entertainment systems or even act as a room divider before sliding back into a hidden wall pocket. Additionally, Häfele have their own manufactured range, Slido, a comprehensive collection of sliding and folding door hardware suitable for domestic and commercial purposes. Collectively, they create one of the strongest sliding door ranges on the market today.

All of Häfele’s sliding door solutions benefit from the added value services we wrap around the installation and maintenance process. Häfele to Order, for example, can be utilised to have multiple door systems cut, assembled, packaged, labelled and delivered to specific requirements to save time and improve efficiency during the installation process. Then, once fitted, the Häfele Assist team is on hand to provide ongoing assistance, should any systems become damaged or require repairs.

As experts in sliding door gear, our role is to present the industry with market leading solutions which enable architects, developers and contractors to deliver exactly what their customers want to achieve from a space – from how it functions and looks to the lifestyle and comfort they desire.

The Hawa Porta range strikes the perfect balance – a solution which overcomes complex space and layout challenges, and which can also be tailored to meet any design theme, scheme or mood. Without doubt, the Hawa Porta range is just one way of using sliding doors to create more life per square metre.