Waterfront cafés and pavilions have one thing in common: the best part of the site is outside the building. A folding sliding glass front lets the interior and the quay work as one space when the weather allows, and stays a closed glazed wall when it does not. This article explains what the Schüco AS FD 75 folding sliding door is, why this type of front suits a waterfront building and how it combines with the Schüco AOC facade, using Strandvägen Pavilion A in Stockholm as the example.
What AS FD 75 is
Schüco AS FD 75 is a folding sliding door system. The door leaves fold and move along a track, then stack to the side, so the opening becomes much wider than a normal hinged or sliding door allows. The system has 90 mm face widths and virtually 100% opening width, which means almost the entire width of the front can be opened.
The leaves are glazed, so even a closed front lets in daylight and keeps the view of the water.
Why a folding front suits a waterfront building
- Open to the quay: customers and staff move straight between the interior and the promenade.
- Flexible by season: the front can stay closed in cold or windy weather and open on a calm day.
- Daylight and views: glazed leaves keep the water in sight from inside.
- Many entrances in one front: a long front can open at several points instead of through a single door.
A waterfront site is also exposed. Wind, damp air and heavy use are normal, so the frame finish, glass and hardware should be specified for the location. A powder-coated finish in a colour that suits the surroundings, as at Strandvägen, is part of that design.
Combining AS FD 75 with the AOC facade
A folding front needs a structure that carries it and a facade that finishes the building around it. Schüco AOC is an add-on facade construction for steel or timber substructures. The facade is fixed to the building's own substructure, so the pavilion can have a steel or timber frame and still get a glazed, aluminium-framed envelope. Strandvägen Pavilion A uses both systems: AS FD 75 folding sliding doors and the AOC add-on facade.
What to decide early
Before you ask for a quote, it helps to know:
- The opening width you want and the number of leaves in each unit.
- Where the open leaves will stack and whether there is room for them.
- The frame colour and finish.
- The entrance door and hardware.
- Whether the substructure is steel or timber.
Example: Strandvägen Pavilion A, Stockholm
Strandvägen Pavilion A is a long, single-storey pavilion on the Strandvägen quay. The whole front is made of AS FD 75 folding sliding doors that open to almost the full width, with green powder-coated frames and a band of clerestory windows along the top. The project was produced in Finestra Solution's factory in Liepāja. See the full Strandvägen Pavilion A project with photos.
Seen from the quay, the front reads as a long row of glazed bays under a band of clerestory windows. The entrance doors sit in the same green frames, so the building keeps one consistent look whether the folding doors are open or closed. Closed, it is a glazed wall with a view of the water; open, the pavilion and the quay become one space.
Send us your drawings
Planning a pavilion, café or other waterfront building with a glazed front? Send your drawings and we will come back with a quote. Use the contact page and attach what you have: plans, elevations and the opening widths you need.
