Precise movement,
considered in every detail.

A hinged door rotates on hinges fixed to one side of the frame — the door swings from the hinge side and is held by a latch or lock on the other. A pivot door rotates on a central or off-centre axis, typically with a floor pivot and a top pivot, with no visible hinges on the frame. Pivot doors are usually larger, make more of a visual statement and require more structural preparation. Hinged doors are more versatile across a wider range of applications — from internal room doors to exterior entrance systems — and are the correct specification when the opening and design do not require the presence of a pivot.

Steel allows the slimmest profiles and the most precise character — it is the right choice for interior applications and where the frame needs to recede in favour of the glass. For exterior hinged doors on the Costa del Sol, aluminium with a thermal break is typically the correct specification: it provides the weather resistance, thermal performance and longevity that an exterior door in a coastal climate requires. The MHB Floating Lock Case system uses thermally broken steel, which gives the visual precision of steel with the performance credentials of a certified exterior system. The material is determined by the application and what the project requires.

The MHB Floating Lock Case is a hinged door system based on a centuries-old design by a Swiss master blacksmith. The lock case is concealed within the glass itself rather than sitting in the steel frame — made possible by advanced laser cutting and the ultra-slim SL30-ISO® thermally broken profile. The result is a door with maximum security and minimal visual presence: the hardware disappears and the glass dominates. It is certified to Class 4A water tightness (tested to Class 7A), wind load Class C3 (tested to C5), and thermal transmittance of up to Uw 0.74 W/m²K. Available with max leaf size 1300 × 3200mm. Royal Design Marbella is the MHB partner on the Costa del Sol.

Yes — and for many projects, the door leaf alone does not resolve the opening. Fixed sidelights on one or both sides, or a fixed toplight above the door, extend the glazed area and change the proportions of the entrance entirely. We develop the full configuration — door leaf, sidelights, frame and hardware — as a single system designed around the specific opening and facade. A sidelight is not an afterthought; it is part of the architectural decision and needs to be specified at the same stage as the door itself.

Yes — exterior entrance doors in steel and glass are one of the most common requests we receive from villa owners and architects on the Costa del Sol. For exterior use, the system needs to be specified correctly: certified thermal performance, weather sealing appropriate for the exposure conditions, and hardware rated for a coastal climate. We install MHB exterior hinged systems for these applications — certified to Class 7A water tightness and Class C5 wind load. Royal Design Marbella manages the full process, from specification and supply through to coordination and handover, across Marbella, Benahavís, Estepona and Sotogrande.

For interior systems, clear toughened glass is standard. Laminated, satin, tinted, sandblasted or acoustic-grade glass are available depending on what the project requires — privacy, acoustic separation or specific light quality. For exterior MHB systems, thermally insulated double-glazed units with a thermal break are standard. Glass weight directly affects the hinge specification — a heavier glass unit requires a more robust hinge load rating and frame design. The glass is specified as part of the engineering, not chosen at the end as a finish option.

For bespoke interior steel systems, matte black, dark anthracite and brushed steel are standard, with bespoke RAL matching available where the frame needs to align with a specific material palette. For MHB exterior systems, the full MHB finish range is available — standard and premium powder coat colours and precious metal finishes including bronze. Finish is confirmed at the specification stage and applied consistently across frame, hinges and hardware. For exterior applications on the Costa del Sol, finish durability in a coastal climate is confirmed before specification is finalised.

For bespoke interior systems and Royal Glassea glazing solutions, our team manages the installation directly — from frame alignment and hinge setting through to final adjustment and handover. For MHB exterior systems, installation is carried out by MHB; Royal Design Marbella coordinates and manages the full process on site. In both cases, structural conditions, wall substrate, floor finish and door weight are assessed before fabrication begins. We do not consider a project complete until the door opens, closes and operates exactly as it was designed to.

Working with architects and interior designers is where we spend most of our time. We work from their drawings, develop the technical specification in coordination with their team, and respond to technical questions with the level of detail they need. We flag issues during specification — not on site. If a hinged door system is part of the project, we manage our scope without adding complexity to the programme and keep the right people informed at each stage.

The more specific you can be, the faster and more useful our response will be. Ideally: architectural drawings or a dimensioned sketch of the opening, the project location, whether the application is interior or exterior, the configuration you have in mind (single leaf, double, with sidelights) and a brief description of the design intent. If you have a finish preference or glass type in mind, include it. If you do not have drawings yet, a description of the opening, the project type and what you are trying to achieve is enough to start a useful conversation. Send us what you have — we will take it from there.