Interesting and Unusual Facts About Entrance Doors

Among the myriad of modern entrance doors, they remain one of the most commonplace elements of any home or apartment. Yet, history holds stories of doors that astonish with their unique features.

The Oldest Doors

The first mention of the word "door" is recorded in Sumerian chronicles dated back to 3250 BC. In ancient civilizations of North Africa and Mesopotamia, doors were rare, found only in the homes of the elite. However, by Ancient Rome, doors were installed at entrances and between rooms, even in modest dwellings. The first door panels with hinges and locks were discovered during the excavations of Pompeii.

The oldest doors still standing today are located at Westminster Abbey in the UK. Crafted from oak felled in the 11th century, these doors are still in use.

The oldest known functioning door in Britain, located in Westminster Abbey, has stood since the 11th century—crafted from ancient oak and still in use today.

When Decorated Doors Emerged

During the Middle Ages, doors evolved into decorative elements, adorned with mother-of-pearl, gemstones, and ceramic mosaics. To enhance their aesthetic appeal, door panels began to be made from solid colored metals.

During the Middle Ages, doors became canvases for creativity, adorned with mother-of-pearl, gemstones, and ceramic mosaics—blending form and function.

The Most Expensive Doors

The desire to embellish doors continues to this day. This has led to the creation of the most expensive door panels in a salon in Bucharest, featuring the face of the Mona Lisa from da Vinci's painting, made with natural leather and Swarovski crystals. In comparison, the price of thermally broken doors from Green Mainland luxury windows and doors is surprisingly accessible.

A bespoke door panel in Bucharest features da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, luxuriously reimagined in leather and Swarovski crystals—among the world’s most expensive doors.

The Tallest and Heaviest

The record for the tallest doors belongs to a spacecraft manufacturing facility in Florida, standing at an astonishing height of 140 meters. They take approximately 45 minutes to open and close.

The heaviest doors are the metal constructions installed at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California, weighing 300 tons, with panels measuring 8.5 feet thick. Remarkably, they are operated manually instead of electronically.

Towering at 140 meters, the massive doors of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida hold the world record for height—opening over the course of 45 minutes.

The Safest Doors

Steel doors can achieve a maximum security level of 13. In most banks, vaults are secured with doors rated at levels 6-7. The door system with a thirteenth-level protection is installed at Fort Knox, where the American gold reserves are held. This door, 40 inches thick, consists of seven layers of steel welded using a secret technology.

The most secure door for residential spaces features:

• Bulletproof protection

• An integrated IP camera that sends photos of visitors who press the doorbell to your email

• Fire resistance

• A biometric lock

• Explosion protection

• Resistance to metal cutting

• Locking mechanisms with ten locks, each with a one-inch-thick bolt.

Additionally, doors with extremely high security ratings are installed in laboratories developing explosives, equipped with mechanisms that ensure rapid closure. Remarkably, some systems can slam shut in just 0.3 seconds using nitrogen compressed to 1000 atmospheres.

The Brightest and Most Colorful Doors

The most colorful doors can be found in Ireland. When Queen Victoria passed away, the Irish were ordered to paint their doors black, but they resisted and instead adorned them with a spectrum of vibrant colors. Green Mainland luxury windows and doors can produce your doors in 216 colors according to the RAL chart.

A splash of rebellion and charm—Irish homeowners famously painted their doors in bright hues as a colorful protest against Queen Victoria’s decree for black.

Aluminum doors exude elegance, as their structure remains flawless after powder coating and does not fade under the sun.

In truth, one could talk for ages about doors, as they do not merely divide space but also create it. Each door represents not just a functional element, but a symbol of transition, a new chapter, and opportunity. They can be majestic and imposing, like the entrance to a castle, or humble and cozy, like the door to a beloved home.

The history of doors reflects the evolution of human culture, art, and technology. From ancient wooden constructions to modern glass solutions, doors continue to inspire designers and architects worldwide.

In every opening and closing, we find more than just a physical action — it's a metaphor for possibilities, new beginnings, and change. So, the next time you open a door, consider what path it may open before you.