A tailored solution for the automatic doors at the Maritime Museum of Mallorca

The Maritime Museum of Mallorca has reopened its doors to the public at its Ses Voltes site, an iconic venue in the city of Palma that combines historical heritage with cultural activities. The museum, situated at the foot of Mallorca Cathedral and next to Parc del Mar, forms part of an architectural complex of great historical value. It was built between 1771 and 1801 and was the final bastion to complete the city’s fifth walled enclosure. It consists of a central courtyard surrounded by walls, with long rooms featuring barrel-vaulted ceilings. Since 1985, this architectural complex has been part of the Palma City Council and is used as a civic and cultural space. 

To improve accessibility and optimise the visitor flow, the museum has commissioned Manusa to install automatic sliding doors at the building’s main access points. 

Tailored automatic doors for a historic site

Given the building’s listed status, one of the main challenges of the project was to integrate the automatic doors without compromising the original aesthetics or heritage conservation criteria. For this reason, the structure of the sliding doors was designed and manufactured entirely to measure, carefully following the established guidelines regarding design and finishes.

At the museum’s main entrance, it was essential that the door blended naturally into the architectural ensemble without altering the building’s appearance. A standard side-opening automatic sliding door was chosen, offering visitors convenient and smooth access. To enhance its integration, a curved top panel – also made to measure – was incorporated, allowing the installation to be adapted to the existing opening. This element was handcrafted by a blacksmith, ensuring a precise fit that respects the original structure.

At the museum exit, a side telescopic sliding door with a fixed leaf was installed. This solution is particularly well-suited to optimising passage space in areas with limited dimensions, whilst ensuring smooth and safe movement.

Both doors feature framed leaves with a lacquered red RAL finish, in harmony with the building’s stonework, achieving a consistent and smooth visual integration.

Improving accessibility and the visitor experience

Thanks to this upgrade, the museum has improved accessibility and the visitor experience. I now adapts to varying degrees of mobility, allowing visitors to enter without needing to use their hands to open or close doors, regardless of whether they are carrying bags, suitcases, etc. This is an essential feature in a space that welcomes thousands of visitors and also serves as a civic and cultural space. 

The solution provided preserves the architectural identity of one of Palma’s most iconic historic sites. The project demonstrates Manusa’s ability to develop fully customised automatic sliding doors, tailored both to the building’s technical requirements and to the aesthetic demands of heritage environments.

If you need advice on installing automatic doors that blend in with the architectural surroundings, please contact Manusa and find out how we can tailor our solutions to your project.