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A group of people walk and gather in a grassy urban park with stone paths, featured on the cover of AZURE magazine promoting the AZ Awards 2026.
Current Issue

Summer 2026

A group of people walk and gather in a grassy urban park with stone paths, featured on the cover of AZURE magazine promoting the AZ Awards 2026.
#316
Summer 2026

The June/July/August 2026 edition of AZURE is dedicated to our 16th annual AZ Awards — and also features the best of Milan, the New Museum’s expansion, the latest in building envelope systems and more!

The AZ Awards issue packs much more than our winners and finalists — though they certainly take pride of place. (And you can read all about them on our dedicated AZ Awards site.)

A modern, angular door handle mounted on a light-colored wall, casting a distinct shadow in soft, warm lighting.

Hardware design typically falls into one of two camps: utilitarian forms that fade into the background, or expressive statement pieces meant to draw attention. The challenge for designers is to bring these ambitions together in a harmonious blend of form and function. With Laconica, Colombo Design America’s latest launch, engineer Alberto Meda has taken exactly that approach, shaping a minimal design that is intentionally “free from excess.” Defined by brevity and restraint, the name gives the collection its conceptual footing: paring the handle back to a precise architectural gesture.

Older man with white hair and a suit looks upward to his left; a strong shadow of his profile is cast on the wall behind him. Image is tinted in a reddish-brown hue.

To that end, Laconica is designed around simple geometric forms — namely, a conical return and an angular lever — that remain constant across all its permutations, from door to window hardware, including privacy sets, DK window handles, lift-and-slide handles and fixed pull handles. The clean-lined pieces are not only striking but also engineered for optimal ergonomics and comfort.

A modern, angular red door handle from the Laconica collection by Colombo Design America is mounted on a white wall.

Through considered proportion and grip, Laconica gives the everyday act of passing through space a more tactile presence without being visually imposing. What’s more, Colombo’s innovative installation system allows the handle to be mounted on a rose without additional work on the door, reinforcing the collection’s emphasis on restraint at both the visual and technical scale.

Brown metal window handle and a matching rectangular inset piece, shown against a plain white background.
A matte black door handle with a rectangular bar and two cylindrical mounts, shown against a white background.

This focus on innovation extends to the manufacturing process, which combines industrial quality with environmental responsibility. Alongside PVD-treated finishes — including Polished Brass, HPS Stainless Steel and Matte Graphite — the collection is available in three painted versions that use solvent-free powder coatings: Umber Bronze, Dark Green and Cherry.

A gold-colored Laconica Colombo Design America modern door handle with a flat lever design mounted on a round base, shown against a white background.
Polished Brass
A matte brown Laconica door handle by Colombo Design America with a round base and straight, rectangular lever, photographed against a white background.
Umber Bronze

Like the rest of the Colombo portfolio, Laconica’s production reflects the company’s broader Green Made program, with sustainability measures that include water recovery and monitored wastewater, reduced dust emissions and more efficient finishing technologies. From design to manufacturing, the collection embodies economy of means in more ways than one.

A modern, matte black Laconica door handle by Colombo Design America, featuring a round base and straight lever, shown against a white background.
Matte Graphite
A modern, matte dark green Laconica door handle by Colombo Design America, featuring a round base and a straight, flat lever, shown against a white background.
Dark Green

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Colombo Design America.

With Laconica, Alberto Meda Reduces the Door Handle to Its Most Essential Gesture

Colombo Design America introduces a hardware collection that brings precision, restraint and continuity to the everyday act of moving through space.

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