As our cities grow, they create opportunities which cause more and more people to move to urban areas. With this influx, commercial, event & educational spaces, homes, and apartments are becoming increasingly smaller. Space has indeed become a luxury. Therefore, space optimisation has become essential. dormakaba’s Skyfold is the ideal solution for those looking to optimise the full potential of their space. It is a premium multifunctional space solution that gives interior designers, architects and contractors the freedom to redefine how a structure is used. If you are looking to effortlessly convert open spaces into smaller, private rooms for smaller gatherings, or open them back up for larger gatherings, Skyfold premium vertically folding retractable wall is the solution for you! The premium wall systems’ acoustic properties allow different spaces to co-exist without disturbance and merge them together at a moment’s notice when needed.
Skyfold is part of the dormakaba Group, a trusted global access and security solutions brand. As an integral offering within dormakaba Group’s portfolio, Skyfold showcases innovative engineering, delivering world-class space management solutions to address spatial challenges in modern architecture. A world leader in acoustic, vertically folding retractable walls, Skyfold has over 10,000 installations. Installations that deliver true luxury – the luxury of space. Your whole space is fully available as our walls are stored in the ceiling and have no floor or wall tracks. Neat, isn’t it?
Contents
- 1 Space optimisation – Need of the hour
- 2 Skyfold vertically retractable wall system is excellent for sound isolation
- 3 Application of Skyfold premium vertically retractable walls
- 4 Variants of Skyfold premium vertically retractable walls by dormakaba
- 5 dormakaba at BAU 2025: Innovative access solutions for a sustainable future
Space optimisation – Need of the hour
As available space becomes limited, owners have to turn to innovative ways to effectively use their property. Multifunctional spaces have come out as one of the most popular and clever ways to optimise room.
For instance, a large auditorium in a university may be required to be used for multiple events. The organisers can use it for music rehearsal, sports practice or club meetings. Having a single space that can accommodate all these events can be a little challenging to design.
Skyfold vertically retractable wall system is excellent for sound isolation
We need a partition system that visually separates the space and effectively blocks out noise from other activities. The Skyfold vertical movable wall system is a beautiful solution to this issue as it perfectly divides the space visually and keeps out any outside sound. It’s a fully automatic system that retracts into the ceiling and can create an entirely functional unit within minutes at the push of a button.
Skyfold is an acoustic leader whose vertically folding retractable walls have up to Rw 59 Db/STC 60. This enables a spirited basketball game to co-exist with an engaging music rehearsal with zero disturbances. The thoughtfully designed system requires no track rails or hinges, enhancing the aesthetic value and maximising space. Operationally, things couldn’t be easier with a one-step, push-button control panel. Automated deployment eliminates the heavy wear and tear of manually operated alternatives and reduces staff requirements almost entirely. And the silky movement of the walls creates a great “wow” experience. The vertically retractable walls will efficiently divide your room at a speed of 1.5 to 3 meters per minute. Furthermore, they have built-in sensors on the lower edge that stop the system from descending if it detects an obstruction.
Sustainability is at the heart of what Skyfold do. With up to 97% recycled materials, Skyfold products are environmentally responsible. Their sustainable finishes are often used on a large scale, which helps to reach LEED and other sustainability certifications. Skyfold’s flexibility and functionality allow for the re-creation of existing spaces. Such reuse and re-purposing sit at the forefront of their sustainable ideals. Their products are precisely engineered with dependability and longevity, and each wall comes with a 10-year acoustical performance warranty. The longer things last, the more sustainable they are.
Workspace
In a modern open-concept office, employees collaborate freely and move around without barriers. However, that openness is accompanied by a lack of privacy and noise distractions. Skyfold’s acoustic, flexible, vertically retractable walls are ideal as they can be lowered from the ceiling to divide the space whenever needed. It can create meeting rooms, quiet zones, or private work areas in seconds, while maintaining a sense of community and noise control.
Education institutions
Schools face a similar space shortage as their student population grows. Skyfold’s vertical retractable wall systems allow schools to creatively manage their space with efficient noise control. It provides students with an environment in which they can truly focus.
Hospitality
Skyfold premium solutions allow the hospitality sector to effortlessly adapt spaces for any occasion. It can accommodate large-scale events to small, intimate gatherings — all at the push of a button. When square footage and revenue are intertwined, you need to ensure that every inch of a client’s space is used to the fullest advantage. At the touch of a button, the Skyfold wall unfolds from the ceiling to transform your space in a matter of minutes with no manual labour.
Depending on configurations, you can sub-divide the biggest spaces into two or more smaller venues to accommodate multiple events at the same time or of varying sizes. By pushing the same button again, you can return the venue to its original layout as the Skyfold wall folds discreetly into the ceiling to maximize floor space for added venue capacity. Tucked away in the ceiling storage pocket, the Skyfold wall leaves behind no trace—fixed walls, floors and ceilings are free of unesthetic tracks.
Healthcare
With Skyfold’s vertically folding retractable walls, contractors, architects, interior designers, and end-users can create flexible, multipurpose environments that meet the evolving needs of modern healthcare facilities.
Convention Centers
Skyfold offers operable walls that have unlimited width and go up to 36 ft. Convention centers can increase their revenue by hosting events simultaneously without disturbance by using premium solutions by Skyfold. Creative configurations are now possible within existing spaces that too without unsightly wall or floor tracks! Crowd control and navigation are greatly simplified with these retractable walls, as they are the quickest solutions for opening and closing public spaces.
- Stepped & sloped: Skyfold premium automated vertically retractable walls can be used in both stepped and sloped auditoriums. This ensures seamless space division without compromising acoustics or aesthetics.
- Intersecting wall: Intersecting walls are excellent solutions for convention centers, allowing multiple events to run simultaneously while maintaining superior noise control.
Skyfold Zenith
Imagine planning to set up a large meeting room in your office that can be separated into two smaller spaces, without the hassle of sliding doors or heavy partitions. With the push of a button, Skyfold Zenith makes it possible.
Zenith is a fully automatic, vertically retractable wall that smoothly retracts into the ceiling, requiring no floor or wall tracks. Its premium model comes with a ceiling trim that hides the gap when the Skyfold wall is lowered. This makes the system merge almost invisibly with the ceiling, creating a clean, integrated look. Beyond aesthetics, the Zenith series also delivers exceptional performance, offering impressive sound isolation ratings of up to Rw 59 dB / STC 60.
Skyfold Classic
Skyfold Classic – a beautifully engineered wall system will suit your needs regardless of the complexity of your floor plan. Whether your space features stepped floors, sloped floors, or a combination of both, Skyfold Classic adapts effortlessly.
This aesthetic, vertically retractable wall system disappears into the ceiling when retracted, preserving the clean architectural lines of your space. It also delivers excellent sound isolation, with ratings ranging from Rw 51 to 59 dB / STC 50 to 60.
Skyfold Mirage
Want to convert your auditorium into smaller rooms to accommodate multiple events? Skyfold Mirage is the ideal solution. This seamless wall system retracts discreetly into the underside of the ceiling, blending almost invisibly when stored.
Available in clear glass, plexiglass, and satinised glass options, Skyfold Mirage allows natural light to flow through your space while maintaining functionality. With sound isolation ratings ranging from Rw 47 to 59 dB / STC 33, it ensures a quiet, productive environment even in high-traffic settings.
Skyfold’s latest innovation, Prisma, is a revolution in visual connection and acoustic separation. Prisma combines clear glass panels with Skyfold’s proven superior technology to deliver acoustic privacy in plain sight. Prisma walls bring the benefits of daylight to create bright, welcoming spaces that allow for a sense of connection and community within a hotel’s meeting rooms. Given their astonishing acoustic rating (of STC 52/Rw52), these spaces are essentially private. A combination that does wonders for the efficiency, creativity, and happiness of hotel guests. Like all Skyfold products, users of Prisma can depend on the neat vertically retractable system that requires no wall or floor tracks.
Skyfold, a part of the dormakaba Group, is the acoustic leader in vertically folding retractable walls. These walls provide an effective answer to spatial challenges. Skyfold’s retractable walls enhance the functionality and acoustic performance of commercial establishments. Their innovative design lets you easily adjust your space to accommodate larger or smaller groups or even host multiple events simultaneously.
dormakaba at BAU 2025: Innovative access solutions for a sustainable future
BAU 2025 (Munich, January 13-17, 2025) is a global trade fair for the construction industry. dormakaba displayed its recent i
