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Light hearted question about doors.

Manxman_in_exile
Posts: 8,380 Forumite

I'm a great fan of Scandi Noir on BBC4 and Walter Presents. (In facting I'm watching Blue Eyes again on Walter).
One thing that has always struck me ever since first* watching Wallander is "Why do Scandanavian doors all seem to open outwards and not inwards?"
It seems to be equally true of internal doors and external doors; front doors, back doors, room doors, hotel room doors. Why? I'd have thought that in a country with significant snowfall it would make no sense to have doors that all open outwards. The only advantage I can think of (and particularly useful in Scandi Noir) is that it would be much more difficult for a fugitive to barricade themselves in a house or room.
Does anyone know why?
*Strangely enough I'd never noticed before even though I'd been to Sweden!
One thing that has always struck me ever since first* watching Wallander is "Why do Scandanavian doors all seem to open outwards and not inwards?"
It seems to be equally true of internal doors and external doors; front doors, back doors, room doors, hotel room doors. Why? I'd have thought that in a country with significant snowfall it would make no sense to have doors that all open outwards. The only advantage I can think of (and particularly useful in Scandi Noir) is that it would be much more difficult for a fugitive to barricade themselves in a house or room.
Does anyone know why?
*Strangely enough I'd never noticed before even though I'd been to Sweden!
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My front door opens outwards. Darned useful when you get a cold caller that insists on standing right in front of the door hoping to put a foot in when it opens. Often ends badly for himNot so good when "stuff" is delivered and 'erbert stacks the boxes in front of the door....Her courage will change the world.
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.1 -
Manxman_in_exile said:I'm a great fan of Scandi Noir on BBC4 and Walter Presents. (In facting I'm watching Blue Eyes again on Walter).
One thing that has always struck me ever since first* watching Wallander is "Why do Scandanavian doors all seem to open outwards and not inwards?"
It seems to be equally true of internal doors and external doors; front doors, back doors, room doors, hotel room doors. Why? I'd have thought that in a country with significant snowfall it would make no sense to have doors that all open outwards. The only advantage I can think of (and particularly useful in Scandi Noir) is that it would be much more difficult for a fugitive to barricade themselves in a house or room.
Does anyone know why?
*Strangely enough I'd never noticed before even though I'd been to Sweden!OH's theory is that they push any snow away. However, that doesn't apply to flats or internal house doors.Member #14 of SKI-ers club
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)1 -
According to google it's ......
Doors open outwards in Sweden because, traditionally, Swedish homes had double-entrance doors. One door opened outward, away from the home. Another door opened inward, swinging into the home. The purpose of the double-door entrance was for warmth, spaciousness, and safety.
#2 Saving for Christmas 2024 - £1 a day challenge. £325 of £3663 -
pollypenny said:Manxman_in_exile said:I'm a great fan of Scandi Noir on BBC4 and Walter Presents. (In facting I'm watching Blue Eyes again on Walter).
One thing that has always struck me ever since first* watching Wallander is "Why do Scandanavian doors all seem to open outwards and not inwards?"
It seems to be equally true of internal doors and external doors; front doors, back doors, room doors, hotel room doors. Why? I'd have thought that in a country with significant snowfall it would make no sense to have doors that all open outwards. The only advantage I can think of (and particularly useful in Scandi Noir) is that it would be much more difficult for a fugitive to barricade themselves in a house or room.
Does anyone know why?
*Strangely enough I'd never noticed before even though I'd been to Sweden!OH's theory is that they push any snow away. However, that doesn't apply to flats or internal house doors.0 -
JGB1955 said:According to google it's ......
Doors open outwards in Sweden because, traditionally, Swedish homes had double-entrance doors. One door opened outward, away from the home. Another door opened inward, swinging into the home. The purpose of the double-door entrance was for warmth, spaciousness, and safety.0 -
Manxman_in_exile said:JGB1955 said:According to google it's ......
Doors open outwards in Sweden because, traditionally, Swedish homes had double-entrance doors. One door opened outward, away from the home. Another door opened inward, swinging into the home. The purpose of the double-door entrance was for warmth, spaciousness, and safety.
You can shoulder charge or kick open an inwards opening door far more easily than an outwards opening door.A man walked into a car showroom.
He said to the salesman, “My wife would like to talk to you about the Volkswagen Golf in the showroom window.”
Salesman said, “We haven't got a Volkswagen Golf in the showroom window.”
The man replied, “You have now mate".1 -
Doors that open outwards are safer when you need to make an emergency exit. I've been horrified by some news items about people being trapped because too many people were trying to get out and they couldn't do so as the door opens inward.
Lots of places with extreme snowfall will have a winter door, sometimes on the 1st floor which means they can still get out when the snow is 10 feet deep. It might be something you wouldn't notice like a 1st floor balcony. Sometimes they are referred to as snow porches.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung5
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