Sliding doors often steal the spotlight in modern design. Their slim frames and expansive glass panels create stunning, light-filled interiors that feel effortlessly contemporary. But that doesn’t mean bi-fold doors are out of the picture. In fact, for many homeowners and architects, they remain an essential design choice, bringing a blend of versatility, character and connection to the outdoors.
At aïr, our bi-fold doors are designed to capture the best of both worlds: the elegance and performance of modern aluminium systems with the adaptability and charm that only a bi-fold can offer. Here’s why they still deserve a place in your home.
Where sliding doors create expansive, panoramic openings, bi-fold doors offer something more tactile. Each panel folds and stacks neatly away, allowing you to open up your space as much or as little as you want.
This flexibility makes them ideal for everyday living. You can open a single traffic door for quick access to the garden or patio, or fold back the entire wall internally or externally to let the outdoors in. It’s a dynamic, interactive way of connecting inside and out, one that suits family life, entertaining and everything in between.
Our aïr 900 Bi-fold Door offers panel widths of up to 1.2 metres and heights up to 3 metres, meaning even large openings can be completely transformed in seconds.
Aluminium bi-fold doors may have more visible structure than minimal frame sliding doors, but their beauty lies in how they use it. Each panel acts as a frame for light, views and movement, creating flow and definition within a space.
When closed, the slim aluminium profiles of our aïr 900 maintain elegant proportions that complement both traditional and contemporary architecture. When open, they can transform a room entirely. The result is a living space that adapts to the seasons, your mood and the way you use your home.
Modern bi-fold doors are anything but dated. With today’s technology and design options, they can be tailored to suit virtually any home style.
It’s this flexibility that makes bi-folds so enduring. They offer character and warmth, where sliding doors deliver simplicity and scale, two sides of the same design story.
The aïr 900 Bi-fold Door isn’t just about looks. Every system is built with the same precision engineering and performance standards as our minimal frame sliding door range.
This means you can enjoy expansive glass and smooth operation without worrying about draughts or maintenance, performance that lasts, whatever the weather.
One of the biggest strengths of bi-fold doors is how they enhance smaller or irregularly shaped spaces. Where a sliding system might need wider tracks or clear lateral movement, bi-folds stack neatly to one or both sides, freeing up space exactly where you need it.
They’re particularly effective for kitchen extensions, garden rooms or properties where you want to blend indoor and outdoor dining areas. With up to 14 panels and multiple opening configurations, our aïr 900 Bi-fold Door gives you total control over how your space opens and flows.
And because the system includes the option for a convenient traffic door, you can enjoy quick entry and exit without unfolding every panel – a small detail that makes a big difference in daily life.
Bi-fold doors bring a sense of craftsmanship and tradition that never really goes out of style. The distinctive folding motion, symmetrical frames and tactile handles all contribute to the physical experience of opening up a space.
But thanks to modern aluminium technology, today’s designs are lighter, stronger and more energy-efficient than ever before. You get all the charm and character of classic bi-folding doors, paired with the reliability and precision of contemporary engineering.
It’s this meeting of past and present that keeps bi-fold doors relevant in today’s design landscape, and why our aïr 900 continues to be a favourite among architects, designers and homeowners alike.
So, are bi-fold doors or sliding doors the right fit? The answer often depends on how you want to live. If your priority is uninterrupted glass and minimal structure, sliding doors deliver architectural drama. But if flexibility, character and interaction are more important, bi-folds bring a uniquely human element to modern design.
Many homeowners combine both, sliding doors for panoramic glazing, and bi-folds in kitchens, extensions or side elevations where movement and connection matter most.
At aïr, we believe every home deserves design that enhances the way you live. The aïr 900 Bi-fold Door brings light, adaptability and craftsmanship together, a modern interpretation of a timeless concept.
To explore how bi-fold doors could transform your space, get in touch with our team, or browse the full range in our Bi-fold Door Buyer’s Guide.
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