A device for assisting the opening and closing of a door in a structure. The device may comprise: a door shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof in both a first direction and in a second opposite direction, and configured to be mounted to the structure to form a hinge about which the door may rotate in the both the first and second directions relative to the structure; a first actuator linked to the door shaft and configured to control a speed of rotation of the door shaft in the first direction; and a second actuator linked to the door shaft and configured to drive rotation of the door shaft in the second direction. The second actuator is an electromechanical actuator.