This is what happens when using the Basic 3D filter to simulate opening a door. Doors open on side hinges, but After Effects spins layers on their anchor point, which is centered by default. Download this example file if you wish.

The anchor point is a geometric property and is read after the the Basic 3D effect, so any changes to anchor points in this composition will not be available to effects. This is the rendering pipeline in action. The order of rendering pipeline cannot be changed, but Composition Nesting (using a composition as a layer) and the Pre-compose command (sending current layers to newly created comps in the past) let us work within rendering pipeline constraints.