Switzerland Museum’s Design Imitates Mechanics of a Watch

Switzerland is famous for many things, among which are the Alps, chocolate, cheese, and of course, watches. Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet recently opened a new museum designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). The museum sits next to the original Audemars Piguet workshop that was set up in 1875, and that historic building has also been restored and connected to the new one.

One of the most interesting things about the building is that it was design to mimic the internal mechanisms of a watch. The museum holds around 300 watches and is organized in a way that allows visitors to see the collection in the best order. The collection includes a vintage watch with more than 1,100 parts made in 1899. Around it, you can see other astronomical watches arranged like planets in a solar system. 

The museum is located in a remote valley in the Jura Mountains. BIG got assigned the project in 2014 and the museum was finally open in June 2020. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide panoramic views of the beautiful nature around the museum building. The architects from BIG are already working on a nearby hotel together with the watchmaker in hope to attract more tourists to the area.