Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet

Le Brassus, Switzerland

Photo © Iwan Baan

Photo © Audemars-Piguet

Photo © Iwan Baan

Model

Photo © BIG

Model

Photo © BIG

Model

Photo © BIG

Museums + Galleries

Architects: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group

Location: Le Brassus, Switzerland
Year: 2020
Client: Audemars Piguet
Team: Bjarke Ingels (Partner-in-Charge), Thomas Christoffersen (Partner-in-Charge), Daniel Sundlin (Partner-in-Charge), Beat Schenk (Partner-in-Charge), Simon Scheller (Project Manager), Matthew Oravec (Project Architect), Otilia Pupezeanu (Project Designer), Ji-Young Yoon (Project Leader, Concept), Rune Hansen (Project Manager) Team: Adrien Mans, Alessandra Peracin, Ashton Stare, Blake Theodore Smith, Claire Thomas, Dammy Lee, Eva Maria Mikkelsen, Evan Wiskup, Høgni Laksafoss, Iva Ulam, Jan Casimir, Jason Wu, Julien Beauchamp-Roy, Kristian Hindsberg, Marcin Fejcak, Marie Lancon, Maureen Rahman, Maxime Le Droupeet, Natalie Kwee, Pascal Loschetter, Pierre Goete Teodor Javanaud Emden, Tore Bank, Ute Rinnebach, Veronica Lalli, Vivien Cheng, Yaziel Juarbe
Collaborators: BIG IDEAS, Atelier Bruckner, HG Merz, Luchinger und Meyer, Muller Illien

Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet will be located among the historical complex of workshops and factories in Le Brassus in the heart of La Vallée de Joux. Its organization and architecture will embody the core values of Audemars Piguet. It must be characterized by the independent spirit of the family-owned company that has retained autonomy over the years, making it a game-changing innovator in a field governed by rules and traditions. It must be rooted in the heritage of watchmaking in La Vallée de Joux, which goes back centuries and is nested in the nature and culture of the place and the people of the valley. And finally, it must incorporate the inner tension that characterizes Audemars Piguet and resonates throughout the brand, the craft and the designs as captured in the motto: to break the rules you must first master them. Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet is conceived as an oxymoron. Striking yet subtle. Contemporary yet timeless. Functional yet sculptural. Floating yet rooted. Local presence with a global resonance. A striking landmark that is seamlessly integrated in the local landscape. A contemporary yet timeless architecture that blends with the historical buildings to create an intuitive sequence of spaces – old and new. A pavilion for the art and science of watchmaking that is conceived as a storyline for the visitors – every element is governed by the functional requirements of the exhibition, while appearing as a striking sculpture conceived in a single gesture.