Audemars Piguet has chosen Bjarke Ingels Group to extend the museum at the company’s historic headquarters

BIG - Swiss watchmaker HQ

Venerable Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet has chosen Danish-US architects BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) to extend the museum at the company’s historic headquarters.

The 139-year old company, which is still owned by its founding families, has selected the practice to design a 2,400m2 pavilion to house the new museum, that will be called the Maison des Fondateurs.

The museum, which will be located next to the old headquarters, is designed to be embedded in the surrounding landscape of La Vallée de Joux in the Swiss Jura.

BIG has created an intertwined spiral shaped pavilion which is designed to guide visitors through a linear sequence of spaces, from the entrance through a series of lounges, galleries and workshops. The double spiral culminates in the attic housing the company’s original workshop in the former HQ building.

The roof and ceiling of the pavilion is conceived as a single, undulating sheet of steel clad in brass that will create a series of openings, allowing in daylight and views of the exhibits.

The pavilion will also house the company’s charitable foundation.