News 
Three years ago, Audemars Piguet announced the winning project in the architectural competition for the construction of its new museum.
Designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, the new Founders’ House joins up the original museum installed in the historical Audemars family home with a futuristic spiral emerging from the fields and entirely supported by curved glass walls.
The foundation of this extraordinary project was laid on 30 March in Le Brassus, the cradle of this manufacturing company, nestling at the heart of the Vallée de Joux and the keystone of Audemars Piguet’s history.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Jasmine Audemars, Chairwoman of the Audemars Piguet Board of Directors, Olivier Audemars, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, and François-Henry Bennahmias, Chief Executive Officer. The main project partners as well as the authorities from the Vallée de Joux and the Canton of Vaud were also in attendance.
During the ceremony, Sébastian Vivas, the museum director, summarised in broad outline this unique project which combines respect for the origins with an opening onto the world, transmission of traditions and a free rein for the imagination. In the meantime, two watchmakers were given the task of placing the many components needed to make a Royal Oak watch one by one in a water-resistant box before this was sealed and buried under the foundations of the new building for future generations.
The next phase will be the placing of the curved glass walls; the weight of each panel exceeds two tonnes. That should be done before next winter. 2018 for its part will be dedicated to fitting out the interior and restoring the historical building in which the present museum is located.
April 27, 2017