Omega Watch Manufacture, Biel/Bienne BE
Every detail of the Omega Manufacture embodies the distinctive style of Shigeru Ban. His design permeates the spaces occupied by the various production departments, the quality assurance process and social areas, the warehouse logistics and the offices for associated services.
As visitors follow the educational walkway through the building, high-quality glass walls afford them insights into the production operation without disrupting it. The building's clear geometry is interrupted by the curvilinear external staircase and the conical stainless steel chimneys that were manufactured in one piece, transported and then installed.
The construction features a timber framing technique, with a concrete core at the centre of the building that houses the three-storey high-bay warehouse. A wooden structure made of Swiss timber, open use of groundwater and a photovoltaic system are features that exemplify the Manufacture's sustainable use of raw materials and optimised energy consumption.
Contact person | Jan Stöcker |
Client | Swatch AG, Omega SA |
Architects | ShigeruBan Architects Eur., Itten+Brechbühl AG |
Planning | 2013 |
Start of operation | 2017 |
Floor area | 16 500 m2 |
Construction volume | 73 500 m3 |
Photos | © Omega, Boy de la Tour |