Description

The watch factory in Villeret is embedded in the hillside of the Bern Jura Mountains. It is the first factory building that Jean Nouvel designed for the Cartier company. The architect describes his building as “a crystal block growing out of the mountain”. Precision, reliability as well as precise and aesthetical detailing are characteristics which are associated with watches and also define Nouvel’s factory building made of steel, glass and aluminum. Hence, the design and structure of the building are related to its function, the production of 300,000 luxury watches per year.

A central two-storey hall is at the heart of the factory. A glass front affords immediate views of the valley and the surroundings; additionally, the production plant is separated from the adjoining rooms by a double glazed partition. On an area of 800 m² 80 specialists work at custom-made workbenches and assemble and check the watches. The workplaces are not arranged in rows – as it would be the standard – but in groups like satellites to promote teamwork. For the workshop area a completely dust-free environment was required. A sophisticated air-ventilation and filter system and antistatic floors ensure that no dust particles get into the mechanisms of the expensive chronometers.

On its full height the central workshop area is enclosed by a U-shaped wing containing various secondary spaces. The building is accessed on the upper floor of this wing via a small bridge on the side facing off the valley. On this level, administrative rooms, a server room and a staff restaurant were positioned. On the lower level, which partly nestles into the slope there are – positioned according to the production processes – the delivery area, storage, minor workshops, a strong room and the distribution area as well as technical and training rooms. The flat glazed rectangular volume is 54 m long, 31 m wide and 7.25 m high. Cantilevering two-span girders on H-columns form the bearing structure. Throughout the whole building the grey painted steel skeleton is exposed; the external building envelope is made of glass. Mechanical equipment such as heating and air-conditioning is concealed inside the raised floor. Last but not least, this is how Nouvel achieves a neutral and simple quality of spaces.

The building envelope is a plain glazed skin composed of glass panes measuring 130 cm x 130 cm, which is penetrated by tapered primary girders. The ceiling of the factory also consists of glass. Some 30 cm above it, a flat roof of aluminium louvers is installed, which protrudes the glazed volume on all sides by approximately 8 m. As a result, the roof area of 3,000 m² is almost twice as large as the actual floor area of the factory (1,770 m²) and almost seems to become one with the site.

The double-roof construction with the impressive overhang is of particular importance for glare and solar protection, as the large roof helps to save energy and works as a shading device. From a distance, the glazed building nestling into the slope appears black and the cantilevering roof white. In contrast, the roof appears dark from the inside. The louvers of the strongly protruding roof catch and reflect the light into the interior, bringing a maximum of light into all spaces.

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Originally published in: Jürgen Adam, Katharina Hausmann, Frank Jüttner, Industrial Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2004.