I thought some of you might be interested in the new Omega & Swatch HQ that is being built in Bienne. It was designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and the building costs 150 millions CHF (ca. 155m USD atm).

This is how it looks like at the moment.

The old factory (i just realized I don't have other pictures of it even though I work less than 1 km away...)


On the right you can already see the construction site.


Fancy elements:


And this is how it eventually will look like:




The Omega building:


You can download a German/French brochure on Biel's website here:
https://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&sour...iYqb-55oq5GDtULRw&sig2=1eEdx6bfztg01MQtjXbQ3Q
Link fixed

http://www.wam-ing.ch/en/projekte/biel-neubauten-swatch-und-omega-568.html

http://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/p150-Millionen-fuer-neue-Swatch-Hauptsitzep/story/30081304


Edit: fixed the link to the brochure

 

Wow! Check out the Apollo-like rocket in the Omega building!

Thanks for sharing the photos & information. I hope you update us with photos from time to time.

 

Yes, of course I can do if you're interested in it

 

What exactly is the design element that they are trying to achieve with that structure flowing through the park? It looks kind of like a slug moving through the grass to me. Anybody else have any ideas on that?

 

The milking continues....

 

Love that show...also saw there is an Ab Fab movie coming out soon...my wife will want to see that.

 

The existing building is not such a looker, but has some of-its-time charm.

 

Sea cucumber. Their nod to Seamasters.

 

The local newspaper calls it "the Swatch-Snake"

http://www.bielertagblatt.ch/nachrichten/biel/die-swatch-schlange-bahnt-sich-ihren-weg

Schlange = Snake

 

Are they taking deposits on the inevitable LE watch with a dial based on this design?

 

Yes.

Please send them to me... I'll make sure they get to Omega.

Seriously though, it's cool to see a brand investing in it's own infrastructure... nice to see where all the money we give them is going.

 

Swatch and Omega Museums will be relocated in the new buildings

 

http://www.designboom.com/architect...rs-for-swatch-production-buildings-for-omega/