International Clock and Watch Museum - La Chaux-de-Fonds - Swítzerland

Abstract

This work is located in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the lack of external volumes assists the conservation of its garden surroundings, although a deeper study was required of the primary structure in order to achieve the desired architectural expression. For this, it was necessary to fix very accurately the buried construction levels, to avoid anything artificial appearing above the natural land, which should not be altered. A flexible and modulated sustaining was chosen which enabled the construction to be covered very quickly. It is based on large size reinforced concrete parts, capable of withstanding the great weight of land, walks and upper terraces. The space between them was closed with girders, also of reinforced concrete and a beam-filling made of double brick board, finished on the inside. The electrical equipment of the building is extremely important. It has a centralized layout, with distribution integrated in the building frame, to give flexible service to lighting, to sound and to the alarm systems. The ventilation air conditioning installations were also of maximum interest, as is fitting in an underground building, and to its museum nature, which calls for a suitable constant atmosphere, to conserve the objects on show perfectly.