Why does the Manufacture des Forges project stand out from all the other buildings that have marked Audemars Piguet’s growth since 1875?

A first for Switzerland: the new production unit was designed according to the new Minergie-ECO® label. The requirements for this label include energy efficient heating and electricity, high quality construction materials that are both environmentally and user-friendly throughout their life cycle, as well as the harmonious integration of the building into the surrounding landscape.
A heating system that respects the environment: Audemars Piguet has begun work on “Brassus Bois SA”, a public-private partnership between the municipality of Chenit and Audemars Piguet. Its remote heating network will eventually provide heat for around 100 local buildings.
The ideal layout for manufacturing timepieces: the compound’s vast surface area (12,200m2 of floor space) enables all of the watches’ production stages to be carried out under the same roof. The manufacturing process is fully optimised, and the working conditions for the more than three hundred employees brought together at this site and organised in small, autonomous operational units are truly incomparable.

Careful attention to the workers’ health: can electromagnetic fields, or “electrosmog” generated by cordless telephones, computer networks, and electrical equipment be hazardous to your health? Audemars Piguet opted to heed the old adage “it’s better to be safe than sorry” and took special precautions when fitting out the Manufacture des Forges.
In harmony with the surrounding landscape: a portion of the Brassus stream which was channelled through the current Manufacture des Forges location for the past 161 years needed to be returned to its original course before construction could begin. Audemars Piguet therefore decided to fund an exemplary re-landscaping project, both in terms of scenery and ecological concerns.
A significant advantage for the village of Le Brassus: creating access roads for the new production unit that protect the safety of the neighbouring residential and school districts provided an excellent opportunity to revamp the entrance to the village.

Contents

1 - Audemars Piguet: expansion and improvements in Le Brassus
2 - Designing the first Minergie-ECO® production unit
3 - Minergie-ECO®: the requirements of the new label
4 - A wood-fired heating system
5 - Telecommunications: playing it safe
6 - Revitalisation and reforestation of the Brassus stream area
7 - A welcoming entrance to the village
8 - High and medium voltage: the end of overhead electrical lines