Bringing the outside in –Hotel des Horlogers

Nestled in the Vallée de Joux, surrounded by woods, mountains and lakes, Hotel des Horlogers has broken down the boundaries between nature and architecture – creating a space of harmony. We asked the architects of Hotel des Horlogers how they came up with the concept and how exactly they brought the two together.

1. How did you come up with the zigzag design of the floors?

The hotel celebrates the Vallée de Joux’s topography; the zigzagging floors gradually descend towards the valley, tilting slightly to embrace the site and create a visual path between nature and architecture. While the Audemars Piguet museum located just a few steps away (also designed by BIG) defines a visitor experience inspired by the centripetal and centrifugal forces of time through the spiral form, the hotel welcomes its guests into the “time” journey by reimagining the historic winding watchmakers’ trail that the region is known for. In the interior, the building’s zigzag five-floor layout forms a single, continuous ramping corridor – connecting the interior spaces and facilitating both guest and service circulation. This layout also provides all guest rooms with views of the surrounding Risoud Forest.

2. What were the main materials that you used for the hotel?

The materials were very much selected for their performance and natural properties. In a similar way to watches, the interplay between finishes and structural or mechanical properties is what gives the design its unique character. For example, the hotel’s sustainability commitments can be seen in the careful selection of materials and design. Solid timber is used for the roof structures in the hotel rooms. This holistic, eco-friendly approach has enabled Hotel des Horlogers to obtain the Minergie-ECO® certification based on its energy efficiency and building ecology. The hotel is equipped with 86 photovoltaic panels, which fulfil part of the building’s energy needs. As guests transition from the main entrance into the reception area, the visual language becomes more sinuous and rustic, with materials such as glass, concrete, stone and wood blurring the delineation between the constructed and the natural.

3. How did you manage to incorporate nature within the hotel?

In the same vein as the BIG-designed Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet next door, we knew that we had to design the hotel with the same sensibility to the landscape and the valley. We thought about the two buildings as part of the same landscape, guided by the idea that visitors and guests seamlessly move between the village, the hotel and the museum – blurring the boundaries between landscape and building. There is a local cross-country trail just in front of the building, so we instantly felt that visitors should be able to arrive and enter the building from the valley. So, we designed the roofscape as a continuation of the valley, with trails and native planting. Skiing in Switzerland is obviously a very integral part of the culture, and being able to ski directly out from your hotel and into the landscape as intended in the original design gives people a very seamless and exciting way to explore the surroundings.

LUCERNE | SWITZERLAND

Hotel des Balances

Charm & excellence in the heart of Lucerne

The wonderful Hotel des Balances, a place steeped in history, lies in the heart of Lucerne’s old town right on the banks of the River Reuss. Unique façade frescoes give the hotel the air of a Venetian palace, and the Venetian feel continues on the restaurant terrace of this design hotel where diners can enjoy magical views of the river and of the mountains beyond. The Hotel des Balances dates back to the 12th century.

Now, the hotel offers not just historic flair but also elegant, modern design and warm but stylish furnishings in each of the 56 rooms. Culinary delights are guaranteed from the creative Restaurant Balances kitchen – this establishment with lounge, bar and terrace boasts 14 Gault Millau points. The design hotel’s prime location makes it the perfect starting point for shopping and sightseeing expeditions.