Swatch's wooden headquarters building, originating from Swiss forests, is 240 metres long and 35 metres wide.
Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
Swatch has inaugurated its headquarters at Biel in northwestern Switzerland. The wooden building, one of the world’s largest timber structures, was designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban.
“We have invested CHF220 million ($220 million) in these offices, including CHF125 million for the Swatch brand alone,” said CEO Nick Hayek on Thursday.
The new office was designed by Tokyo architect Shigeru Ban, winner of the 2014 Pritzker Prize, and took five years to build.
The curved wooden honeycomb structure, originating from Swiss forests, is 240 metres long and 35 metres wide. Inside, there is 25,000 square metres of office space spread over five floors for all departments of Swatch International and Swatch Switzerland.
View inside new Swatch Group headquarters in Biel.
Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
The new headquarters is located next to the factory of Swatch Group subsidiary Omega, also designed by Ban, and houses museums dedicated to the Swatch and Omega brands.
“This is a tribute to our father,” said Nayla Hayek, chair of the Swatch Group board of directors. Nicolas Hayek, who launched the Swatch empire, died in 2010.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
‘Confederation is a subsidy machine’: Swiss finance minister
This content was published on
The Swiss government is a machine for distributing subsidies to various actors in the country, says finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
Lack of funds ends third bid to salvage Säntis ship from Swiss lake
This content was published on
A third attempt to salvage the steamship Säntis, lying at the bottom of Lake Constance in Switzerland since 1933, has failed before it has even begun.
Nestlé Waters on trial in France over illegal waste dumps
This content was published on
Bottled water producer Nestlé Waters to stand trial, accused of illegally dumping waste and maintaining unauthorised dumps.
Swiss army chiefs defend botched procurement projects
This content was published on
Swiss defense Minister and military heads defend against parliamentary and media criticisms of problematic procurement projects.
Swiss cheese exports recorded second-best year in 2024
This content was published on
A total 79,268 tons of Swiss cheese worth CHF748.5 million was exported abroad in 2024 - a 7.9% increase in annual sales from the previous year.
This content was published on
Insects benefit from storm devastation, says a 20-year study by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The man who revolutionised watch marketing
This content was published on
Launched in 1983, the Swatch has gone on to become a global phenomenon. The inexpensive, classic wristwatch, produced in endless bright, snazzy designs, has even become a cult collectors’ item. Hayek, the Swatch founder who died of heart failure on June 28 at the age of 82, was known to wear several timepieces on each…
Swiss court: Swatch did not rip-off Apple’s marketing slogan
This content was published on
Apple took exception when SwatchExternal link, the largest watch producer in Switzerland, coined the term “Tick Different”. But the Federal Administrative Court has rejected the complaint, ruling that Apple’s advertising campaign slogan was not sufficiently well known in Switzerland to allow the US company to force Swatch to revoke its similar title. “This means that…
China slowdown and European populism unnerve luxury watchmakers
This content was published on
A stuttering start to the year for exports of Swiss watches has put brands on alert ahead as the Baselworld fair opens in Basel this week.
This content was published on
The Tamedia building, of timber and glass – housing one of Switzerland’s leading newspaper publishers – opened in 2013. Ban has also designed the new headquarters for the Swatch Group in the western Swiss town of Biel. Building is due to start on it this year. He is also responsible for the Swatch building in Tokyo.…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.