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

A welcoming entrance to the village

Creating a new access road for the production unit that respects the safety of the nearby schools and residential districts provided an excellent opportunity to revamp the entrance to the village of Le Brassus.
Between the abandoned industrial buildings and the railway station’s rundown sheds, the village’s entrance was, to say the least, not particularly attractive. Thanks to the collaborative effort between Audemars Piguet, the local politicians and the TRAVYS railway company, visitors now get a whole new impression: that of the proud homeland to a sovereign seigniory from 1576 to 1684.

A new railway station
A project that was on hold for years is finally moving… forward. Work has already begun on the Le Brassus station. The current open-air quays will be replaced by two covered quays, level with the trains’ doorways so people with disabilities can easily come and go. Additional progress for the regional company includes the elimination of a railroad crossing and upgrading of the manoeuvring equipment to meet the latest standards. Near the new railway station, the wood-fired heating plant is being built in the same style as the railway building for greater architectural harmony. There will also be a bus stop in front of the new station for convenient public transport links.

A new intersection
To ensure smooth-flowing traffic between the railway station, the Ordons district that is under development, and access to the new Audemars Piguet building, a large landscaped roundabout is being built where pedestrians, cyclists, cars and lorries can all share a lush, green area. Another advantage: emphasis has been placed on safety first, with a layout that encourages those behind the wheel to adjust their driving habits in respect of the other users.

A new public area
On the land where the old railway station once stood, a public park will coexist with a private space that belongs to Audemars Piguet and can be built up. Pedestrians, both young and old, circulating between the new station, the village and the local schools will cross through a verdant area with plenty of trees and streets where they will have priority over motor vehicles. Audemars Piguet has taken every step to minimise the invasiveness of the employees’ parking spaces in favour of an enjoyable landscape.

A new concept
In time, this park at the village entrance will become a hub leading to a network of pedestrian and cycle routes fanning off in all directions from Le Brassus, with its own special signage.