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What if a house could be a watch? In the innovative space of Max Busser’s designs, this seemingly abstract question takes form in the MB&F Horological Machine N ̊11 Architect. A melding of architecture and horology, this timepiece blurs the boundaries between the pragmatic world of watches and the imaginative spaces we inhabit. As the renowned Swiss architect, Le Corbusier once mused, “une maison est une machine à habiter” (a house is a machine to live in). Could a watch be more than just a timekeeper, transcending its functional role to become an immersive experience? Enter the world of Geneva-based horological concept laboratory, MB&F, where a watch is not worn; it is lived.

In the late 1960s, a wave of experimental architecture emerged which was a departure from the rectilinear structures of the post-war era. Architects, often self-proclaimed habitologists, built houses which appeared as if they were exhaled from the earth or as if the land had flexed its fingers and forgotten to curl them fully back again. They designed homes embracing humanism by shaping space around the human body. Captivated by these unconventional dwellings, Maximilian Busser, the founder and creative director of MB&F, pondered on a transformative idea—what if these houses could be watches? The outcome materialised as the HM11 Architect.

At the core of the timepiece is a house in the horological realm. A central flying tourbillon reminiscent of the spatial and functional origins of the watch extends skyward under a double-domed sapphire roof. The quatrefoil-shaped upper bridge pays homage to clerestory windows found in grand temples or the delicate moment of conception. From this central hub, four symmetrical volumes extend outward, forming the parabolic rooms of the HM11 house.

Rotate the house to access each room, as their entire structure pivots on its foundations. The 90-degrees angle of offset between rooms allows for versatile display orientations, enhancing both aesthetics as well as functionality. This rotation is more than just visual poetry; it is an energy-efficient mechanism. Each 45-degrees clockwise turn signals a tactile click under the fingers, delivering 72 min of power directly to the barrel. After 10 rotations, the HM11 achieves its maximum autonomy of an impressive 96 hours.

The interior of the HM11 Architect reveals four distinct rooms, each with a unique function. The time room, adorned with glossy white walls and a full sapphire crystal window pane, is where you retrieve the hours and minutes. Rod-mounted orbs, varying in size and material, serve as hour markers, with red-tipped arrows providing a rare burst of colour in this otherwise Spartan space.

The next room, positioned 90 degrees to the left, houses the power reserve display. Following the design schema of the time room, rod-mounted orbs paired with a red-tip arrow indicate the remaining autonomy of the HM11 barrel. The orbs increase in diameter, culminating in a polished aluminium orb, 2.4 mm in diameter, signifying the entire 96 hours of power reserve.

The next room features a thermometer, a rarely found instrument in the context of timepieces. The HM11 employs a mechanical temperature indication system with a bimetallic strip, a silent nod to the past in this age of electronic precision. This room provides a bridge between the traditional and the modern, offering a Celsius or Fahrenheit display.

The final room, a seemingly empty void, serves a crucial function as the time-setting crown. Pull on the transparent module, and it clicks open, revealing a tiny round badge engraved with the MB&F battle-axe motif. This unassuming space is the front door and key to the HM11; turning it allows you to relocate yourself in time.

The outer rooms of the HM11 boast sleep exteriors crafted from polished grade-5 titanium, providing a robust enclosure. In contrast, the central atrium welcomes natural light, showcasing a stunning double-arched sapphire crystal roof. Beneath this transparent canopy resides the in-house HM11 engine, its rhythmic heartbeat governed by the 2.5Hz (18,000 vph) balance of the flying tourbillon. The plats and bridges, adorned with rich colours through a physical vapour deposition (PVD) process, are available in either ozone blue or the warm solar hues of 5N gold. Limited to just 25 pieces each, these variations define the distinct launch editions of the HM11.

Inspired by the organic playfulness of the houses that sparked the imagination of the product designer, the blueprint for the watch was conceived in 2018 by Eric Giroud. Giroud’s architectural background informs the layout of the watch design, featuring a central atrium and four peripheral rooms that interact with both interior volumes and exterior perspectives. Crafted from challenging materials like titanium and sapphire crystal, the HM11 case reflects the organic quality of this architectural inspiration. The lower half of the case is a highly three-dimensional Grade-5 titanium shell, while the upper caps of the four rooms are machined separately. The complexity of the case, with all its milling, finishing and quality control operations, requires close to a week to complete.

The use of shaped sapphire crystal components, a hallmark of MB&F’s design expertise, is evident in the six eternally facing sapphire crystal components of the watch’s case. The largest of these components consists of two separate sapphire crystal domes stacked concentrically to form the transparent atrium roof of the watch. Dome skylights were a common sight in residential architecture during the 1970s, influenced by the era’s adventurous product design trends and the use of injection-moulded acrylics.

A revolutionary aspect of the HM11 Architect is the see-through crown, close to 10mm in diameter, providing an unimpeded view directly into the movement. This aesthetic marvel posed technical challenges which were solved with a double airlock security system. Two sets of gaskets prevent water or dust particles from compromising the watch’s performance, with a total of eight gaskets dedicated to the sapphire crown alone. Ensuring the integrity of the case and movement are 19 purpose-engineered gaskets. The largest gasket, of O-ring construction, is a testament to the complexity of the case, shaped in all three dimensions and placed between the case and the bezel. With a water resistance rating of 2ATM (20 metres), the HM11 Architect stands impervious to the elements.

The “bubble houses” of the mid-20th century challenged conventional building technology, and similarly, the HM11 Architect challenges the norms of watchmaking. Despite its three-dimensional, architectural conception and the complexity of its movement, the watch measures only 42 mm in diameter. Its sleek and comfortable fit on the wrist, thanks to curved case feet doubling as strap attachment points, allows for a versatile wearable design.

At the heart of the watch’s engine lie two pivotal concepts, power and efficiency. The barrel, the repository of energy, is fuelled both by incidental kinetic action and deliberate manual input. Winding the watch becomes an amplified action, involving the turning of the entire case, allowing for a rapid ten rotations to fully rewind the 96-hour power reserve. The flying tourbillon, a signature of the laboratory’s mechanical identity, enhances chronometric stability. To protect this vulnerable mechanism, the HM11 incorporates a full-system dampener with four high-tension suspension springs, a unique solution derived from aerospace technology. These springs, crafted from a specially treated low-carbon, high-hardness steel tube with a chrome finish, serve a dual purpose—resisting wear and enhancing the watch’s allure.

The mechanical thermometer in the watch operates on a centuries-old principle of exploiting differences in thermal expansion coefficients; a bimetallic strip measures temperatures with precision, ranging from -20-60 degrees Celsius (0-140 degrees). In a world of instant electronic thermometers, this mechanical marvel adds a touch of nostalgia and uniqueness to the HM11 Architect.

Founded in 2005, MB&F, led by Maximilian Busser, stands as the world’s first horological concept laboratory. Departing from conventional norms, MB&F crafts radical concept watches, with nearly 20 innovative calibres forming the backbone of their renowned horological and legacy machines. Busser’s visionary approach to 3D kinetic art has birthed timepieces that transcend traditional boundaries, exploring space, road and the animal kingdom. The inclusion of performance art and co-creations showcases collaborations with external talents and Swiss manufactures, yielding unique mechanical art. The journey is complemented by the MB&F M.A.D Galleries, a testament to Busser’s commitment to providing an artistic platform for these exceptional creations. Awards and recognition including the prestigious Aiguille d’Or, underline the laboratory’s impact on contemporary design in watchmaking.

The HM11 Architect is more than just a watch, it is a symphony of craftsmanship, inspired by the avant-garde architecture of the late 1960s. with its rotating house structure and purposeful rooms, it beckons us to explore time in a new dimension. The fusion of traditional elements with modern aesthetics showcases MB&F’s commitment to bridging the past and the future. In the world of timepieces, the watch emerges as a unique composition, harmonising design, functionality, and a touch of nostalgic charm.

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▪ Source: Stir World｜https://www.stirworld.com/see-lifestyle-architectural-horology-exploring-the-time-spaces-of-mb-f-s-hm112

▪ Words: Aarthi Mohan

▪ Photography Credit: © MB&F, © Fabien Nissels, © Eric Rossier

Architectural horology: Exploring the time-spaces of MB&F’s HM11