Audemars Piguet | AP House Zurich
The Le Brassus brand based announced the opening of its first AP House in Switzerland in the setting of the Leuenhof in Zurich. This centre of heritage dear to Zurich’s inhabitants will welcome the Manufacture’s creations that similarly blend ancestral savoir faire and technical modernity. Located within the old cashier hall of the Leu Bank, which was entirely renovated to recover its original aesthetic, this new space will enable the brand to bring client hospitality to the next level.
Designed as a timeless space for lovers of the brand, the AP House concept was created in collaboration with some of the Manufacture’s most valued clients, imagining how brand founders Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet would deal with their clients if they were living in the 21st century, travelling the world and sharing their passion for beautiful watches. The result is a space where the comfort of home and the warmth of friendship take priority.
Situated in the left wing of the Leuenhof, the AP House of Zurich – one of the biggest to date – boasts an over 700 square-metre space endowed with a sophisticated and contemporary design infused with the building’s historical character. Playing with the visible and the invisible, the spectacular and the intimate, as well as with light reflection, the open lobby highlights the proportions and ornamental richness of this historic property. Clients are invited to relax in the spacious lounge area, while the vast table carved in one single wooden piece situated in front of the rounded bar provides a perfect place for encounters and discussions. Lastly, at the centre of the space, four golden half spheres reflecting light provides visitors with a glimpse of selected timepieces from the Manufacture’s collection.
The patio set in the inner courtyard offers a haven of peace at the heart of the vibrant Bahnhofstrasse. An elaborate metallic structure resembling a contemporary art sculpture sits on top of this external space to reinforce the building’s statics.
Benefitting from the multiple possibilities bestowed by this famous building, the AP House will play host to exclusive artistic and culinary events where guests will be able to discover the Manufacture’s creations, its savoir faire and its place in today’s world.
The Leuenhof, which displays a Renaissance-style architecture, is one of the emblematic buildings of Zurich and of the Bahnhofstrasse in particular. Situated at a corner of the Bahnhofstrasse, close to the Paradeplatz, this historic property was formerly the headquarters of the Leu Bank. The bank’s symbol – a lion – can be found in numerous details and decorative features of its imposing façade. This building, alongside the Peterhof, is one of the main achievements of Zurich architects Otto and Werner Pfister, created between 1913 and 1916, and represents one of the city’s architectural landmarks. Filled with childhood memories, many Zurich inhabitants continue to hold this building and its famous cashier hall close to their heart.
In order to restore the cashier hall, considered as one of the most beautiful in Switzerland, to its former architectural grandeur, the new building owner Swiss Prime Anlagestiftung worked in close collaboration with the cantonal monument preservation authority and the renowned Zurich architect office Tilla Theus und Partner AG. The original materials and decorative elements have been preserved so as to restore the building’s historical aesthetic, from the mosaic flooring and marble columns to the wall mouldings and the stucco high ceilings.
While the building’s renovation started in 2017, the work led by Audemars Piguet to convert the historical hall debuted in the spring 2021. Less than a year later, this AP House boasting a storefront is ready to welcome lovers of fine watchmaking in this notable setting and offer them unique and bespoke experiences.