Cité du Temps

The Nicolas G. Hayek Conference Hall sits high above Nicolas G. Hayek Street in the Cité du Temps area, home to Swatch and Omega. Architect Shigeru Ban designed the elliptical structure to create a harmonious link with the rounded Swatch building and breaks up the otherwise linear geometry and right angles of the museum's floors. The ellipsis, constructed and clad entirely in wood, has a height of ten metres at its peak and a length and width of around 31 x 22 metres.
K_oax 90-model MHZ shading systems were fitted on 38 window elements. These are counter-pull systems with a bottom-to-top running direction. A total of 21 rectangular and 17 trapezium-shaped units in custom dimensions with electric motors provide privacy, light and sun protection at the touch of a button.
All units use a blind tube with a diameter of 90 mm and rope pulleys with a diameter of 146 mm. The K_oax units have a surface area of up to 12.4 m2. Because of this, the flame-retardant blind requires additional cross-bracing in large installations to ensure its stability.
When retracted, the trapezoidal counter-pull systems have a unique characteristic: they roll over the "residual triangle at the top" completely, leaving no visible surface behind. This design/solution was extremely important to the planners in meeting the high aesthetic requirements of this building. A sophisticated cord pull system made this possible.
Project description:
Shading system: K_oax 90, counter-pull system with electric drive
Maximum width: 273 cm
Maximum height: 480 cm
Quantity: 38, including 17 special shapes (trapezoid)
Technology description:
Shading system with counter-pull.
Horizontal, vertical or angled roof incline.
Bottom to top running direction.
Side guiding of the tension profile with Ø 6 mm stainless steel hoist cord (cord guide).
The internal spring element connecting the roller blind tubes allows for optimal fabric tensioning when extended and compensates for the different winding diameters of the fabric tube and rope pulleys.
Electric drive operation

Shigeru Ban

The Swatch Group Ltd