MB&F’s HM11 Architect: A Horological Homage to Le Corbusier

MB&F’s HM11 Architect, a testament to the fusion of horology and architecture, pays homage to the experimental spirit of the late 1960s. Inspired by Le Corbusier’s assertion that ‘a house is a machine to live in,’ Maximilian Büsser, the visionary behind MB&F, envisioned a timepiece as a dwelling. The result is a wrist accessory that sculpts miniature houses around it, reminiscent of the four corners of a house, each with a unique purpose.

At the heart of MB&F’s HM11 Architect watch lies a central flying tourbillon, ascending under a double-domed sapphire roof. Supported by an upper bridge shaped like a four-leaf clover, it evokes the windows of temples or the symbolic moment of cell division, representing genesis. Extending from the bridge are four identical parts, forming the four rooms of the watch’s house, reminiscent of a crossroad or crucifix.

Maximilian Büsser and the MB&F design team ensured the HM11 Architect watch’s mobility, allowing the wearer to rotate the entire structure to explore each of the four rooms. Positioned at a 90-degree angle to each other, these micro-dwellings remain visible regardless of the watch’s orientation. Each 45-degree clockwise turn provides 72 minutes of power, with a maximum reserve of 96 hours after 10 complete rotations.

One room displays the time using rod-mounted orbs, varying in size and color to indicate hours and minutes. Another room showcases the power reserve, with orbs increasing in size to denote the remaining energy. A thermometer in the third room mechanically responds to temperature changes, eschewing digital technology. The fourth room, seemingly empty, houses a minuscule MB&F emblem, serving as a key to set the time.

Surrounded by polished grade-5 titanium walls, the watch features a central open space akin to a courtyard, covered by a double-arched sapphire crystal roof. The flying tourbillon, plates, and bridges are treated with physical vapor deposition, offering cool ozone blue or warm solar gold shades (limited to 25 watches per color). Crafting with titanium and sapphire crystal, not common in previous decades, reflects MB&F’s dedication, taking nearly a week to complete. The MB&F HM11 Architect watch is priced at 213,000 CHF (approximately 239,000 USD) as of the publication date.