THE HOROPEDIA FOUNDATION UNVEILS ITS FLAGSHIP PROJECT: THE MAISON DES ARTS & DE LA CULTURE HORLOGÈRE (MACH)
The watchmaking crossroads in Geneva will come to life with the Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogère, scheduled to open in 2026. This emblematic venue, embodying the future of the Horopedia Foundation and the fulfilment of its mission, will make watchmaking shine and make Geneva’s heart beat to the rhythm of time.
Since its creation in 2023, the Horopedia Foundation has been committed to preserving, transmitting, and promoting watchmaking know-how. With its online encyclopaedia, horopedia.org, it has already laid the cornerstone of a project of public interest—neutral, independent, and accessible to all.
Today, the Foundation takes a major new step with the launch of the Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogère (MACH). Located in the heart of Geneva’s Quartier des Banques, the MACH will be a lively and educational venue, open to everyone, where exhibitions, tradition, and innovation will converse to tell the story and future of watchmaking.
The MACH is backed by industry leaders such as François-Paul Journe, Maximilian Büsser, Philippe Dufour, and others who share a deep commitment to horological heritage and education.
With the MACH, we want to create a space that brings watchmaking to life in all its dimensions—technical, artistic, cultural, and human. A place where everyone, from the enthusiast to the curious newcomer, can understand and feel what the measurement of time truly represents.
The goals are ambitious but necessary — for the practitioners of horology determined to preserve and defend centuries-old expertise, and for the wider public who, through a visit, can grasp the complexity behind an object that some may see as anachronistic, yet is deeply meaningful and rich in substance.
A unique cultural hub
The MACH will not be a traditional museum but a unique place to discover, understand, and experience the art of watchmaking. From its opening, it will present itself as a Home, a Temple of watchmaking culture.
It will showcase treasures from the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire in Geneva (MAH), other Swiss and international museums, as well as private collections. Historical watches and clocks, fine enamels, astronomical watches, and mechanical masterpieces will highlight five centuries of horological creativity.
At the same time, thematic and interactive spaces will allow visitors to discover the crafts and skills behind every timepiece, while exploring watchmaking’s links with other disciplines such as astronomy and navigation.
An educational mission
Beyond celebrating heritage, the MACH will play an essential role in transmission. It will showcase the watchmaking training opportunities available in Switzerland and help inspire new vocations.
Transmission is at the heart of our mission. The MACH must be a springboard for younger generations, but also a place where one learns to look at the watchmaking object differently—with admiration and respect.
A project serving Swiss and global watchmaking culture
The MACH is scheduled to open in 2026. Situated in the city centre, it will become a must-visit venue for lovers of timepieces. This project will enrich Geneva’s and the world’s cultural offerings, reinforcing Geneva’s position as the world capital of watchmaking and a temple to unique craftsmanship.
This ambitious project also relies on the generosity of those who wish to support the mission of the Horopedia Foundation. By becoming a patron of the MACH through the Horopedia Foundation, you support our exhibitions, educational initiatives, and the promotion of exceptional craftsmanship.
More information on the MACH: horopedia.org/maison-arts-culture-horlogere.
ABOUT HOROPEDIA
Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and given the status of public interest. The Foundation Council is composed of Philippe Dufour (President), Dr. Helmut Crott, André Colard, and Marc André Deschoux. The Foundation governs Horopedia.org, the first online video encyclopedia on watchmaking. The platform was launched in 2022 and quickly gathered unanimous support within the community.
To date, over 100 multilingual documentary films on museums, watchmaking schools, watch tools and components, and the mechanical principles behind their work can be found on Horopedia.org. To enhance its educational mission, the platform also incorporates visual pedagogic materials to facilitate a better understanding of the provided information. The website features nearly 1000 pages with detailed definitions of watchmaking terms and historical anecdotes about significant horological inventions.
Horopedia.org meticulously covers all facets of the fascinating horological industry in French, English, and German. It offers detailed definitions of tools and complications, 3D images of movements, and thorough video explanations of component production, their history, and functions in a watch. A dedicated section of the website lists horological institutions, including schools and museums in Switzerland and worldwide.