baselworld 2013: frozen time by DGT architects for citizen

‘frozen time’ by DGT architects for CITIZEN at baselworld 2013

‘frozen time’ is an installation conceived by DGT architects for japanese watch brand CITIZEN, presented at baselworld 2013 in the fully renewed ‘messe basel exhibition hall’ by herzog & de meuron.

within the building which opened in early 2013, brands exhibiting at the world’s largest watch and jewel industry show have been asked to express their vision for the next four years with their booth design. CITIZEN decided to keep their space as an open reception area so that it can evolve each year with a commissioned installation for which DGT was selected to carry out the first.

in realizing ‘frozen time’, the paris-based firm visited CITIZEN’s factory in japan and discovered the amount of hands-on assembly carried out in the manufacturing process to make one of the company’s small timepieces. they also researched the concept of ‘what is time?’ in relation to science, history, mechanics, ethnography etc., and made the conclusion that: ‘time is light and light is time’.

the large work is composed of more than 50,000 suspended plates, forming a massive geometric composition. four new watches were displayed within along a passage, guiding visitors into the space. lighting was programmed with 178 LED dimmable lampson the ceiling and 60 spots on the floor, creating an atmospheric sensation where notions of time and light are continuously changing,never aligned.  

visitors walking into ‘frozen time’

mixing time and light to create a moment in limbo

the plates are installed in a way that they seem to be suspended in time

the gold components reflect light

individual golden watch piece

 DGT installation for citizen at baselworld 2013

project info:

status: ongoinglocation: basel, swizelanddates: 2013area: 147 m²type: privateclient: citizen holdings co., ltd.program: installation for citizenproject team:architect: DGT, paristechnical direction: luftzug, amsterdamproducer: ADK, tokyoproject coordination: pacteam, lausanneconstruction: hypsos, soesterbergphoto credits: takuji shimmura, paris

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