Imagine that for a moment.
The Vision
For AP’s annual Montreux Party, we were tasked with transforming the raw, industrial grandeur of Chavalon power plant set upon the top of a mountain, into a living, breathing timepiece.
Set high above Lake Geneva, the project transformed the belly of this hydraulics factory into a physical metaphor for time in perpetual motion. This was a unique moment in history, as the studio delivered the first and final event in the space before its demolition. By fusing the raw atmosphere of the site with creative technology, the work created an immersive reflection of brand heritage.
The Creation
The work centred on a sculptural lighting piece, the installation featured interconnected concentric rings that mimicked the inner workings of a watch. The largest ring held 60 lighting fixtures to represent the seconds in a minute.
At the start of the event, the sculpture functioned as a real-time clock, with each ring displaying the hour, minute, and second. As the night progressed, the motion shifted into various shapes and sequences. Rapt utilised the three floors of abandoned machinery, placing light and smoke within the plant to make the factory feel as though it were powering up and coming alive.
The Moment
The impact hits as the factory awakens. Red-hued industrial shadows and smoke pulse through the old machinery, creating the sensation that the plant is breathing again.
People in the turbine hall are surrounded by the concentric rings as they move in and out of each other in sync with the performance. It is a sensory encounter where the audience exists within the mechanics of a clock, feeling the physical weight of the space and the evolving energy of the night.
