Planning Competitions – Canton Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel is a French-speaking canton with a solid competition activity. Neuchâtel city, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2009, are the main venues. The watchmaking and precision industry culture is reflected in high quality expectations for the built environment.

Competitions are in French and attract firms from across French-speaking Switzerland. La Chaux-de-Fonds, with its Le Corbusier tradition and UNESCO status, has a distinctive architectural identity that manifests in demanding competitions.

Current themes include energy renovation of the existing building stock, upgrading of public spaces and further development of industrial heritage sites. The HES-SO Arc is an influential regional institution for the competition landscape.