Usine des horlogeries Dodane, Watch factory in Montrapon-Fontaine-Écu district of Besançon, France.
Usine des horlogeries Dodane is a watch factory built from reinforced concrete and steel with three floors housing production areas, offices, and apartments. The building combines all these functions in a single structure on Avenue de Montrapon, reflecting how industrial facilities were designed back then.
Architect Auguste Perret designed and built this factory between 1939 and 1943 for Raymond Dodane, a member of the region's prominent watchmaking family. The structure marked a rare venture into factory design for the otherwise renowned architect.
The factory shows how watchmakers and factory workers lived and worked under one roof, a common practice in Besançon. Visitors can still see how the residential spaces blend with the production areas, revealing daily life from that era.
The building has been registered as a historical monument since 1986 and can be viewed from the street to appreciate its distinctive architecture and structure. The interior now houses offices, so visitors typically experience the building by observing its exterior design and how it fits into the neighborhood.
This was the only factory building Auguste Perret ever designed, despite being a renowned architect known for other types of structures. The property originally included a private garden with a swimming pool and tennis court reserved for the Dodane family.
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