Between 1850 and 1920, the Swiss chalet enjoyed its golden age, embraced first by aristocrats and later by the bourgeoisie. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, kit‑built chalets were exported worldwide. Historian Pauline Nerfin revisits this little‑known story in her University of Geneva thesis. The chalet craze dates back to the 18th century, when the Lake Geneva region depicted by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his novel Julie, ou la Nouvelle Héloïse [Julie or the New Heloise] captured the European imagination. Timber construction spread across the continent thanks to technical innovations during the Industrial Revolution and the advent of machine tools. Large saws with reinforced blades powered by steam or water paved the way for mass production. At the same time, maritime and rail transport made it possible to deliver buildings in prefabricated parts. Growing supply responded to strong demand. At the time, the Alps fascinated Europeans. Mountaineering and geology were emerging as ...
