Chalet. Longing, kitsch and building culture
What actually is a "chalet"? What characteristics make a wooden house a chalet? Or is the chalet simply a symbol of the longing for alpine nature, in other words a myth? In its exhibition "Chalet. Sehnsucht, Kitsch und Baukultur" (10 March to 30 June 2023), the Swiss National Library takes a look at the question: tongue-in-cheek, informative and entertaining.
Switzerland loves its chalets. Foreign travellers also associate temporary living during skiing and hiking holidays with the charm of the wooden chalet. But what actually is a “chalet”? Are there characteristics that make a cosy wooden house a chalet? Is it the wide overhanging roof? Is it the geraniums in front of the windows, the carved roof beams? Or is the “chalet” simply a symbol of the longing for alpine nature and thus an invention, a myth? The more precisely one tries to grasp the chalet, the more blurred its contours become.
In the exhibition “Chalet. Sehnsucht, Kitsch und Baukultur” (10 March to 30 June 2023), the Swiss National Library and its cooperation partner Gelbes Haus Flims take a winking, informative and entertaining look at the chalet. It approaches this Swiss phenomenon via the three focal points of longing, kitsch and building culture. It shows how the chalet became a romantic image of longing. It traces the path of the “Laubsägeli-Chalet” to becoming an export hit and, in small format, a souvenir. It presents current buildings that deal freely with this type of house.
A playful approach
The exhibition offers a playful approach to the subject of the chalet from different angles and via different media: text, images, film, graphics, sound, interactive stations and objects. On the one hand, the exhibition makes use of loans: from toys and models to photographs of contemporary chalet buildings (e.g. by Gion Caminada) and “false chalets”, which are actually bunkers. On the other hand, collection holdings of the National Library are presented. For example, works from the Swiss Literary Archives (archives of the author Daniel de Roulet, his publication “Un dimanche à la montagne”), from the Prints and Drawings Department (small masters, posters) and publications on the subject of chalets from the General Collection will be shown.
Ultimately, the exhibition “Chalet” contributes to a more precise understanding of the phenomenon of the chalet, i.e. to answering questions such as: What makes a chalet? Why is it a symbol of the longing for alpine nature? And what does it mean at a time when many have moved to the countryside (for corona reasons)? In addition, the show shows what the contemporary chalet can look like and is thus also informative for those interested in architecture and design.
Varied accompanying programme to deepen the content
On the one hand, the Swiss National Library has planned events for a broad public to accompany the exhibition: Concerts, readings, creative workshops, a silent disco, guided tours of the stacks and much more will be offered for young and old at both the Bern Museum Night on 17 March 2023 and the BiblioWeekend, the weekend of libraries open throughout Switzerland, on 25/26 March 2023. In addition, on 2 May 2023, the curator will give a guided tour of the exhibition. On the other hand, the National Library is focusing on digital cultural mediation: In the podcast “Gegensprecher”, four experts will explore the individual exhibition lines together with the curator and contribute their knowledge and views in conversation. In addition, on the website kleinmeister.ch, under the title “Chalets in all pictures”, historical pictures of Swiss houses from the National Library’s Prints and Drawings Department are prepared in such a way that viewers can immerse themselves in Switzerland’s early building culture.