The exhibition explores how this national symbol has been shaped over time, drawing on a full-scale reconstruction of a garden chalet, archival materials, photographs, and contemporary works. It brings together traditional craftsmanship, pre-industrial innovations, and the perspectives of travellers fascinated by Switzerland.

The exhibition highlights the rise of prefabricated chalets in the canton of Geneva in the early 20th century, the central role of wood as a primary material, and the artisanal and proto-industrial techniques that made their production possible. It also examines the imagery and folklore associated with this iconic architecture, showing how its image spread—particularly during the 1896 National Exhibition in Geneva.

All exhibition texts are presented in French.
The exhibition brings together works by Ben (Ben Marchesini) and Réhane Favereau, photographs by François de Limoges, films by Wolgrand Ribeiro, wood carvings by Fab Lab Onl'fait, and a chalet restored by Jacques Burkardt.

An exhibition conceived in collaboration with Fab Lab Onl'fait, as part of the Tracks4Crafts project supported by the European Commission.