Swiss Chalet Revival

1900 - 1925

While architect A.J. Downing introduced the Swiss Chalet style to America in his 1850 stylebook, The Architecture of County Houses, a resurgence of the style came about during the Arts & Crafts era of the early twentieth century.  This renewed interest was spurred on by the publication of a variety of books and articles which provided architects as well as homeowners, inspiration and specific details on how to replicate the architecture of the Swiss Alps.  Such books included the work of William S.B. Dana’s The Swiss Chalet Book (1913), and Henry Saylor’s Architectural Styles for County Houses: The Swiss Chalet Type (1912).

The style, mainly applied to residential designs, was really an adaptation of traditional versions.  Where the Swiss models utilized heavy timber and log construction, resting on stone bases; American models utilized simple platform construction in combination with applied decorative elements.  Swiss Chalet dwellings are typically two-and-a-half stories high and have a square or rectangular plan.  Low pitched front-facing gable roofs are common and have extra deep eaves supported by large decorative brackets or knee braces.  The ends of rafters and/or purlins are generally exposed and are sometimes carved.  Often, further definition of the large comforting roof is given by intricate cut bargeboards and a clipped gable.

Despite their heavy appearance, multi-pane, grouped casement style windows allow plenty of light into interior spaces. Most designs have second floor balconies which are highlighted by flat balusters with decorative cut-outs or round stickwork.  First and second floors are often differentiated by a change in cladding.  Horizontal and vertical laid shiplap, board-and-batten, and shingle siding can be found.  Some examples have faux post-and-beam construction elements and first floors of stucco. Often the entire front of the chalet will be encrusted with jig-sawn fret, grill and scroll work. Some incorporate religious or family mottos, or family shields.

Based on period literature, the revival of the style was popular from 1900 to 1925.  Here in the Pacific Northwest several good examples can be found, but they are rare.

Washington State Examples

L.B. Peeples House Seattle - 1909	Edward Jedlick House Tacoma - 1908	James Dyer House Seattle - 1922
Red Shield Inn Fort Lewis - 1919	Frank Calvert House Beaux Arts Village - 19012	Carl Koerner House Spokane - 1912
Jewett House Olympia - 1910	Worthington Pickerill House Tacoma - 1906	Dr. Nils Johanson House Seattle - 1909

For More Information:

• Dana, William S.B., The Swiss Chalet Book, William T. Comstock Co. New York, NY. 1913.
• Scull, William E. "The Swiss Chalet: The Ideal Mountain House" House & Garden, July 1907 Vol XII.
• Saylor, Henry H. Architectural Styles for County Houses: The Swiss Chalet Type. Robert M. McBride & Co. New York, NY. 1919
• "The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustrations: Swiss Chalets" April 1901, No.1
• Cook, E.T. & Alexander Wedderburn, The Works of John Ruskin  Longman, Green & Co. London, 1903
• "A Bungalow Adaptation of the Swiss Chalet or English Style of House" The Architect & Engineer , Jan - Dec 1917
• "The Chalet Roof" Keith Magazine - April 1912. 
• "The Swiss Chalet" Pencil Points - Dec 1925.
• "Purest Swiss House in the City" Tacoma Daily Ledger, May 1906
• Stellmann, Lewis J.  "The Swiss Chalet Type for Americ" House & Garden, November 1911 Vol XX.
• "The Colonial Houses of Switzerland" The American Architect; Nov 20, 1918.