We met the architect Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli in September, in his 17th-century home in Robbiate (LC), which he decided to include in the Ville Aperte circuit in Brianza and open to the public. But it wasn’t just the sumptuous, frescoed rooms that amazed visitors. In fact, Brugnatelli is a collector of vintage caravans and cars and for the occasion he has set up an exceptional exhibition in the park of his villa. Exceptional because they are unique, rare, and perfectly restored caravans both inside and out. Inside, then, every detail is taken care of down to the smallest detail, from the furnishing accessories to the dishes, in perfect harmony with the caravan era.
Listening to Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli talks about his caravans (but also his cars) is a pleasure and an emotion. He knows its history, its technical characteristics, its peculiarities with merits and defects both in terms of habitability and towing. And this is because he regularly uses them for his holidays or even just for his weekends, rigorously coupled to a vintage car, which obviously works perfectly. A serious and competent enthusiast, who has decided to share the beauty of these works of art on wheels with the public. A patron of “yesteryear” open-air tourism that we at Camping Business will follow along his path, which we hope will soon lead him to create the first “Caravan Museum” in Italy, capable of competing, if not surpassing for the quality of the collection, the famous Erwin Hymer Museum in Bad Waldsee.
Camping Business: Tell us your story. How did caravans come into your life?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: In 2000 I inherited this villa. It was complete, undamaged, but everything had to be restored. I have dedicated 25 years of my life, I’m 49, to saving this house. I’m not done yet, but I’m well under way. Given the experience accumulated in the restoration of my building, I was called by a friend for some advice in the restoration of his villa. In his garage there was a ’71 Sterckeman caravan. I asked him to lend it to me for the holidays, promising that I would restore it and put it in order. He gave it to me. I had an amazing vacation, even though it was a very basic caravan. At that point I began to read up and fell in love with the Notin, a French high-end caravan. But it was not easy to find them and above all, during my research, I came across many other vintage models, which are now fully part of my collection. My friends laughed: “You go on vacation in a trailer and you have such a big villa”. But I feel like I am in a nest. The big house drains my energy, the trailer gives it back to me. It is like being on a spiritual retreat. A holiday aboard one of my vintage caravans gives me unique and unrepeatable emotions.
Camping Business: From enthusiast to collector. How did it get there?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: I started gradually. Looking for a Notin, I discovered a 1961 Carlight and bought it. To understand if I like a caravan, I have to sit inside it, breathe its smell, feel the atmosphere. I quickly got 10 caravans. Today I have 53 caravans and 3 motorhomes. Of course, all the pieces in my collection must be in perfect working order. This is why I have not bought many motorhomes: the engines are a headache.
Camping Business: Do you personally take care of the restoration?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: I restore only a part, but the substantial works are carried out by a team of caravan enthusiasts, who have gathered around my project over the years. These caravans are witnesses of history and must tell it as faithfully as possible. It is important that they are original. If there are any details that need to be changed for convenience or practicality, they should not be seen. Unfortunately, there are no artisans who have a specific professionalism in the restoration of vintage caravans, so over the years we have created a close-knit and well-tested group of friends, a team with whom I work very well. After all, a good project is never done alone, but it is shared.
Camping Business: How did you come up with the idea of a caravan museum?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: As my collection grew, I realized that I wanted to share so much beauty with others. But apart from these sporadic events in the open air, I don’t have adequate space to create a real exhibition. I have been twice to visit the Erwin Hymer Museum in Bavaria, the only museum of motorhomes and caravans in Europe that I know of. I have very rare and unique models in my collection, and I am convinced that I could also create an Italian museum. At that point, with this dream, I felt entitled to buy all the caravans I thought were interesting, up to the current collection.
Camping Business: How do you imagine your museum?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: Modern museums must be alive, static ones belong to the past and are boring. I imagine myself touring Europe with my caravans promoting the museum. The static museum enclosed within four walls is a necessary fallback. But my caravans also have to travel. The Erwin Hymer Museum is spread over 5,000 square meters of exhibition which also includes a large café, an atrium, and a bookshop. 3,000 square meters of covered area would be enough for me. I have no fewer vehicles than them. They have a total of 50 vehicles on display. My collection includes more than 50 caravans, 3 motorhomes and an air camping, as well as a dozen vintage cars that are combined with the various caravans for decades in order to compose coherent towing trains.
Camping Business: A museum therefore capable of competing with the Erwin Hymer Museum?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: My collection is complementary to that of the Erwin Hymer Museum and not competitive or facsimile. It was a considered choice, because it would make no sense to compete. I’d rather like a twinning. For example, they have a section relating to DRR caravans, I will have only one that is not in their collection: a Polish Polmot that I will hook up to a Fiat 126.
Camping Business: What is your project?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: I would like to build it here in Robbiate, on a piece of land in front of my villa, which is unused today. I want to do it here for logistical reasons and optimization of management costs. It is a very large land located in a less visible area that does not interfere with the rest of the country. I imagine a mimetic building like those built by the most prestigious wineries, with an underground part, a roof covered with grass and a large window overlooking the entrance way. I have visited several realities and there are excellent examples of this. For example in England, where the National Motor Museum Beaulieu is adjacent to the estate of an English lord and perfectly integrated into the park, Egeskov Castle in Denmark which houses a collection of vintage cars in a separate building. The Italian example that comes to mind is that of Villa D’Este on Lake Como which hosts the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza and celebrates the charm of vintage cars.
Camping Business: What are the main obstacles to implementation?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: My property is bound by the Superintendence of Archeology, Fine Arts and Landscape. The goal is to have an exemption from the superintendency that allows me to build on land where it is not normally possible. The building will have a monumental, non-speculative purpose, and will be intended for the display of vintage vehicles and built with non-invasive architectural features. I have excellent relationships with local institutions, such as the director of the museum system of Lecco, the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) who is interested in my collection and which has recently started a partnership with the Italian Institute of Castles Onlus, and of course with the municipality of Robbiate.
Camping Business: How could the motorhome, caravan, camping sector help you?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: I started collecting high-end caravans of European production for passion. But I also realized that I am saving a heritage of the en plein air sector that is in danger of extinction. I also have several unique Italian pieces. And I have models from France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Australia. I miss Sweden and the United States. I decided to go ahead and create a European-style Caravan Museum. Of course, I’m looking for help. I am for teamwork and never for individualism. I am willing to put my hand in my wallet, as I have done so far, to enhance these assets, but I would be extremely happy if sector associations wanted to participate in the birth and management of this extraordinary museum project. Anyway, I’m ready to go with my money.
Camping Business: Would there be the possibility of creating a rest area as well?
Marcello Bassi Brugnatelli: Of course. Next to the museum, a parking area for motorhomes could be created to allow the many enthusiasts to stop off at the museum for the weekend. Furthermore, we are also in a strategic area for discovering the Lombardy region: half an hour’s drive from Milan, Bergamo, Lecco, and Lake Como.
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