On the occasion of Milan Design Week, SIMICO and Crippacampeggio turned the spotlight on open-air tourism with an event that brought together entrepreneurs, institutions, and professionals from the sector. The event provided an overview of the growing role of outdoor hospitality, amidst regulatory challenges, innovation, and sustainability. The context was the presentation of the Cortina 2026 Olympic Village, designed with removable, zero-impact mobile homes – a symbol of a new approach to tourism and temporary architecture. A project that combines efficiency, aesthetics, and respect for the environment.
Sergio Redaelli, CEO of Crippaconcept, a brand of Crippacampeggio, played host. “We have become the leading manufacturer of mobile homes and tents, with 3,500 units per year and four production facilities,” he said. “We are a 100% certified Made in Italy company and part of an industrial ecosystem that includes CR Abitare, specialized in the production of mobile homes; Autotrasporti Surdi, which handles the transportation of the homes; and a new 6,600-square-meter carpentry workshop in Torre d’Isola, where our showroom is also located. Last year we introduced the Helios mobile home, and less than a year later we’re here with a new product evolution designed for the Cortina village – a real challenge. We want to keep evolving and progressing, and we believe that design is a fundamental component of hospitality”.
Barbara Mazzali, Lombardy Region’s Tourism Councillor, emphasized how open-air tourism is a concrete response to the needs of contemporary travelers, who are increasingly drawn to authentic experiences and contact with nature. “75% of tourists in Lombardy are international and seek quality experiences even in small villages, where lightweight and removable structures can make a real difference,” she stated.
A strategic sector for Italy
Alberto Granzotto, president of FAITA-FederCamping, reminded attendees that the open-air sector represents 16% of the entire Italian tourism offering, with peaks of up to 95% in locations like Cavallino Treporti. “Mobile homes are a concrete example of land-use-free development. It’s an innovative form of hospitality that integrates environmental sustainability with quality services,” he said.
Francesco Giondi, CEO of Club del Sole, highlighted how the campsites made it possible to safeguard the environment. “We are custodians of pine forests: we preserve the landscape through architecture that blends the natural with the artificial. But we need regulatory certainty, with a national law that clearly governs mobile housing units,” he said.
Design and flexibility: the new frontiers of living
Diego Torriani, engineer at Eplus Studio, presented the concept of “zero-volume architecture,” in which lightweight and temporary structures perfectly integrate into the landscape. Elevated walkways, recyclable materials, and removable systems are key elements of a new sustainable urbanism. Zero-volume architecture also allows for the revitalization of the landscape with the goal not to design to leave a mark, but to build without leaving a trace.
This theme was echoed by designer and professor Luca Trabattoni, who offered insights into accessible luxury: “The mobile home is no longer a miniature of a traditional house, but a customizable environment built around the experience.” Projects like Warm Minimalism, Crooked, Wonder, Citrus Heaven or Terravita focus on noble materials, simple lines, and sensory appeal.
Maurizio Baldini, of Hotel Resort Management and Consulting, shared the experience of Zoom, the Piedmontese biopark – Italy’s first to combine a modern zoological facility with a high-level open-air hospitality offering. Launched in 2020 with 21 housing units, Zoom now offers 56 different accommodations, including mobile homes, lodges, and tents. Immersion in nature and experiential tourism reach a new qualitative level here, allowing guests to stay next to habitats of wild animals such as lions, zebras, and giraffes.
Closing the discussion was a visionary talk by Professor Ferdinando Alberti, who spoke of the “seven discontinuities” redefining the very concept of living. “The future is already here, but it’s not evenly distributed,” he said. From the end of ownership to personalized design, from sponge cities to augmented reality, Alberti urged attendees to see change as a major opportunity: “Mobile homes are a ‘killer application’ of modern living: mobile, modular, sustainable. They’re much more than tourism”.
The event showcased how open-air tourism is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by environmental needs, regulatory developments, and new design visions. The challenge now is to make these solutions accessible, replicable, and fully integrated into local territories.
ECDC data as of July 29: Covid situation worsens in much of Western Europe