MTI, the “mobile tourist interface” is the high-tech adaptation of the beloved camper van, whose interface contends with the issue of urban sprawl in areas of high tourist activity. MTI is a remedy for the problems associated with non-restricted development. The implementation of these units in the streetscapes of local villages prevents the excess building of decentralized “tourist ghettos.”

The extreme rigid shell of the capsule is comprised of a lightweight composite material that allows the MTI to attach to existing structures without the need for additional reinforcement. A folding interface allows for the units to be efficiently arranged within any given landscape, minimizing their visual impact during the off-season, yet they act as a cover, providing adequate shading and a comfortable microclimate as they are deployed above street level. Through these features, MTI also maximizes the experiential quality of particular tourist sites by enabling individuals to select their sightseeing dwellings. Whether one chooses to stay in an old fishing village on the coast, in the center of an urban metropolis close to shops, restaurants, and bars, or even in the natural environment, MTI’s flexible system makes it possible.

This temporary form of architecture originated from a site-specific project aimed at solving particular tourist issues in Tenerife, Spain. The main concept later evolved into a universal unit, which can be imagined to exist anywhere in the world.