Can architecture change the way we see the city? This is the question posed by Progetto CMR with Camera: Inside the Lens, an immersive wooden microarchitecture project presented during the 2026 edition of Milano Design Week. It is a structure we may soon see in outdoor and hospitality spaces as a plug-and-play element, adaptable to different situations and needs.

Inspired by the shape of a camera lens, the structure proposes a play between what we see and how we see it, much like a spyglass. Crossing its threshold means entering an intimate, silent space, where direct observation coexists with a digital dimension that expands perception.

Progetto CMR stresses that Camera is, in fact, a work of microarchitecture that functions as “a flexible spatial system that can evolve according to context and use”. It is a lightweight single-volume module, fully demountable and designed to be easily assembled, dismantled and transported.

This device responds to the growing interest in microarchitectures and housing systems that prioritise flexibility, mobility and reduced environmental impact. More and more architecture and design professionals are exploring how smaller, more adaptable spaces can respond to contemporary needs in a more sustainable and compelling way.

The project also reflects a strong environmental awareness, linked to Progetto CMR’s sustainable approach, as the idea of reversibility became central to the design process: every component was developed to reduce waste and extend the structure’s life cycle beyond a single event.

The choice of Finsa’s thermally modified wood as the main material plays a key role in this vision, reducing the environmental footprint while providing a warmer, more human experience. Beyond its structural performance, wood creates an emotional relationship with people through texture, acoustics, smell and touch, especially in small-scale architectures such as Camera: Inside the Lens.