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Carlo Ratti Associati debuts biomimetic Alpine bivouac at 2026 Winter Olympics

Carlo Ratti Associati, Italy

Italy – For the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italian design studio Carlo Ratti Associati and Salone del Mobile are debuting a sustainable Alpine bivouac. Built from cross-laminated timber, aerogel and metal, the angular structure is designed to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, with its crystalline form modelled from a 3D scan of Alpine rock formations.

The self-sufficient shelter, powered by photovoltaic panels and using air condensation to generate clean water, will be unveiled as a pavilion at the Olympics before being airlifted by helicopter to a permanent location in the Alps after the Games to become a permanent refuge for mountaineers.

‘Unfortunately, today bivouacs often look like airships that have landed on our beautiful alpine landscapes,’ said Carlo Ratti, founder of Carlo Ratti Associati. ‘Here, we took the opposite approach – a structure that blends as much as possible with the surroundings.’

By foregrounding circularity and digital fabrication, the project signals a shift towards architecture that adapts, observes and coexists with nature, something we have been tracking since our Biomimicry Hotels report in 2022.

Strategic opportunity

How can your business use digital fabrication and biomorphic design to create products and spaces that harmonise with their environment, rather than dominate it?

Foresight Friday: Olivia Houghton, insights and engagement director

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, insights and engagement director Olivia Houghton reflects on seasonal storytelling and shifting narratives of technological progress.

: The annual wave of Christmas advertising has arrived and with it, renewed conversation about the cultural influence of the big festive brand films. While some viewers argue that the golden era of the early 2010s John Lewis ads has passed, this year’s campaign offers a resonant emotional thread.

The story centres on a seemingly withdrawn teenager attempting to connect with his father through a beloved track from the dad’s youth. Beyond nostalgia, the film highlights the power of soft masculinity and intergenerational bonding. It also nods to a wider cultural recalibration around fatherhood, echoed in the work of evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin, who continues to spotlight the essential emotional role of fathers in child development and family life.

: Elsewhere, scrutiny is growing around the AI boom. Michael Burry – of The Big Short fame – has reportedly bought put options against Nvidia and Palantir, effectively betting their value will fall. His stance reflects a rising belief that financial hype is outpacing what AI can currently deliver. As we note in The Synthocene Era, the narrative is shifting from AI as magic to AI as tool – powerful, but requiring realistic expectations and integration.

John Lewis, UK

Quote of the week

‘If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him’

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor-elect

Stat: Gen Z’s taste for low- and no-alcohol drinks set to shape Christmas spending

Future Château, UK

UK – Retailers should expand and elevate their low- and no-alcohol ranges this Christmas to capture a greater share of young consumers’ festive spending, according to new research from GlobalData.

The data firm says Gen Z’s changing attitudes towards drinking have transformed low- and no-alcohol products into desirable choices rather than mere substitutes, and more than 80% of Gen Z say these drinks help them prioritise health and wellbeing without sacrificing taste or social experiences.

‘Christmas has traditionally been synonymous with socialising with alcoholic beverages, but for many younger consumers, the social norms around alcohol consumption are shifting,’ says Charlotte Chilcott, retail analyst at GlobalData. ‘Retailers that can cater to both alcoholic and low- or no-alcohol preferences will win a bigger slice of seasonal sales.’

Nearly 60% of 16–34-year-olds cite improved quality and variety as reasons for increasing their spending on low- and no-alcohol options. Chilcott adds that festive innovations such as non-alcoholic mulled wine, sparkling wines and spiced ciders could help retailers tap into this growing market.

Head to our Next-gen Spirits Market report to explore the growth opportunities in the global spirits sector emerging through the booming no-alcohol movement, India’s expanding premium spirits scene and ethical initiatives.

Strategic opportunity

Create festive retail experiences and product lines celebrating alcoholic and low- and no-alcohol options such as mocktails, premium tastings, pop-up bars or curated pairings