Honours Programme 2025

The programme investigates the role of data centres as a driver of contemporary territorial transformation and explores how the regeneration of disused or underutilised logistics assets can open new design perspectives.

With the digital economy expanding at a global scale – and with data centre development rapidly accelerating in Italy – these infrastructures pose unprecedented challenges for local territories, governance frameworks, and design practices. Beyond technical expertise, they call for new forms of knowledge production that can integrate architectural, urban, economic, and ecological dimensions.

Datascapes addresses these challenges as a research platform. Through interdisciplinary inquiry, case study analysis, and design-based exploration, the programme will produce a series of replicable prototypes. These prototypes are conceived as operational tools for municipalities, companies, and institutions to govern the territorial transformations induced by data centres in a sustainable and adaptive way.

The programme also emphasises scientific dissemination, sharing results through participatory events with different stakeholders, as well as through dedicated publications and reports.

• Urban regeneration strategies and models (global, European, local) with a focus on logistics assets.
• Processes, projects, and best practices, with attention to economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
• Innovative concepts, prototypes, and demo-projects related to data centres and digital infrastructure.
• Regulatory and operational tools, governance models, and implementation processes.

Techbau Supervisors
Luca Zarantonello, Mario Buscaini, Giuliano Falcone, Leonardo Oprandi, Giovanni Duci, Davide Pidò

In collaboration with
Design Toolkit for Design Teaching, Craft-ProdAction pilot project

Contact
datascapehp-dastu@polimi.it