ASP projects

D-VERSE: The Space Park

Space has always captured human imagination ever since the most ancient civilizations, but it was only in the last century that science evolved to the point where the actual space exploration could start.
Nowadays astronomy and aerospace studies are among the most advanced fields of research and development in the world. The extreme conditions in the space environment require innovative solutions that often find a secondary application on Earth. This is how spin-offs were born: technologies initially developed for use in space have been transferred to assist our daily activities. The pacemaker, the memory foam and the fire extinguisher are only few examples of the thousands of spin-offs present in our life, but not known by people.
Historically Italy can be considered one of the most important cradles for astronomy where the constant work in this field gave birth to a large number of companies in the last century. Their contribution to Italian and international space projects is very important but not effectively presented and to the general public and widely unknown.
Having that as a starting point, the D-Verse team was asked to develop a technology park dedicated to astronomy, space exploration and science in the city of Merate, Lombardy. The project, called Orbita, is characterized by different levels of complexity, requiring multidisciplinary competences: architecture, interior and product design, computer engineering, mechanical and energy engineering, economics and management. The developed solution attempts to answer the needs of all actors, innovating the experience of each of them and providing feasible solutions.
Orbita Space Park is a threefold soul entity:
-a meeting point for all actors in the aerospace field in Lombardy, promoting coordination and development of new projects;
-an astronomy and space museum, proposing an engaging and innovative way of learning the story of space exploration and technology;
-a new culture centre for the city of Merate, reviving the economy and attracting tourists.

Principal Academic Tutor
Michèle Lavagna, Dept. of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano

Academic Tutor
Luca Guerrini, Dept. of Design, Politecnico di Milano

External institutions
INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera
Selex ES S.p.A.
Amministrazione comunale città di Merate (LC)

External tutors
Giovanni Pareschi, INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera
Francesco Rizzi, Selex ES S.p.A.
Fabrizio Pignoloni, Studio dotdotdot

Team members
Chris David Bucciarelli, Aeronautical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Paolo Colbertaldo, Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Niccolò Ludovico Coscia, Energy and Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Giuseppe De Nittis, Computer Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Martina Deneva, Interior Design, Politecnico di Milano
Alberto Stracuzzi, Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino
Lorenzo Trucato, Architecture, Politecnico di Milano
Ilaria Vitali, Product Design for Innovation, Politecnico di Milano
Andrea Vivani, Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano

Download the poster of the Project