Last Mile Milano
people & parcels
T.G. Lapperre (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Hrvoje Smidihen – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Benjamin Groothuijse – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M.R. Grech – Mentor
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Abstract
The growth of e-commerce has increased pressure on urban logistics systems and parcel carriers, resulting in congestion, emissions, and growing demands for last-mile delivery infrastructure. This master thesis explores how contemporary major railway stations, such as a reimagined Milano Centrale, can contribute to sustainable urban freight networks by combining passenger transport and logistics within a single architectural intervention.
Using Milano Centrale as a case study, the project reimagines the station as a hybrid passenger and parcel hub within a car free Milan in 2050. Railway platforms are relocated underground, creating a public urban plaza at ground level, while a new elevated structure accommodates parcel handling and distribution. Goods arriving by rail are transferred to carbon-neutral (MEV) delivery vehicles for last-mile distribution throughout the city.
By integrating logistics infrastructure into one of Italy’s most important transportation nodes, the project proposes a new station typology that combines mobility, logistics, and public space. Last Mile Milano demonstrates how railway stations can play an active role in creating more efficient, sustainable, and car free cities.